Marcus Donaldson

Marcus Donaldson is a Sociology Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University.

His research examines corporate philanthropy and racial equity, focusing on how NBA Foundation-funded nonprofit organizations operate within marginalized communities.

He investigates how “impact” is defined, experienced, and communicated by participating youth, while exploring processes of social contagion. Specifically, he looks at how individual behavioral shifts within youth programs influence peers, siblings, and broader social networks, creating “spillover effects” that extend beyond direct program participants.

By centering the perspectives of Black and Brown youth and local stakeholders, his research critically analyzes how dominant evaluation frameworks shape, and at times constrain, what counts as social value in community investment.

Marcus’s methodological expertise includes qualitative research design, in-depth interviewing, and focus groups, with a broader focus on the sociological analysis of race and racism in the United States.

He is a member of the American Sociological Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His work has been published in International Migration Review, AZ Central, and other media outlets.