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Liv Egholm

Associate Professor

Subjects
Climate Foundation Democracy History Society Future

Primary research areas

Phil­an­thropy and the com­mon good
I study how phil­an­throp­ic prac­tices, gift-giv­ing, and found­a­tion-owned busi­nesses in­flu­ence ideas of what is good for so­ci­ety — and how these ideas evolve over time.
Civil so­ci­ety and so­cial change
I study how civic act­ors — from found­a­tions to grass­roots move­ments — shape pub­lic de­bate, define so­cial prob­lems, and con­trib­ute to solv­ing them through long-term en­gage­ment and col­lab­or­a­tion.
Cross-sec­tor al­li­ances and gov­ernance
I in­vest­ig­ate how col­lab­or­a­tion between civil so­ci­ety, the state and busi­ness en­ables new ways of solv­ing com­plex so­ci­et­al chal­lenges like in­equal­ity, sustain­ability and so­cial ex­clu­sion.
Tem­por­al­it­ies and fu­ture­mak­ing
I ex­am­ine how ideas about the past, present and fu­ture shape how people and or­gan­iz­a­tions act. My fo­cus is on how civil so­ci­ety act­ors ima­gine and or­gan­ize bet­ter fu­tures — and how these vis­ions in­flu­ence so­ci­et­al change.

I study how civil so­ci­ety helps shape bet­ter fu­tures

My research helps foundations, civic organizations, and policymakers understand how civil society contributes to solving complex societal problems — from issues of inequality and social exclusion to promoting democratic participation and sustainability. 

I explore how people organize around shared concerns and how these efforts shape our understanding of the "common good." I research foundations, social movements, philanthropic practices, and cross-sector alliances, focusing on how they generate real-world impact. 

A key part of my approach is understanding how people think about time — how experiences from the past and expectations for the future shape actions in the present. I use this temporal lens to explore how long-term civic visions, knowledge, and imagination influence how societies change. 

 

Currently, I work on: 

How civil society actors transform issues into shared societal concerns 

How alliances among the state, market, and civil society address complex problems 

How futuremaking and different notions of time influence societal change 


I collaborate with civic actors and foundations and advise organizations on strategy and societal engagement. My goal is to show how civil society matters — not just historically, but in shaping the futures we build today.  

Recent research projects

Fu­ture­mak­ing and cli­mate:

I study how ideas about the fu­ture shape cli­mate ac­tion. Who gets to define what the fu­ture should look like — and whose fu­tures are heard or ig­nored?

Cross-sec­tor al­li­ances and gov­ernance

I in­vest­ig­ate how col­lab­or­a­tion between civil so­ci­ety, the state and busi­ness en­ables new ways of solv­ing com­plex so­ci­et­al chal­lenges like in­equal­ity, sustain­ability and so­cial ex­clu­sion.

Civil so­ci­ety and so­cial change

I study how civic act­ors — from found­a­tions to grass­roots move­ments — shape pub­lic de­bate, define so­cial prob­lems, and con­trib­ute to solv­ing them through long-term en­gage­ment and col­lab­or­a­tion.

Tem­por­al­it­ies and fu­ture­mak­ing

I ex­am­ine how ideas about the past, present and fu­ture shape how people and or­gan­iz­a­tions act. My fo­cus is on how civil so­ci­ety act­ors ima­gine and or­gan­ize bet­ter fu­tures.