Margaret F. Henderson

Margaret Henderson is an expert on facilitation and human services, specifically in cultivating resources and strategies to reduce rates of elder abuse and human trafficking.

As a faculty member, her current work primarily includes facilitating public meetings and assisting local governments to address human trafficking and elder abuse. As director of the Public Intersection Project, she researches and communicates strategies that strengthen cross-sector working relationships for more effective public problem-solving. In facilitation work, she specializes in the practical implications of managing cross-organizational collaborations, community programs, and nonprofit organizations. She taught in the School’s MPA program for twenty years and, prior to joining the School, served as the executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.

Henderson joined the School of Government in 1999. Her 20 years of experience in human services includes work in state and local governments as well as nonprofits. She has co-authored articles that were published in Popular Government, ICMA's IQ Report and PM Magazine, American Review of Public Administration, PA Times, and the FBI Law Enforcement Journal. 

In 2023, she was honored for this work with receipt of the Office of the Provost's Engaged Scholarship Award, given by the Carolina Center for Public Service.

Henderson earned a bachelor's degree from Angelo State University and an MPA from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Selected Publications

“Property Tax Officials Can Help Recognize Human-Trafficking Indicators,” Public Management Bulletin #17, by Margaret Henderson and Kirk Boone, July 2019.

“Labor Trafficking—What Local Governments Need to Know,” Public Management Bulletin #16, by Margaret Henderson and Nancy Hagan, February 2019.

“Exploring the Intersections between Local Government and Human Trafficking: The Local Government Focus Group Project, ”Public Management Bulletin #15, by Margaret Henderson, June 2018.

“Ten Questions about Local Governments: A Primer for Anti–Human Trafficking Advocates,”  Public Management Bulletin #14, by Margaret Henderson, May 2018.

“Human Trafficking in North Carolina: Strategies for Local Government Officials,” Public Management Bulletin #12, by Margaret Henderson, October 2017.

“Options for Reporting Sexual Violence:  Developments Over the Past Decade,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, by Sabrina Garcia and Margaret Henderson, May 2010.

“Hiring a Director for a Small Community-Based Nonprofit Agency:  A Step-by-Step Guide,” by Margaret Henderson and Kurt Jenne, Summer 2000, Popular Government. 

Publications co-authored with Lydian Altman and Gordon Whitaker, as a part of The Public Intersection Project:

“Mutual Accountability Between Governments and Nonprofits, Moving Beyond ‘Surveillance’ to ‘Service,’” The American Review of Public Administration, Volume 34, Number 2, June 2004, SAGE Publications.

Working with Nonprofit Organizations, by Margaret Henderson, Lydian Altman, Suzanne Julian, Gordon P. Whitaker, and Eileen Youens, School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010.

"Positive Problem-Solving: How Appreciative Inquiry Works,” by Margaret Henderson, Lydian Altman, Gordon Whitaker, and Sallie Lee, ICMA, 2011.

“Deciding to Fund Nonprofits:  Key Questions,” Summer, 2002, Popular Government.

 Additional Publications

"Nonprofits Should Fall Back, Regroup," guest editorial Philanthropy Journal, June 22, 2011.http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/news/opinion/nonprofits-should-fall-back-regroup

“Blind Reporting of Sexual Violence,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, by Sabrina Garcia and Margaret Henderson, June 1999, pp. 12-16.  http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/1999-pdfs/jun99leb.pdf

“Evolution of a Nonprofit, Part 1:  Determining the Organization’s Orientation,” by Margaret Henderson, Popular Government, Vol. 70, No. 1, Fall 2004.  http://www.mpa.unc.edu/sites/www.mpa.unc.edu/files/article2%20Henderson.pdf

“Evolution of a Nonprofit, Part 2: A Suggested Process for Change,” by Margaret Henderson, Popular Government, Fall 2004, published online at http://www.mpa.unc.edu/sites/www.mpa.unc.edu/files/article2p2%20Henderson.pdf

Contributions to case studies in Board Member, published by BoardSource:

Your Money or Your Mission,” September 2003, Volume 12, Number 6.

“Who’s the Boss?” November 2004, Volume 13, Number 7.

“A Brief Guide to Local Government:  Twenty Questions Nonprofits Often Ask,” booklet published by the Institute of Government, Summer, 2000.

“Strengthening Relationships between Local Governments and Nonprofits,” Popular Government, Vol. 66, No. 2, Winter 2001. 

(An expanded version of the above article was published in an Italian academic journal.)  “Il consolidamento delle relaioni tra le O np e gli enti locali; l’esperienza della Carolina del Nord, Maggio Guigna, 2002, ­Azienda Pubblica: Teora e prolemi di management. 

“IOG Project Supports Local MH Reform Planning,” County Lines, April 2002, p.7.

“Accountability in Local Government-Nonprofit Relationships,” IQ Report, Volume 35, number 5, May 2003, International City-County Management Association.

“Establishing Mutual Accountability in Nonprofit–Government Relationships,” Popular Government, Vol. 69, No. 1, Fall 2003.

“Community Problem-Solving,” Philanthropy Journal, February 24, 2004.

“Mutual Accountability Between Governments and Nonprofits, Moving Beyond ‘Surveillance’ to ‘Service,’” The American Review of Public Administration, Volume 34, Number 2, June 2004, SAGE Publications.

“Working Together,” Philanthropy Journal, August 10, 2004.

“Collaboration Calls for Mutual Accountability,” Public Management, Volume 86, Number 11, December 2004, pp. 16-20.

“Unhealthy Dependence,” Philanthropy Journal, December 28, 2004. 

“Economic Impact,” Philanthropy Journal, April 11, 2005.

“Building Community Capacity to Meet Public Needs,” Popular Government, Vol. 70, No. 2, Winter 2005.

“Focus:  Partners in Public Service.  Strengthening Relationships between Local Governments and Nonprofits,” Reshape, issue #19, Summer 2006, pp 2-11.

The Public Intersection Toolkit, UNC School of Government, September 2006, 135 pages.  A collection of exercises and resources for facilitators of cross-organizational efforts to collaborate to solve shared problems.

“Organization of Sexual Assault Programs,” the final report of a survey project sponsored by the NC Governor's Crime Commission and conducted in North Carolina during 2005-2006.

“Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence:  The Community’s Role in Weaving a Safety Net,” Popular Government, Vol. 73, No. 2. Winter 2008.

“Set Clear Expectations for Collaboration,” Philanthropy Journal, May 24, 2010.http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/news/set-clear-expectations-collaboration.

"Working with Nonprofit Organizations," by Margaret Henderson, Lydian Altman, Suzanne Julian, Gordon P. Whitaker, and Eileen Youens, School of Government, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010.

"Positive Problem-Solving:  How Appreciative Inquiry Works,” by Margaret Henderson, Lydian Altman, Gordon Whitaker, and Sallie Lee, ICMA, 2011.