The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action’s (ARNOVA) 53rd annual conference will be held at the Westin Washington, DC Downtown hotel from Thursday, November 21 through Saturday, November 23.
This year’s theme, “Dreaming for a Bright Nonprofit Future: Policy-Making, Technology, and Collaboration in a Dynamic Environment,” will facilitate discussion on a wide range of pressing issues and vital opportunities facing the nonprofit sector. The three-day conference includes two plenary sessions, 180+ panel and paper presentation sessions, a poster session, and numerous opportunities for networking.
Center leaders, Alan Abramson, Stefan Toepler, and Mirae Kim, will be chairing or participating in several sessions over the course of the conference. Their sessions are discussed in more detail below.
Editor’s Panel: Exploring Academic Journals Focused on Nonprofit, Philanthropy, and Voluntary Action Research | November 21, 2-3 p.m.
Description: As the field of study on nonprofits, philanthropy, and voluntary action continues to grow and evolve, it has become increasingly international and interdisciplinary; and, scholars and practitioners in this field seek to publish their research findings and theoretical advancements in reputable academic journals. To support this endeavor, this workshop will feature editors from some of the leading journals in the field. They will provide an overview of their publications, share insights on current trends, and offer guidance on how to successfully submit and publish your work.
Panelists: Mirae Kim, George Mason University; Roseanne Mirabella, Seton Hall University; Fredrik O. Andersson, Indiana University Indianapolis; Christopher Prentice, University of North Carolina Wilmington; Joanne Carman, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Building a Comprehensive Global Data Archive on Civil Society and Related Disciplines | November 21, 2-3 p.m.
Description: This colloquium highlights a proposal to build an internationally comparative data archive on civil society and related disciplines. Cross-country datasets in this field differ in definition, taxonomy, countries/regions and time series covered, depending on the organization creating the data. It is not easy to conduct research using multiple datasets. To overcome this situation, researchers have proposed constructing a meta-data archive of cross-country datasets covering nonprofits, philanthropy, democracy, etc. and to provide it as a common property for other researchers and practitioners. Experts with rich professional and academic expertise will discuss the grand design and effective implementation methods to construct this data archive.
Panelists: Stefan Toepler, George Mason University; Helen Liu, National Taiwan University; Takayuki Yoshioka, Okayama University
Federal Data for Nonprofit Researchers | November 21, 2-3 p.m.
Description: There is an abundance of data collected by the federal government that could be useful to nonprofit scholars in their research. In this workshop, you will hear from federal staff at the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Fiscal Service, Americorps, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis about the data that is collected regarding nonprofit employment, demographics of nonprofit employees, federal funding of nonprofits, nonprofits as a share of the national economy, and volunteering. Dr. Alan Abramson will moderate this panel.
Advancing Social Enterprise Policy: Emerging Perspectives | November 22, 9-10:30 a.m.
Description: Driven by interest in finding fresh approaches to address social problems, social entrepreneurs in the U.S. and abroad are creating a new wave of hybrid, double-bottom-line-oriented social enterprises. However, while social enterprise activity has increased significantly in recent years, there has been only modest attention to what is appropriate public policy toward this emerging sector, mostly focused on legal forms. This colloquium seeks to advance discussion of social enterprise policy by convening scholars, practitioners, and policymakers with different perspectives on policy to talk about government funding support, procurement preferences, tax benefits, certifications, and accountability procedures, as well as legal forms. Dr. Alan Abramson will moderate this panel.
Nonprofit Entrepreneurship Cycle: Ideation, Entry, Expansion, Closure | November 22, 4-5:30 p.m.
Description: This session will explore innovation and entrepreneurship over the nonprofit lifecycle from ideation to closure. The authors on this panel deploy a diverse array of research techniques, including surveys, analytic theory generation, and empirical analysis, to analyze the practical challenges of organization creation, expansion, and demise. This session emphasizes the motivations driving nonprofit founders, the role of nonprofits in mediating donor-client interactions, the influence of information on donor acquisition and growth, and the factors contributing to organizational closure. By examining nonprofit entrepreneurship at each stage of the organizational lifecycle, this session advances our collective understanding of how nonprofit entrepreneurs innovate, grow, and create social impact.
Panelist: Mirae Kim, George Mason University; Jeremy Thornton, Samford University; Teresa Harrison, Drexel University; Elizabeth Searing, The University of Texas Dallas
The Generosity Commission: The Shifting Landscape of American Generosity and Research Recommendations | November 22, 4-5:30 p.m.
Description: This colloquium will provide an overview of the changing landscape of giving and volunteering and a summary of the findings of the Generosity Commission, with emphasis on the need for further research and data to better understand the full spectrum of giving and volunteering. Launched in 2021 to address concerns about declines in the number of donors and volunteers over the past two decades, the Generosity Commission’s report is a stark reminder of the changes afoot in this sector and their implications for everyday giving and volunteering, nonprofits, and society more broadly. Dr. Alan Abramson will moderate this session.
The Role of Voice, Resources, and Coalitions in Nonprofit Advocacy | November 23, 9-10:30 a.m.
Description: Four authors will discuss their recent publications on various components of nonprofit advocacy. They are:
“Voices From the Sector: Nonprofit Advocacy in Turbulent Times” by Heather MacIndoe, University of Massachusetts Boston, Mirae Kim, George Mason University, and Lewis Faulk, American University
“Exploring the Expressive Nature of Nonprofit Policy Advocacy: Sex Education Organizations in the Post-Dobbs” by Era Shelly Arsneault, California State University Fullerton, and Meeyoung Lamothe, University of Oklahoma
“Advocacy Coalitions and US Sanctuary Policy Debate: What’s the Place of Nonprofit Organizations Here?” by Omowonuola Fayemiro, University of Illinois Chicago
“The Role of Resources and Political Environment in Shaping Nonprofit Advocacy Strategies” by Qiaozhen Liu, Florida Atlantic University, and Hala Altamimi, University of Kansas
Advancing Foundation Research from Comparative Perspectives: Policy, Relationships with State and Market, and Emerging Trends | November 23, 9-10:30 a.m.
Description: Since the 1990s’ worldwide foundation boom, considerable scholarly advancement has been made in comparative research on foundations in different countries, and scholars have proposed various conceptual frameworks and typologies for foundations from comparative perspectives. Built upon these frameworks and in line with the conference theme, this colloquium examines the foundation landscape, policy influences, state-foundation relationships, and new trends from comparative perspectives focusing on the U.S., Canada, Germany, China, and Japan. Speakers and a discussant then explore new research agendas and how to overcome challenges, especially the lack of systematic data, to advance foundation comparative research.
Panelists: Stefan Toepler, George Mason University; Qun Wang, The University of Toledo; Tamaki Onishi, University of North Carolina Greensboro
Comparative, Historical and Critical Perspectives on Incorporation, Taxation, and Regulation | November 23, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This panel of authors will discuss their recent publications regarding various aspects of the incorporation, taxation, and regulation of nonprofit organization and social enterprises in the U.S. and around the world. They are:
“International Patterns of Public and Private Nonprofit Regulation: Implications for the United States” by Mary Kay Gugerty, University of Washington, and George Mitchell, City University of New York
“Incorporating a Community: Civil Society, Legal Incorporation, and Place in the West, 1863-1909” by Simon Shachter, University of Connecticut
“Revising Charitable Deduction Rules and Eliminating the Need for the Public Charity/Private Foundation Distinction” by Elizabeth Schmidt, University of Massachusetts
“Exploring the Effectiveness of Tax Incentives for Social Enterprises in the U.S. and Globally” by Sonali Chowdhary and Alan Abramson, George Mason University
Additionally, George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government is sponsoring a reception on Friday, November 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
You can learn more about the conference and register to attend by visiting the event’s webpage. Be sure to check the Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise’s website and LinkedIn later to see a recap of our faculty’s presentations and the conference overall.