The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action’s (ARNOVA) 54th annual conference will be held at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown from November 20, 2025, through November 22, 2025.
This year’s theme, “The Evolving Role of Philanthropy in Global, National, and Local Contexts,” will be explored within two plenary sessions, 180+ panel/paper presentation sessions, a poster session, and several networking opportunities. The key topics of this event will cover philanthropy’s shifting relationships with government and the nonprofit sector, the power dynamics of philanthropic practices, and the shifting role of philanthropy within globalization.
GMU’s Nonprofit Center faculty members Alan Abramson, Stephan Toepler, and Mirae Kim will be participating in several sessions over the course of the conference. See below for details.
Engaged Nonprofit Scholarship: Creating Research That Matters | November 20, 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Panelists: Mirae Kim, George Mason University; Chengxin Xu, Seattle University; Jesse Lecy, Arizona State / Urban Institute; Kathy Quick, University of Minnesota
Innovation and Entrepreneurship_Panel1 | November 20, 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM
“Risk-Takers vs. Public Servants? Exploring the Varied Motivations of Founding and Non-Founding Nonprofit Executive Directors” by Mirae Kim, George Mason University
“Does Innovation Really Lead to Growth? A Longitudinal Study Across Subsectors in Nonprofits” by Chenxin Zhang, The University of Texas Austin; Ji Ma, The University of Texas Austin
“Understanding Informal Healthcare and Roles of Nonprofits for Underserved Communities” by Jiwon Suh, University of Texas at Arlington; Luis Macias, University of Texas at Arlington; Lakristie Davis, University of Texas at Arlington
“Disentangling The Nonprofit Founder Notion” by Fredrik O Andersson, Indiana University, Indiana University
Philanthropy: Contending Perspectives in a Global Context | November 20, 2:15 PM to 3:30 PM
“Research About Foundations In Global Perspectives: Conceptual Frameworks, Potentials, And Challenges” by Tamaki Onishi, University of North Carolina Greensboro; Stefan Toepler, George Mason University
“Why Is Household Giving Declining In The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, And The United States?” by Rene Bekkers, “Faculty of Social Sciences, Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam”; Christopher Einolf, Northern Illinois University; Xiao Han, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy; Mark Ottoni-Wilhelm, Indiana University Indianapolis; Marlou Ramaekers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Sarah Smith, University of Bristol
“Who Is Asked To Give? Insights From Givingpulse, A Weekly U.S. Generosity Survey” by Samir Khan, GivingTuesday; Marc Maxmeister, GivingTuesday; Annie Collins, GivingTuesday
“Global Philanthropy and Cross-Border Giving” by Susan Appe, State University of New York Albany; Jiwon Park, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, SUNY
A Conversation with the Editors of Journals Focused on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Voluntary Action Research | November 20, 3:45 PM to 5:00 PM
Panelists: Alan Abramson, George Mason University; Joanne Carman, University of North Carolina Charlotte; Lewis Faulk, American University; Marlene Walk, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg; Roseanne Mirabella, Kean University
Translating “Nonprofit”: Terminological and Contextual Challenges in Defining the Field in South Korea | November 20, 3:45 PM to 5:00 PM
Panelists: Mirae Kim, George Mason University; Sung-Ju Kim, North Carolina State University; Jiwon Suh, University of Texas at Arlington; Seongho An, University of Central Florida; Byung Hee Min, Wayne State University; Bok Gyo Jeong, Kean University
Changing Roles of Philanthropy and Government: Insights from the National Nonprofit Trends Data Project (2020-2025) | November 21, 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM
Panelists: Mirae Kim, George Mason University; Lewis Faulk, American University; Laura Tomasko, Urban Institute; Hannah Martin, Urban Institute
The Future of Academic Associations In Polarized Times | November 21, 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
Panelists: Stefan Toepler, George Mason University; Steven Smith, Georgetown University; Beth Gazley, Indiana University Bloomington; Mary Tschirhart, The George Washington University
Nonprofits in the Crosshairs: Advocacy, Governance, and Democratic Resilience in a Polarized Era | November 21, 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
Discussants: Mirae Kim, George Mason University; Susan Appe, State University of New York Albany; Allison Ownby, Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida; Kandyce Fernandez Sawyer, Johns Hopkins University
Additionally, George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government is proudly sponsoring the ARNOVA Reception in partnership with the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. Please join us on Thursday evening from 6 to 7:30 PM in the Ballroom Foyer of the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
To learn more about the conference and register to attend, visit the event’s webpage. Please be sure to check the Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise’s website and follow us on LinkedIn for updates on our faculty’s presentations and more.