2023 Theme & Call for Submissions

In what way(s) do nonprofits hold diverse publics accountable? Are these ways effective? To what extent do evaluation practices and metrics accurately capture the effectiveness of nonprofit and philanthropic action? How much do accountability and evaluation account for system disruptions?? What kinds of nonprofit and philanthropic programs are thriving or failing, and why?

What important challenges do boards face? How are these challenges being met? How are governance models adapting and/or changing? Are there novel board governance practices? What are the strengths and weaknesses of different models? Are certain board practices more/less associated with more positive/negative outcomes? How are diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism reflected in board governance models and practices?

In what ways do third sector organizations contribute to democratic and social justice outcomes? How is globalization affecting civil society from local communities to national agendas? What new forms of civil society are developing and what is the impact on the state and community members? What are the drivers and implications of changing spaces for civil society? What role do social movements play in building democratic participation? To what extent are new technologies changing the way organizing and voluntary action take place? What is the role of faith communities in advocating for and meeting human needs?

What is the role of collaboration in, between, and among nonprofit and philanthropic organizations? With whom do nonprofit and philanthropic organizations collaborate or forge networks? What are the implications of collaboration in the nonprofit and voluntary sector? How do we measure the connectedness of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations? What tools, methods, and theories help us understand collaborative activity within and across sectors?

How are misinformation, social mistrust and democratic backsliding changing the work of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy? How are nonprofits, grass-roots organizations, and formal and informal philanthropies responding to these conditions? How are ARNOVA members learning about these issues and sharing them with practitioners? In what ways do the roles played by nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in response to these conditions vary by country? What challenges do misinformation, mistrust, and democratic backsliding play for the most marginalized groups in communities and the organizations that support them? What are effective strategies and managerial tools for nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in combating misinformation, trust-building, and creating resilient democracy?

What methodological approaches help us to better understand the role and function of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations? What are the challenges of certain methodologies in studying nonprofits? How can we harness big data to answer big questions? What are the approaches of acquiring and using big data? What are some of the related challenges or threats? How can we utilize open science in research, teaching and practice?

How and when does diversity matter in nonprofit organizations? How does diversity make nonprofits more effective or efficient? What inclusion practices are nonprofits using? How do prejudice and bias affect who is hired in leadership? How can organizations respond productively, and with the least amount of harm, to bullying, harassment, or other types of discrimination? How does promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations impact their roles in society?

How do philanthropy and nonprofit organizations express and navigate competing religious, ethical, and political values? What are historical trends in practices, purposes, and forms of charitable organization? What historical voices have not been centered in our understanding of the sector and how can we learn from them? What role do art and creative spaces play in defining the practices of civil society?

To what extent are novel approaches to social change or service delivery re-defining the work of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors? What new (or hybrid) organizational forms are emerging? What are the implications of these forms?