Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations & Voluntary Actions

ARNOVA's Goals:

1. Build, improve, disseminate, and promote recognition of knowledge on nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, civil society, and voluntary action.

2. Create an integrated set of programs and activities that support effective education in nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, civil society and voluntary action.

3. Manage ARNOVA's operations so that they are exemplary with respect to strong governance, financial stability, and responsiveness to members.

4. Attract and retain individuals from under-represented groups into all aspects of ARNOVA's
governance, programming, and membership in order to insure that ARNOVA is and continues to be a diverse organization.

(Diversity [here] refers to inclusiveness of race and ethnicity, discipline, national origin, region, and theoretical and ideological perspective, with special attention to groups under-represented due to historical patterns of exclusion, discrimination, and lack of resources.)

(At the November 2013 Annual Membership Meeting, there was significant member sentiment expressed in favor of increased international outreach.)

Goal 1 Strategies:
1.1 Provide forums to advance and assess the state of research and emergent issues
in the field.
1.2 Continue to encourage high quality research in the field.
1.3 Continue to strengthen, improve, and increase accessibility to ARNOVA’s publications,
and related services.
1.4 Identify and develop relationships with other scholarly associations, academic
disciplines, policy institutions, funders, and practitioner organizations.
1.5 Promote and publicize research by ARNOVA members.

Goal 2 Strategies:
2.1 Provide an opportunity to critically reflect on deeper and challenging issues and
questions in the field.
2.2 Provide an opportunity to develop, learn, and apply new and effective pedagogical
methods and techniques.
2.3 Actively support the preparation of doctoral students to become effective educators
in the field.
2.4 Work collaboratively in all of our efforts with other associations and organizations
(such as NACC) involved in nonprofit education.

Goal 3 Strategies:
3.1 Strengthen ARNOVA’s governance practices by periodic review and revision
of ARNOVA policies and procedures.
3.2 Maintain financial stability and sustainability of operations.
3.3 Improve services to members and create opportunities for members to participate
in the furtherance of ARNOVA’s mission.

Goal 4 Strategies:
4.1 Institutionalize diversity policies, practices, and procedures into the structure and
culture of ARNOVA and develop a system of on-going accountability to the Board
of Directors.
4.2 Incorporate diversity goals, objectives, and tactics into all aspects of ARNOVA’s
2008-2013 Strategic Plan.
4.3 Insure that current ARNOVA written and informal policies, procedures, and practices
attend to the importance of attracting and retaining individuals from under-represented
groups.
4.4 Develop strategies recruit and retain new members from under-represented groups.
4.5 Increase diversity of attendance and participation of under-represented groups at the
annual conference.
4.6 Ensure membership and participation of under-represented groups on the ARNOVA
board and in board leadership.

The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) is the U.S.-based, national and international association that connects scholars, teachers, and practice leaders interested in research on nonprofit organizations, voluntary action, philanthropy and civil society.

Founded in 1971 as the Association of Voluntary Action Scholars, ARNOVA is a neutral, open forum committed to strengthening the research about and helping shape better practice in these realms. We bring together both theoretical and applied interests, helping scholars gain insight into the day-to-day concerns of third-sector organizations, while providing nonprofit professionals with connections to research they can use to improve the work of their organizations and the quality of life for citizens and communities.

Principal activities include an annual conference, publications, electronic discussions and special interest groups.

For the last two decades, ARNOVA has been a growing Association that played a key role in building the work and service of research and teaching around voluntary, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.

We have contributed significantly to the growing understanding of the significance and impact of work of these organizations and activities for building healthier societies.

We aspire to help create increased knowledge and develop a new cohort of researchers, teachers, and practice leaders to move this vital work forward.