Nonprofit studies

Nonprofit studies is a multidisciplinary field of teaching and research that focuses on practices of the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit studies is closely connected to the field of organizational studies, with parallels found in the studies of business administration, public administration and social work. This area of inquiry examines the management and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector, and has sub-areas of research including administration, marketing, communication, economics, human resources, ethics, law, information technology, policy, fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism and civic engagement.

A variety of higher education institutions and research organizations are dedicated to the teaching and research of issues related to the nonprofit sector. Degrees related to nonprofit studies are offered at undergraduate, graduate and doctorate levels. Additionally, individual courses within related disciplines (e.g. Business, Sociology, Public Policy) examine nonprofit studies in a variety of contexts.

Nonprofit studies may also refer to studies of the voluntary sector, third sector, or civil society.

Methods in the Field of Nonprofit Studies

Research

Teaching and Learning

Curricula in nonprofit studies programs varies from program to program, but suggestions for curriculum guidelines^[1] include the topics of:

Understanding the context of the sector History Size and scope; international comparisons Legal and regulatory context Managing external relationships Policy and advocacy Community development Fund development and financial sustainability Marketing and public relations Communications

Managing the Nonprofit Organization General management, both tactical and strategic Human resources and volunteer management Financial management and accounting Organizational behaviour Program planning and evaluation Earned revenue/social enterprise Governance Analytic methods

Being an effective leader Personal leadership Ethics and values

In many nonprofit studies programs, experiential learning opportunities complement classroom learning. Students may take part in internships or co-operative education placements where they learn by working alongside staff in a nonprofit workplace. Community-based learning activities such as service-learning, community-based research, and participatory action research can enhance the learning process by combining experiential learning and skill building with critical reflection on self and social/environment injustice.

Nonprofit Management Education Research

• For a list of articles, reviews, and other citations on nonprofit management education, click here.
• For a list of research on nonprofit management education by Mirabella and Wish, click here.
• For a general bibliography on nonprofit management education, click here.

Nonprofit Research

Academic Journals

• International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing
• Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing
• Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
• Nonprofit Management & Leadership
• VOLUNTAS International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations

Associations and Organizations

• Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
• Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research (ANSER) (Canada)
• International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR)

Centers and Institutes

Asia/Middle East

• Israeli Centre for Third-Sector Research: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, (Beer Sheva, Israel)
• Center for the Study of Philanthropy in Israel: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel)

Africa

• John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement: The American University in Cairo (Egypt)

Australia

• Centre for Australian Community Organisations and Management: University of Technology, Sydney (Australia)
• The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies: Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane, Australia)

Canada

• Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development/ Carleton Institute for Voluntary Sector and Civil Society: Carleton University (Ottawa, ON)
• Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies: Ryerson University (Toronto, ON)
• Institute for Nonprofit Studies: Mount Royal College (Calgary, AB)
• School of Policy Studies Public Policy and Third Sector Initiative: Queen's University (Kingston, ON)

Europe

• Centre for Nonprofit Management: Trinity College, University of Dublin (Ireland)
• Centre for Nonprofit Sector Research: Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic)
• Centre for the Study of Philanthropy: VU University Amsterdam
• Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society: Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany)

US

• Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research in the Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research: University of San Diego (CA)
• Center for Civil Society: University of California, Los Angeles
• Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society: The City University of New York (New York, NY)
• Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy: University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
• Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Institute for Human Services & Public Policy: Louisiana State University in Shreveport
• Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management: University of San Francisco (CA)
• Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies: Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
• Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation: Arizona State University (Phoenix, AZ)
• Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits & Philanthropy: University of New York (New York, NY)
• Nonprofit Management: Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy (New York, NY)

Washington (Seattle, WA)

• RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service: University of Texas (Austin, TX)

Conferences

• Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research (ANSER) Annual Conference (Canada)
• Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Annual Conference

Awards, Scholarships & Funding

• Award for Distinguished Achievement and Leadership in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research
• Gabriel G. Rudney Memorial Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research
• Outstanding Article in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (NVSQ)
• Outstanding Book in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research
• Virginia A. Hodgkinson Research Book Prize

Academic Degree Programs

Canada

• MBA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership: York University (Toronto, ON)
• Bachelor of Applied Nonprofit Studies: Mount Royal College (Calgary, AB)

US

An extensive list of doctoral, masters, and undergraduate nonprofit degree programs in the US has been complied by Dr. Roseanne Mirabella of Seton Hall University. The list can be found on her website, click here.

Europe

• Postgraduate Programme in Philanthropic Studies: VU University Amsterdam

References

1. ^ Nenshi, Naheed K. (2008, December 9). The State of Nonprofit Management Education in Canada. Institute for Nonprofit Studies, Mount Royal College: Calgary, AB. Retrieved May 1, 2009 from http://www.mtroyal.ca/wcm/groups/public/documents/pdf/ins_nenshi_2008.pdf