Our Mission

The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) is the leading global home for nonprofit, philanthropic, and voluntary sector researchers. We connect academics, educators, and practitioners committed to building a rigorous body of knowledge that strengthens civil society worldwide.

From our world leading, peer reviewed journal, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (NVSQ), to our Annual Conference, ARNOVA is where the field's most important research is shared, challenged, and advanced.

Read: A History of ARNOVA at Fifty

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.

Strategic Plan 2023–2026

Approved at the ARNOVA Board Meeting, December 2022

Core Values

Strategic Priorities

Statements & Reports

In keeping with our commitment to strong governance and financial transparency, below are copies of our most recent audit, Form 990, and volunteer contribution reports.