Program-based Scholarships
2023 Submissions closed June 6*
*Unless noted otherwise.

Early Career Mentoring Program
The long-term objective of this Program is to prepare engaged junior scholars and practitioners to be better equipped to make significant contributions throughout their careers to the field of nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations.
The long-term objective of the Early Career Mentoring Program is to prepare engaged junior scholars and practitioners to be better equipped to make significant contributions throughout their careers to the field of nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations. In this program, early stage scholars and practitioners have an opportunity to learn from more experienced colleagues to advance their career, publishing, research, networking, and/or professional development goals.
- Writing and publishing
- Grant writing and seeking external funding
- Developing a scholarly identity
- Generating new research ideas
- Establishing a healthy work-life balance
- Establishing contacts and relationships with academics and practitioners
- Generating the most benefit from conferences and networking
- Making decisions to collaborate with others
- Navigating the tenure and promotion process
The program should not substitute existing formal advisors-advisees’ relationships in the participants’ respective institutions. It only supplements these relations. This means there are no expectations of specific deliverables, including reading dissertation drafts, drafting cover letters or grant proposals, editing, and reviewing publications, and conducting research or data analysis. While these are important tasks, they should be carried out within the mentee’s regular institutional channels and networks. Any more elaborate involvement is fully at the discretion of a mentor and a mentee.
Mentees Submission Requirements
- Applicant’s CV and Cover Letter combined in one PDF. The cover letter should describe the applicant’s motivation for participating in the program and the area(s) in which they would like to be mentored.
- Applicant must be an early career scholar in their first three years at an academic appointment or at a professional research institution or nonprofit organization.
- Applicants must be ARNOVA members with active memberships. Any applicant determined to not be a member will not be considered for committee review.
PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS | GOALS AND CRITERIA
Additional Notes
- Individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education (such as African Americans, Latinx, and Native Americans) are especially encouraged to participate in the program.
- Mentors and Mentees are responsible for paying their conference registration. They will be expected to participate in the full Annual ARNOVA Conference.
IMPORTANT DATES
2024 dates to be confirmed.
Applications are now closed. If you have questions about the program, please contact us at awards@arnova.org.

Doctoral Fellowship Program
Do you have an approved dissertation proposal? Would you like to participate in a fellowship seminar with senior scholars and fellow doctoral students to receive feedback and research advice on your dissertation? This pre-conference seminar is for you!
AWARD AMOUNT: Complimentary Conference Registration & Conference Lodging (3 nights)
Goal:
To provide intellectual and research advice and mentoring and networking opportunities to ten (10) doctoral candidates pursuing studies related to the fields of nonprofit, philanthropic, voluntary action, or civil society studies.
Eligibility:
Open to all doctoral students whose dissertation research focuses on a topic related to the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, voluntary action, or civil society. Students will be divided into sub-groups at the conference according to their dissertation topic/method/theory.
Selection Criteria:
The seminar has a limit of 10 seats, so selection is competitive. A selection committee of seminar leaders give attention to the following issues: (1) The potential quality and impact of the scholarship; (2) The centrality of the work to nonprofit and voluntary action studies; and (3) the potential for the student to gain from participation in the seminar, especially students who may face limited support in their home schools. Priority will be given to first-time applicants, but previous participants will potentially be considered if spots are available.
Submission Requirements
- A three-page description of the dissertation research.
- A brief statement regarding how the student expects to benefit from participation in the seminar.
- A letter of recommendation from the dissertation advisor, including a statement regarding defense of the dissertation proposal and the kind of feedback that might be most helpful to the student.
Students who are offered and accept a spot in the seminars must commit to sharing a 10-page document with the faculty members by October 3rd. Students must also be able to commit to the full-day pre-conference fellowship seminar.
Application Terms
- Applicants may apply for multiple scholarships, however they may only accept one.
- Applicants should be active ARNOVA members at the time of the application to be considered for this scholarship.
- Selected Seminar students will be responsible for booking their own accommodations during conference.
- ARNOVA will not be responsible for transportation cost, parking, or other travel related fees of selected participants.
- The 3-night conference lodging will be paid electronically after the conference. The scholarship recipient should provide all the information required for ARNOVA to process the payment.
- Selected participants are expected to participate in the full Annual ARNOVA Conference, offering fellows additional opportunities to learn about important issues in nonprofit research.
- All participants are expected to participate for the full duration of the seminar as condition of acceptance of the scholarship benefits
IMPORTANT DATES
2024 dates to be confirmed

Graduate Diversity Scholars and Leaders Professional Development Workshop
This program focuses on helping emerging scholars from underrepresented groups prepare to enter the field of nonprofit, philanthropic, and voluntary action studies. The focus of the PDW is on preparing participants who are beginning master or doctoral level education and research.
AWARD AMOUNT: Complimentary Conference Registration, Conference Lodging (1 night), and Scholarship Award of $1,000 USD
The Diversity Scholars and Leaders Professional Development Workshop focuses on helping emerging scholars from underrepresented groups prepare to enter the field of nonprofit, philanthropic, and voluntary action studies. The program invites twelve (12) participants to the Professional Development Workshop (PDW) to be held as a pre-session of the ARNOVA Annual Conference. The focus of the PDW is on preparing participants who are in doctoral level education and research.
Eligibility & Submission Requirements
- Must be an ARNOVA member with an active membership at the time of application
- Previous Graduate Diversity Program participants are not eligible to apply
- To qualify for the Diversity Scholars and Leaders Program, applicants must be enrolled in an accredited graduate program with a focus on philanthropic, nonprofit or voluntary action studies (preference will be given to those already pursuing doctoral studies in these areas)
- The selection committee actively seeks applications from persons of traditionally underrepresented groups (i.e., African American, Latinx, Native American, Asian American)
Application Terms
- Applicants may apply for multiple scholarships, however they may only accept one
- Scholarship applicants cannot be selected for more than 1 consecutive year
- Selected students will be responsible for booking their own accommodations during conference
- ARNOVA will not be responsible for transportation cost, parking, or other travel related fees of selected participants
- This scholarship provides a one-time monetary prize of $1,000 USD. Selected participants may be invited to join the program the following year of being selected. ARNOVA would provide complementary conference registration and 1-night accommodation
- The 1-night conference lodging and the scholarship prize will be paid electronically after the conference. The scholarship recipient should provide all the information required for ARNOVA to process the payment
- They are expected to participate in the ARNOVA Conference
- All participants must participate for the full duration of the workshop as condition of acceptance of this scholarship
- Attendance for the entire PDW program is required in order to receive the benefit/proceeds of the scholarship. (In other words, the lodging and scholarship prize are contingent upon full participation, and cannot be awarded even if the individual was accepted, but was not present for the program)
- It is highly suggested that applicants also seek financial support from their respective institutions to assist in covering costs
IMPORTANT DATES
2024 dates to be confirmed.

Undergraduate Diversity Scholars and Leaders Professional Development Program
The PDW will introduce participants to the world of non-profit social science research and pathways to higher education. Scholars will also attend panels based on each student’s research interest, will have opportunity to meet current graduate students and faculty from underrepresented communities, to learn alongside senior scholars in the field and to participate in an array of social and scholarly conversations.
AWARD AMOUNT: Student Membership, Complimentary Conference Registration, Conference Lodging (3 nights), and Scholarship Award of $500 USD
This program would bring ten (10) undergraduates from underrepresented groups to the ARNOVA annual conference in November to attend a workshop on paths to higher education, ideally in the field of nonprofit, philanthropic, and voluntary action studies. Students will participate in a Professional Development Workshop (PDW) to be held as a pre-session of the ARNOVA Annual Conference. The PDW will introduce participants to the world of non-profit social science research and pathways to higher education. Scholars will also attend panels based on each student’s research interest, will have opportunity to meet current graduate students and faculty from underrepresented communities, to learn alongside senior scholars in the field and to participate in an array of social and scholarly conversations. The hope is that this opportunity will provide a window into the work and life of social science researchers and evaluators.
Eligibility
- Previous Undergraduate Diversity Program participants are not eligible to apply. However, we encourage participants who are beginning master or doctoral level education and research to apply for the Graduate Diversity Scholars and Leaders Professional Development Workshop
- To qualify for the Undergraduate Diversity Scholars Program, applicants must be considering applying to an accredited graduate program with a focus on philanthropic, social science, nonprofit or voluntary action studies
- Applicants are expected to be in an undergraduate program by the conference time
- The selection committee actively seeks applications from persons of traditionally underrepresented groups. Preference is given to African-American, Hispanic/Latino Americans and Native Americans students
Submission Requirements
- A statement of interest (250 words)
- Reference Contact Information from a faculty member or nonprofit professional
- A copy of applicant’s current resume
- An unofficial copy of applicant’s current transcript
Application Terms
- Applicants may apply for multiple scholarships, however they may only accept one
- Scholarship applicants cannot be selected for more than 1 consecutive year
- ARNOVA will not be responsible for transportation cost, parking, or other travel related fees of selected participants
- The scholarship prize will be paid electronically after the conference. The scholarship recipient should provide all the information required for ARNOVA to process the payment
- This scholarship provides a one-time monetary prize of $500. Selected participants may be invited to join the program the following year of being selected. ARNOVA would provide complementary conference registration, 3-night accommodation, and membership
- Selected participants will be expected to participate in the 2023 ARNOVA Conference, which runs from November 16-18, 2023
- All participants must participate for the full duration of the workshop as condition of acceptance of this scholarship
- Attendance for the entire PDW program is required in order to receive the benefit/proceeds of the scholarship. (In other words, the lodging and scholarship prize are contingent upon full participation, and cannot be awarded even if the individual was accepted, but was not present for the program)
- It is highly suggested that applicants also seek financial support from their respective institutions to assist in covering costs
IMPORTANT DATES
2024 dates to be confirmed.