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Sections connect ARNOVA members to focused scholarly communities organized around specific research topics and professional interests. Each Section hosts its own networking activities, conference sessions, and member discussions. Your first Section is included free with ARNOVA membership; additional Sections are available for $12 each.
Jump to: CGA • CPS • DAS • ESS • GOV • NPFFM • PPPL • SEES • TEACH • TIBS
Community & Grassroots Associations (CGA)
The CGA Section brings together ARNOVA members interested in research and practice related to community organizations, grassroots associations, self-help groups, faith-based organizations, cooperatives, social movement groups, and similar collective action efforts within civil society.
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Areas of Focus
- Community and grassroots organization dynamics
- Collective action and voluntary associations
- Faith-based and cooperative group studies
- Social movement groups and civic engagement
- Connections between community practice and academic research
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Who Should Join
- Researchers studying grassroots and community organizations
- Instructors teaching about community and voluntary associations
- Practitioners within grassroots, faith-based, or cooperative groups
- Those bridging community practice and scholarly inquiry
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What the Section Does
- Supports networking among scholars and practitioners
- Shares relevant news, publications, and events
- Hosts networking opportunities at the Annual Conference
- Encourages collaboration and theoretical development
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Critical Perspectives Section (CPS)
The CPS Section provides a space for ARNOVA members engaged in research, teaching, and practice that use critical theory to examine nonprofit and voluntary action. It fosters critical perspectives on issues related to nonprofit and voluntary sector theory and practice.
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Areas of Focus
- Critical theory applied to nonprofit and voluntary sector research
- Questioning dominant assumptions in nonprofit and policy studies
- Power, equity, and justice in voluntary action
- Intellectually rigorous, reflective scholarship
- Connecting critical scholarship to teaching and practice
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Who Should Join
- Researchers using critical perspectives in nonprofit and voluntary action
- Instructors teaching critical theory or nonprofit approaches
- Those bridging scholarship with reflective practice
- Members deepening critical inquiry across sectors
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What the Section Does
- Builds community among scholars committed to critical inquiry
- Encourages exchange of research and theoretical ideas
- Fosters engagement with issues of power, equity, and practice
- Creates space for scholarship that challenges conventional assumptions
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Data and Analytics Section (DAS)
The DAS Section builds a community of scholars committed to improving access to data and methodologies that advance research and practice in the nonprofit sector. Better data and better methods support stronger scholarship and more effective practice in the field.
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Areas of Focus
- Improving access to nonprofit data resources
- Advancing methodological rigor in nonprofit research
- Sharing analytic tools and approaches
- Strengthening data literacy across research and practice
- Interdisciplinary data and methods collaborations
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Who Should Join
- Researchers using data in nonprofit research or evaluation
- Those developing or teaching analytic methods
- Members connecting data advances with nonprofit practice
- Those exploring novel data sources and tools
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What the Section Does
- Promotes methodological rigor in nonprofit research
- Supports knowledge sharing around data access and tools
- Connects researchers at the intersection of data, methods, and practice
- Fosters community around advanced data and analysis challenges
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Early Scholars Section (ESS)
The ESS Section supports emerging scholars and practitioners in the nonprofit and voluntary sector as they develop their professional identities and research skills. The section provides a community that enhances scholarly capability and supports successful advancement in research and practice.
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Areas of Focus
- Professional development for early-career scholars and practitioners
- Building capacity in research, publishing, and teaching
- Networking across early-career and established members
- Supporting transitions into research and academic roles
- Fostering collaboration and mentorship opportunities
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Who Should Join
- Doctoral and master's students
- New assistant professors
- New practitioners transitioning into research roles
- Faculty new to research and publishing
- Professionals building scholarly capabilities
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What the Section Does
- Creates community for early-career scholars and practitioners
- Supports scholarly identity and capability development
- Encourages participation in research, publishing, and teaching
- Promotes collaboration and mentorship within ARNOVA
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Governance Section (GOV)
The GOV Section supports a community of scholars and practitioners committed to advancing knowledge and practice related to governance in and around nonprofit organizations and networks, especially in the contexts of philanthropy, civil society, and voluntary action.
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Areas of Focus
- Theories and practices of nonprofit governance
- Board dynamics, accountability, and governance structures
- Governance in networks and inter-organizational contexts
- Governance in relation to philanthropy and voluntary action
- Critical and comparative perspectives on governance
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Who Should Join
- Researchers studying nonprofit governance
- Instructors teaching governance theory or practice
- Practitioners in governance roles
- Those connecting governance scholarship with applied challenges
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What the Section Does
- Encourages research and dialogue on nonprofit governance
- Explores governance within philanthropy and civil society
- Connects scholars and practitioners on governance issues
- Supports exchange of knowledge and best practices across contexts
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Nonprofit Finance & Financial Management (NPFFM)
The NPFFM Section provides a forum for discussing, promoting, and disseminating scholarship related to finance and financial management broadly defined within nonprofit organizations. The section supports participation across geographic and methodological boundaries to strengthen knowledge in nonprofit financial research and practice.
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Areas of Focus
- Nonprofit financial management practices and challenges
- Financial decision-making, reporting, and accountability
- Financial sustainability and resource strategies
- Cross-sector and comparative financial research
- Financial data, metrics, and methodological innovation
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Who Should Join
- Researchers studying nonprofit finance and financial management
- Instructors teaching nonprofit financial theory or practice
- Practitioners in financial roles within nonprofit organizations
- Those connecting financial scholarship with real-world challenges
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What the Section Does
- Promotes scholarship on nonprofit finance and financial management
- Encourages exchange across geographic and methodological boundaries
- Supports collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and educators
- Creates opportunities to share knowledge at the Annual Conference
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Public Policy, Politics, and Law (PPPL)
The PPPL Section provides a forum for discussing and promoting scholarship on the intersections between nonprofit organizations, public policy, politics, and law. It supports networking among researchers and policy practitioners across disciplinary and geographic contexts.
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Areas of Focus
- Government–nonprofit relationships and public policy processes
- Legal frameworks affecting civil society and nonprofit action
- Political influences on nonprofit governance and advocacy
- Public law, regulation, and accountability in voluntary action
- Applied and academic scholarship on policy, politics, and law
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Who Should Join
- Researchers studying public policy, politics, or law as related to nonprofits
- Instructors teaching public policy and voluntary action
- Practitioners in policy or legal roles connected to the nonprofit sector
- Those connecting academic inquiry with policy and legal practice
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What the Section Does
- Provides space for discussion and dissemination of policy and law research
- Encourages professional networking among scholars and practitioners
- Promotes interdisciplinary perspectives in policy and legal scholarship
- Supports connections between researchers and policy practitioners
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Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Section (SEES)
The SEES Section explores social and strategic innovation for public service, especially among nonprofit organizations, including modes of earned income generation and entrepreneurial approaches that advance social impact. SEES supports international dialogue and research spanning diverse contexts and disciplines.
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Areas of Focus
- Social and strategic innovation in the nonprofit sector
- Earned income, hybrid models, and sustainability strategies
- Comparative and international approaches to social enterprise
- Theory development related to entrepreneurship and innovation
- Dialogue across disciplines around social impact strategies
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Who Should Join
- Researchers studying social entrepreneurship and social enterprise
- Instructors teaching innovation or earned income strategies
- Practitioners in hybrid or revenue-generating organizations
- Those connecting theory, practice, and policy around social innovation
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What the Section Does
- Provides space for dialogue on policy, practice, and theory in social enterprise
- Explores differences in definitions and approaches across contexts
- Supports community building among scholars and practitioners
- Promotes international collaboration in social enterprise research
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Teaching Section (TEACH)
The Teaching Section supports ARNOVA members dedicated to improving and furthering teaching and learning related to the nonprofit sector, voluntarism, and philanthropy. It fosters a community of educators and practitioners focused on strengthening pedagogy and sharing resources.
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Areas of Focus
- Nonprofit management, philanthropy, and volunteerism education
- Teaching tools, approaches, and curriculum development
- Effective pedagogy and classroom practice
- Peer networking among instructors and educators
- Sharing resources, case studies, and instructional strategies
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Who Should Join
- Instructors teaching nonprofit sector, philanthropy, or volunteerism courses
- Those developing instructional materials or curricula
- Members seeking peer support and resources for teaching practice
- Those expanding pedagogical skills in the field
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What the Section Does
- Provides networking opportunities for educators across institutions
- Offers professional development webinars and teaching resources
- Supports sessions and activities at the Annual Conference
- Encourages sharing of innovative teaching practices and tools
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Theories, Issues, Boundaries Section (TIBS)
The TIBS Section brings together ARNOVA members interested in theoretical perspectives on nonprofit organizations, voluntary action, and civil society. The section emphasizes comparative and interdisciplinary analysis and supports dialogue across diverse scholarly communities.
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Areas of Focus
- Theoretical perspectives on voluntary action and civil society
- Conceptual boundaries and foundational issues in nonprofit studies
- Comparative analysis across settings, disciplines, and contexts
- Interdisciplinary frameworks and cross-fertilization of ideas
- Inclusive engagement across diverse scholarly communities
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Who Should Join
- Researchers with theoretical or conceptual emphasis
- Those exploring comparative or interdisciplinary approaches
- Instructors teaching theory related to civil society or voluntary action
- Members seeking engagement with diverse theoretical frameworks
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What the Section Does
- Supports discussion and exploration of theoretical frameworks
- Encourages interdisciplinary dialogue among diverse scholars
- Provides space for comparative and conceptual inquiry
- Fosters intellectual exchange across international and disciplinary lines
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Ready to Join a Section?
Your first Section is included free with all ARNOVA memberships. Additional Sections are available for $12 each and can be added through the member portal at any time.
Become a Member
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