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A Century of Nonprofit Studies: Scaling the Knowledge of the Field

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Ji Ma Open the ORCID record for Ji Ma [Opens in a new window]  and
Sara Konrath
Ji Ma*
Affiliation:
RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, 2315 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA
Sara Konrath*
Affiliation:
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA
*
maji@austin.utexas.edu
skonrath@iupui.edu
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Abstract

This empirical study examines knowledge production between 1925 and 2015 in nonprofit and philanthropic studies from quantitative and thematic perspectives. Quantitative results suggest that scholars in this field have been actively generating a considerable amount of literature and a solid intellectual base for developing this field toward a new discipline. Thematic analyses suggest that knowledge production in this field is also growing in cohesion—several main themes have been formed and actively advanced since 1980s, and the study of volunteering can be identified as a unique core theme of this field. The lack of geographic and cultural diversity is a critical challenge for advancing nonprofit studies. New paradigms are needed for developing this research field and mitigating the tension between academia and practice. Methodological and pedagogical implications, limitations, and future studies are discussed.

Keywords

Nonprofit and philanthropic studiesNetwork analysisKnowledge productionParadigm shiftScience mapping

Information

Type
Original Paper
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 29 , Issue 6 , December 2018 , pp. 1139 - 1158
Copyright
Copyright © International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University 2018

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