Registration is Open for the 55th Annual ARNOVA Conference
Join ARNOVA in Philadelphia, November 19–21, 2026, as scholars, practitioners, and community leaders gather around this year’s theme: Igniting Civic Activism: Grassroots and Voluntary Action and Democracy.
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, this year’s conference invites us to reflect on the role of voluntary action, nonprofits, philanthropy, and grassroots organizing in shaping civic life — past, present, and future.
Hosted at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, the conference will bring together 180+ sessions, plenaries, posters, networking opportunities, and conversations that connect research, practice, and civic action.
Why Philadelphia?
There may be no better place to explore civic activism and democracy than Philadelphia — a city deeply connected to the nation’s founding and still alive with community organizing, nonprofit leadership, public dialogue, and civic action today.
Igniting Civic Activism: Grassroots and Voluntary Action and Democracy
In 2026, as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, ARNOVA invites scholars, practitioners, and community leaders from around the world to reflect on the enduring civic activity that fuels voluntary spirit and the collective pursuit of the common good. From the earliest mutual aid societies and reform movements to contemporary networks of social entrepreneurs and community organizers, voluntary action has been central to the American Democracy, and it resonates far beyond U.S. borders.
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, ARNOVA invites scholars, practitioners, and community leaders from around the world to explore the role of voluntary action, philanthropy, and nonprofit organizations in shaping civic life and democratic participation.
The 2026 conference will examine how grassroots efforts, civil society organizations, and community engagement contribute to democratic resilience, inclusion, and social change across diverse local and global contexts.
Join us in Philadelphia for three days of research presentations, thought-provoking discussions, networking opportunities, and collaborative learning with colleagues from across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
Conference Highlights
- 180+ research and panel sessions
- Plenary speakers and special events
- Poster presentations
- Networking and community-building opportunities
- Discussions connecting research, practice, and civic action
November 19–21, 2026 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A quarter millenium later, this anniversary presents an inflection point to both celebrate and critically examine how grassroots efforts, philanthropy, and nonprofit institutions worldwide have shaped civic life, democratic inclusion, and self-governance across time and place. The theme also invites comparison and learning across diverse country contexts.
How have geographically, economically, and politically diverse societies cultivated civic capacity and voluntary association to advance democracy, resilience, and citizen and community engagement? What can we learn from global movements that connect local action to systemic institutional change that strengthen democracy? When do democratic institutions fail and what role does civil society play in these dynamics? What are the antecedents of democratic backsliding and how can civil society organization help rebuild democracy? What role do nonprofits play shaping civic discourse? How are nonprofits mobilizing citizens and individuals for civic and political action, including electoral participation? We invite full panels, individual papers, and poster proposals that deal with these questions, pertinent to the conference theme, and also invite proposals that align with the standing conference tracks.
Igniting Civic Action challenges us to look backward and forward, locally and globally. As we reflect on centuries of voluntary action, we ask how today’s civic actors, across nations, traditions, and communities, can ignite new forms of democratic engagement, trust, and shared purpose in an interconnected world.