ERNOP Conference Proceedings 2025
12th International Research Conference of the European Research Network On Philanthropy
25-26th September 2025, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
The conference proceedings are ordered alphabetically by the first author’s last name. Conference proceedings are collections of academic papers following the 2025 ERNOP conference. They serve as a record of the conference and are often works in progress because the content presented within them often represents ongoing research or preliminary findings.
Read the full proceedings, including an editorial by ERNOP’s Executive Director Barry Hoolwerf, here.
Women’s inclusion in the governance board of nonprofit organisations
Author(s): Ana Carolina Barros Pinheiro Carrenho (Lisbon University) & Victor Gustavo Rocha Nylander (Lisbon University)
pp. 1–17
Abstract: This article addresses the limited access and representation of women on the governing boards and high-level decision-making bodies of non-profit organisations. Relevant international institutions emphasize the benefits of women’s inclusion on these bodies for organizational decision-making and strategic vision, strengthening legitimacy and fostering inclusivity. The persistent underrepresentation of women on these boards may contribute to societal imbalances within the philanthropic sector, and this analysis explores how greater inclusion may influence the philanthropic priorities and policy advocacy of these organisations. In conclusion, greater inclusion of women on the governing boards of non-profit organisations is essential for achieving gender equality (SDG 5), stronger governance, and greater social impact, necessitating policies and practices that value diversity, ensure fair remuneration, and secure women’s representation on these key bodies.
Author(s): Alžbeta Brozmanová Gregorová (Matej Bel University, Slovakia), Zuzana Heinzová, (Matej Bel University, Slovakia) & Estera Frgelcová (Matej Bel University, Slovakia)
pp. 18–29
Abstract: The swift humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict in Ukraine triggered an unprecedented wave of volunteerism across Europe. Due to its geographical proximity and historical ties, Slovakia became a crucial hub for support (Brozmanová Gregorová and Bambúch, 2024). Sharing a border with Ukraine, the country faced a significant influx of refugees, mainly women, children, and older adults seeking safety (Vansac and Gulasova, 2023). The initial response was marked by spontaneous help from ordinary citizens, demonstrating compassion and solidarity (Adamus and Grežo, 2024). Volunteers played a pivotal role in both humanitarian assistance and refugee integration. This study examines the multifaceted aspects of volunteerism during the early stages of the war, focusing on volunteers’ demographic characteristics, levels of involvement, and motivations for engagement. Empirical data were collected in 2023 through a representative survey of the adult population as part of the project Volunteering in Slovakia during the crisis, with a research sample of 1,020 respondents. Findings show that 20.7% of adults volunteered to help address the crisis. Most were engaged in informal volunteering. Factor analysis revealed two main motivational patterns: value-based motivation and reactive or pragmatic motivation. Understanding these motives is crucial for sustaining volunteer engagement, especially in prolonged crises where initial enthusiasm may decline (Sengupta et al., 2023). Volunteering during the Ukraine crisis was strongly linked to volunteering in 2023 and to future intentions. This suggests that crisis-related volunteering can evolve into long-term engagement (Baxter-Tomkins and Wallace, 2009), thereby strengthening community cohesion and resilience (Waldman et al., 2018).
Philanthropy, Responsibility and Influence: Business Engagement with Society in the 1950s
Author(s): Michael Bzdak (Rutgers University)
pp. 30–43
Abstract: This paper argues that the strategic use of philanthropy and the accumulation of social and cultural capital by key actors shaped both corporate practices and international relations during the 1950s. The article seeks to answer how philanthropic strategies influenced US foreign policy and what roles individual actors played in blurring the lines among business, philanthropy, and politics The paper also describes and analyzes post-war business engagement with society and the emergence of Corporate Social Responsibility in the 1950s. Philanthropy’s role as a strategic practice is discussed through examples of US relations with India, Japan and Italy. The article will investigate a critical decade (1950s) where companies, philanthropic leaders and governments exerted great influence on foreign policy and international relations and, as Eleanor Brilliant describes a time when the borders separating philanthropic, third sector activities and political activities were blurred. The article will also highlight the importance of social and cultural capital as it was accumulated and leveraged by members of the Rockefeller family as well as by Adriano Olivetti as he led his company’s growing business presence in the US. The paper will also investigate the roles of a select group of lesser-known individuals who worked behind the scenes to advance the agendas of corporate, philanthropic and government leaders. The work of these individuals illustrates the power of cultural, social, and symbolic capital; for example, their educational achievements (cultural capital), networks (social capital), and reputations (symbolic capital) enabled them to gain power and influence.
Sense of Community Responsibility’s Impact on Philanthropic & Civic Behaviors
Author(s): Richard Clerkin (University of North Carolina Wilmington) & Chris Prentice (University of North Carolina Wilmington)
pp. 44–61
Abstract: Prosocial behaviors, including volunteering and donating, are essential for preserving and improving civic health and community well-being. We investigate whether individuals with a greater feeling of personal responsibility for community well-being volunteer or donate more than their counterparts. Results indicate that the more responsibility individuals feel for their community (i.e., higher levels of Sense of Community Responsibility), the mo-re likely they are to volunteer and donate in that community. Further, higher levels of Sense of Community Responsibility are associated with higher levels of both the amount of secular donations and the proportion of those donations that remain in the community, as well the number of hours they volunteer with secular nonprofits each week. Somewhat surprising, we see very little influence of Sense of Community Responsibility on one’s philanthropic behaviors towards houses of worship. These findings also raise implications for local nonprofit and government leaders who want to increase donations and volunteers to local nonprofits by creating and enhancing sense of community, and the responsibility individuals feel for the communities in which they live.
Private Giving and Civil Society Organizations: Towards New Relations
Mapping Knowledge Needs and Relationship Dynamics in a Changing Philanthropic LandscapeAuthor(s): Floriant Covelli (French Institute for Civil Society Organizations) & Amira Azaiez (French Institute for Civil Society Organizations)
pp. 62–76
Abstract: In France, private giving plays an increasingly important role in the trajectories and strategies of civil society organizations (CSOs), without calling into question the centrality of public funding. While this development has generated growing interest, the concrete relationships between private giving actors and CSOs remain underexplored as a research topic. Existing studies most often address donors, tax mechanisms, or philanthropic organizations in isolation, leaving in the shadows the relational, organizational, and democratic dynamics that structure these interactions.
This article draws on the results of a participatory working group coordinated by the French Institute for Civil Society Organizations (IFMA), which brought together researchers and practitioners around the issue of relationships between private giving and CSOs. Based on exchanges from these workshops, a targeted literature review, and a white paper devoted to the topic, the article examines how these relationships are structured, negotiated, and transformed in the French context, as well as the main knowledge gaps they raise.
The analysis shows that private giving cannot be understood as a simple funding mechanism, but must be approached as a multidimensional social relationship, shaped by power asymmetries, issues of trust, evaluation frameworks, and sometimes competing conceptions of the public interest. By adopting a relational perspective, the article highlights the tensions and reconfigurations at work in CSOs’ socio-economic models and governance practices.
The article therefore proposes a structured research agenda, grounded in the experience of the French voluntary sector, aimed at informing academic debates on philanthropy and civil society, while opening up lines of inquiry transferable to other welfare state contexts.
The philanthropic behavior of the Romanian Diaspora
A comparative analysis of the giving of the Romanian communities living in the US, UK, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and SpainAuthor(s): Zoltan Levente Fejes (Research Center for Civil Society), Bogdan Mihai Radu (Babes-Bolyai University/Research Center for Civil Society Center for the Study of Democracy), Szilard Bartok (Research Center for Civil Society), Maria Olariu (Center for the Study of Democracy)
pp. 77–89
Abstract: This study examines how Romanians living in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Spain engage in philanthropic activities, and compares their giving patterns with those of donors in Romania. It examines the frequency of diaspora members’ donations, the causes of their support, the factors that motivate their generosity, and the barriers that limit sustained engagement. The research included a mixed-methods design that combines a quantitative survey of 1,861 respondents aged 18–55 with qualitative interviews and focus groups involving 44 participants across major diaspora cities such as Chicago, London, Berlin, Brussels, Barcelona, and Milan. By integrating these data with existing studies on giving and migration, the study offers a multidimensional perspective on Romanian transnational philanthropy. Findings reveal a strong culture of giving among diaspora members, influenced by factors such as income, trust, and emotional connection to Romania. Differences between host countries reflect local economic and cultural contexts, yet common themes include a preference for NGOs and social causes, as well as the importance of transparency and perceived impact in sustaining donor engagement. The study contributes to understanding how migration reshapes philanthropic practices and highlights the need for tailored strategies to foster long-term connections between diaspora donors and home-country initiatives. In doing so, it broadens current perspectives on transnational civic engagement and the evolving forms of solidarity within migrant communities.
Author(s): Viacheslav Ivanov (Centre for Studies of Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector, HSE University, Moscow)
pp. 90–95
Abstract: The historical development of volunteering and philanthropy in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has been studied from ancient times to the present day. It was found that volunteering and charity in Central Asia have common historical roots. The tradition of collective mutual aid has always played an important role in the region’s culture, evolving into modern volunteering and philanthropy over time. It is important to note that the modern revival of these civil society practices coincided with the period during which the above states gained independence. In the present day, the effectiveness, usefulness and significance of volunteering and charity for society has increased, as has the range of opportunities for their implementation. Support from state bodies and improvements to the legislative framework that took into account the interests of the volunteer movement, public associations of citizens and non-profit organizations played an important role in this activity. The development of legislation in all countries of the region took place in parallel and was influenced by various factors that led to the emergence and strengthening of civil societies, strengthened trust and interaction between parliamentarians and voters, involved academic circles and experts, and shared, considered and used each other’s and neighboring countries’ experience.
Technology in Asia’s Social Sector: Cross-Regional Insights for Philanthropy in Asia and Europe
Author(s): Ke Li (Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society)
pp. 96–116
Abstract: Digital technology is reshaping the social sector globally. Yet, the Doing Good Index 2024, published by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), reveals gaps in the technological readiness of Asia’s social sector. These gaps include insufficient hardware and software access, inadequate cybersecurity measures, and a lack of staff capacity, hindering effective and safe technology adoption for social service delivery. As Asia rapidly advances in technological innovation and usage, Europe’s social sector also sees a similar upward trend with stronger digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. Faced with shared challenges that hinder the further leverage of digital technology, the social sectors in Asia and Europe can benefit from cross-regional learning. Drawing on primary data from the Doing Good Index 2024 and secondary analysis, this article adopts a comparative approach to examine technology usage and readiness levels in Asia’s social sector while also drawing from insights from the European counterpart. It also maps key stakeholders in the philanthropic ecosystem as well as their roles and characteristics in addressing the social sector’s technological needs. By filling the knowledge gap between Asia and Europe in this field, the article aims to enhance philanthropy’s role in empowering the social sector with more effective and strategic technology adoption.
Author(s): Anne Malmendier (Université libre de Bruxelles)
pp. 117–137
Abstract: The paper shares selected preliminary results of an ongoing doctoral research project in anthropology carried out at the Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium). The research observe the mechanisms of the construction of collective memory through the practice of donation of artworks to public museums in Europe today, taking the specific case of the Museum of Fine Arts of Ixelles (Brussels, Belgium) as a starting point and privileged field of investigations, set to be extended to other Belgian and French museums.
At the crossroads of the disciplinary fields of anthropology, museology and cultural history, from which it borrows methodologies and theoretical frameworks, the research project uses complementary methodologies in order to identify the present-day characteristics of the phenomenon. The research uses museum archives analysis to compare current observations with past cases, field surveys such as semi-directive interviews with today’s donors and the participant observation at the Museum of Ixelles as the researcher was part of the museum team from 2021 to September 2025 as Head of Development and Partnerships.
In the context of the 12th ERNOP Conference, the paper shares the first results that illustrate the trend of this specific form of philanthropy and the typical motivations that drive specific individuals to donate artworks to public museums. Consistent with the questions articulated by the conference, particular emphasis will be placed on presenting the elements in a manner that elucidates the ways in which philanthropy contributes to democratic processes and foster social cohesion, while considering the duality of private interests versus public good and bridging research and practice.
Philanthropy in an elite-biased democracy: Strategies in times of crisis
Author(s): Lina Ochoa-Carreño (Civance Research)
pp. 138–155
Abstract: This paper offers a theoretical integration of philanthropy within the framework of elite-biased democracy, as proposed by Ansell and Samuels (2014). In this setting, philanthropy is driven by industry-level investment, rather than individual charitable giving. Multiple investment instruments are available to philanthropy, and endowed foundations stand out as a default organizational arrangement protected by the institutional prerogative of perpetuity. However, in times of crisis, philanthropists reconsider their strategies and re-examine the idea of perpetuity. Presenting an exploratory analysis of the evidence provided by two major trends in philanthropic investment in the last two decades –spend-down foundations and Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)– the paper lays out four ideal-type scenarios to understand how the factors in the system will influence the choice of philanthropic strategy that weakened elites will adopt in the aftermath of a crisis. This theoretical perspective explores the pivotal role that the technological transition (“green transition”) is bound to play in philanthropy: a shift in investments and a sectoral rebalance in the economy will have major consequences for the practice of philanthropy. Thus, investment-driven philanthropy reveals its potential as part of the “green transition”, and its connection to the variety of coalitions and strategic interactions involved in the “Joint Democracy Game”, as well as its particular contributions to democratization and economic sustainability. Implications for the funding of research and science are also considered.
Accounting for Philanthropy: A Technical, Social and Moral Practice
Author(s): Gina Rossi (University of Udine)
pp. 156–168
Abstract: This paper contributes to the conceptualization of accounting for philanthropy (AfP) as a multidimensional practice that requires technical rigor, has social implications, and requires moral considerations. Intended as a “position paper”, it does not test hypotheses or propose regulatory models. Rather, it aims to encourage reflection on the multifaceted nature of AfP by presenting anecdotal evidence based on Italian foundations of banking origin. This reflection is considered a prerequisite for developing a data infrastructure that can provide researchers, organizations, and policymakers with a comprehensive view of philanthropy.
Communicating Philanthropy in the Digital Age: Sentimental Engagement
Author(s): Alina Selyanina (University of Geneva), Lucia Gomez (Bern University of Applied Sciences and University of Geneva) & Giuseppe Ugazio (University of Geneva)
pp. 169–183
Abstract: Digital platforms are becoming central to contemporary philanthropic communication, particularly among younger, digitally native audiences who engage with prosocial content in ways that differ markedly from traditional donors. This fast transition leaves open questions about how message design and presentation might shape audience perceptions and sentimental engagement in digital philanthropy communications. While framing theory predicts that structural message cues should trigger differentiated cognitive and emotional appraisals, little is known about whether such mechanisms operate in philanthropic digital media. This study investigates how audiences emotionally respond to two structural framing types in Beast Philanthropy videos (monetary-outcome versus non-monetary-outcome communication) by analyzing comments made in specific time intervals since publication for fourteen YouTube videos sampled from 2021 to 2024. Using a fine-tuned transformer, we map emotional landscapes and temporal dynamics across framing conditions. Across all videos and timepoints, reactions were overwhelmingly positive and dominated by admiration, love, gratitude, and care. Contrary to classical framing expectations, monetary cues did not produce clearly distinct emotional profiles: both framing types elicited a hybrid of scale-appraisal and community-oriented emotions, with admiration emerging as the most persistent signal. Emotional polarity remained consistently high, with only a modest dip as broader audiences entered the discourse several days post-release. These findings suggest that creator identity, parasocial relationships, and channel-level philanthropic norms may override title-level framing effects in digital stunt philanthropy. For practitioners this indicates that emphasizing either monetary outcomes or narrative-driven impact may both effectively foster positive emotional engagement, guiding strategies for communicating campaign success and sustaining donor support.
Constraints of Collaborative Governance in a Statist Welfare Regime during Crises. A Slovak Case
Author(s): Boris Strecanský (Institute of European Studies and International Relations, Comenius University)
pp. 184-206
Abstract: The New Public Management (NPM) and collaborative governance aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public service delivery by moving beyond traditional hierarchical bureaucracy. They emphasize decentralized approaches and a complementary relationship between the state and civil society, where nonprofits are considered partners with the government in providing public goods funded by public resources. There is a gap in understanding how these decentralization-supporting frameworks operate in countries with patterns of delayed democratization or statist civil society development. The paper demonstrates how the statist tendencies in public governance are in an asynchronous relationship with the self-organizing capacity of civil society, which, presents elements of new governance and indigenous agency. The disconnect between the state and civil society became visible during the COVID-19 pandemic and the War in Ukraine which provided the empirical background for the paper. The case examines the role of civil society in responding to crises. It explores patterns of its self-organization, pro-social organizing, philanthropic activity, interactions with the state, and policy formulation. It deploys three complementary lenses to explain the persistence of statist elements in Slovakia’s governance – historical institutionalism in public administration, social origins of civil society theory, and welfare regime theory. It suggests network institutionalism as a possible way to explain the nature of civil society agency in Slovakia during crises. It argues that, in the context of delayed democratization, the NPM paradigm takes on hybrid forms influenced by persisting statism, avoiding a complementary relationship with non-state actors.
You belong with me. Empirical research on normative distance between faculty and fundraisers
Author(s): Aline Tanno (University of St.Gallen)
pp. 207-223
Abstract: In times of declining public funding, fundraising is vital also for public universities. Collaboration of fundraisers and faculty members has been found crucial to improving fundraising results: Faculty members have a high level of legitimacy to advocate for the university, numerous contacts with prospects and have relevant knowledge on the case for support. However, collaboration of faculty and fundraisers often proves challenging: faculty members find working with fundraisers time-consuming and ineffective, whereas fundraisers feel hindered by status differentials. How can this crucial collaboration be improved? I address this question in my qualitative study via three in depth-case studies in the US, UK/Ireland and Switzerland. To this end, I build on organizational distance theory, i.e. the distance that arises between groups due to organizational conditions, and social distance theory, or more precisely, normative distance, i.e. the perceived distance between the two groups. First, my qualitative study finds that the impact of organizational distance on collaboration beats that of social distance. Second, it shows that semi-decentrally organized fundraising is more successful than central or decentral fundraising structures. Third, it contributes to the comparative analysis of philanthropy that is underexplored in current philanthropy scholarship.