Voluntas

Scope & Guideline

Empowering Scholars to Shape Societal Impact

Introduction

Welcome to the Voluntas information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Voluntas, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0957-8765
PublisherSPRINGER
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1990 to 2024
AbbreviationVOLUNTAS / Voluntas
Frequency6 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressONE NEW YORK PLAZA, SUITE 4600 , NEW YORK, NY 10004, UNITED STATES

Aims and Scopes

The journal Voluntas focuses on the intersection of civil society, nonprofit organizations, and volunteerism, providing a platform for scholarly research that addresses the complexities and dynamics of these sectors. It aims to enhance the understanding of how these organizations operate, their impact on society, and the motivations behind individual and collective actions within these frameworks.
  1. Nonprofit Organization Dynamics:
    Research exploring the governance, management, and operational strategies of nonprofit organizations, including their relationships with stakeholders and the impact of external factors.
  2. Volunteer Motivation and Engagement:
    Studies examining the motivations, experiences, and outcomes of volunteers, with a focus on how organizational practices and societal contexts influence volunteer engagement.
  3. Civil Society and Social Change:
    Investigations into the role of civil society organizations in promoting social change, addressing social issues, and fostering community development.
  4. Philanthropy and Funding Mechanisms:
    Analysis of philanthropic practices, funding models, and their implications for nonprofit sustainability and effectiveness.
  5. Comparative Perspectives in Nonprofit Research:
    Research comparing different contexts, regions, and sectors within the nonprofit landscape to draw insights on best practices and challenges.
  6. Impact Assessment and Evaluation:
    Studies focused on the measurement and evaluation of social impact created by nonprofit organizations and volunteer initiatives.
Recent publications in Voluntas indicate a shift towards emerging themes that reflect current societal challenges and the evolving landscape of civil society. These trends highlight the journal's responsiveness to contemporary issues and the growing complexity of nonprofit dynamics.
  1. Digital Transformation in Nonprofits:
    A growing focus on how digital tools and platforms are reshaping nonprofit operations, volunteer engagement, and fundraising strategies, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. Intersectionality in Volunteerism:
    Emerging research is increasingly examining how factors such as race, gender, and socio-economic status intersect to influence volunteer experiences and organizational practices.
  3. Resilience in Nonprofit Organizations:
    Studies exploring how nonprofits adapt and respond to crises, including economic downturns and public health emergencies, are becoming more prominent.
  4. Collaborative Approaches to Social Issues:
    There is a rising trend in research on cross-sector collaborations and partnerships between nonprofits, businesses, and governments to address complex social challenges.
  5. Global Perspectives on Philanthropy:
    An increasing emphasis on understanding philanthropic practices in a global context, including the influence of cultural, political, and economic factors on giving behaviors.

Declining or Waning

While Voluntas maintains a strong focus on various aspects of civil society and nonprofit research, certain themes appear to be declining in frequency or relevance over recent years. These waning scopes may reflect shifts in academic interest or changes in the social and political landscapes influencing nonprofit work.
  1. Traditional Volunteering Models:
    Research centered on conventional models of volunteering and community service appears to be less prevalent, possibly due to the rise of more diverse and innovative forms of volunteer engagement.
  2. Single-Domain Nonprofit Studies:
    There seems to be a decline in studies that focus exclusively on specific types of nonprofit organizations (e.g., arts or health), as the field increasingly embraces interdisciplinary and holistic approaches.
  3. Static Frameworks for Nonprofit Governance:
    Research utilizing rigid or traditional governance frameworks is becoming less common, with a shift towards more dynamic and adaptive models that reflect the complexities of contemporary nonprofit environments.
  4. Volunteerism as a Solely Altruistic Endeavor:
    The perspective of volunteering purely as an altruistic activity is waning, as researchers increasingly recognize the multifaceted motivations and socio-economic factors influencing volunteer behavior.
  5. Local Case Studies without Broader Implications:
    There is a noticeable decrease in the emphasis on localized case studies that do not connect to broader theoretical or practical implications, as the field moves towards more generalizable insights.

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