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What Do Fundraisers Want Researchers to Study?

The best research questions start in the field. Share yours with the new Philanthropy & Fundraising Common Interest Group of ARNOVA (the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action). We meet at the ARNOVA conference in Philadelphia on Friday, November 20, 2026.

Your answers will shape our session and future working groups. The survey takes about 5 minutes. Please respond by Friday, November 6.

What sector is your organization?

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A

Higher education

B

K-12 or independent schools

C

Health care

D

Human services

E

Arts and culture

F

Faith-based

G

Environment and animals

H

Foundation or grantmaking

I

Consulting or service provider

J

Other

What's one question about donors or fundraising you wish you could answer with confidence?

Think of a recent decision you made on a hunch. What evidence would have helped you make it?

What fundraising "best practice" do you follow but suspect might not actually work?

What do you wish your board, leadership, or colleagues understood about fundraising that research could help prove?

If a researcher could study one thing at your organization tomorrow, what would you want them to look at?

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