Issue 2  |  June 2026

Saurabh Lall is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) and Associate Director of Impact at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. Saurabh holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from George Washington University in the U.S., and served as Assistant and Associate Professor at the School of Planning, Public Policy & Management, University of Oregon before joining the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow in 2022. He has a distinguished publication record that includes eleven peer-reviewed articles, a book, and many research articles, three of which are in Voluntas. He sits currently on the Voluntas Editorial Board and is one of their most active reviewers (19 articles for the journal at last count). 

His research agenda focuses on entrepreneurship and society and follows two broad tracks: entrepreneurship in developing and emerging economies; and social entrepreneurship (including related concepts such as impact investing and venture philanthropy). His research includes issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion by focusing on traditionally overlooked entrepreneurs, underdeveloped regions and countries, and challenging institutional environments. He works closely with practitioner organizations to systematically collect data and test interventions to stimulate entrepreneurial growth. 

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations is the official journal of the International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR) that publishes original peer-reviewed manuscripts from a plurality of disciplinary, methodological, and international perspectives on nonprofit organizations and voluntary action. The journal publishes full-length articles and book reviews.

This award is presented biennially for the best papers published in Voluntas in the two preceding years. The awards recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of third sector studies.

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations is the official journal of the International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR) that publishes original peer-reviewed manuscripts from a plurality of disciplinary, methodological, and international perspectives on nonprofit organizations and voluntary action. The journal publishes full-length articles and book reviews.

Citation:

"This paper starts from a question that is both simple and surprisingly difficult: can we foster civic engagement by making community service mandatory? Or does obligation take away precisely what makes volunteering meaningful? 

This question has long occupied scholars, educators, and policymakers, but previous evidence has been mixed. What makes this paper stand out is that it moves beyond competing theoretical perspectives and finds an unusually convincing way to study the issue. The authors use a rare natural experiment in South Korea, where mandatory community service was introduced nationwide in the mid-1990s. With large-scale survey data and a rigorous regression-discontinuity design, the paper provides strong evidence about the long-term effects of this policy on adult civic behavior. 

The findings are important and nuanced. The paper does not simply conclude that mandatory service works or does not work. Instead, it shows that the effects differ across groups. For the population as a whole, there is no clear overall effect. But among individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, mandatory community service significantly increases the likelihood of volunteering in adulthood, while there is no evidence of negative effects among higher socio-economic groups.  

This is a crucial contribution. It suggests that mandatory community service may matter most for young people who would otherwise have fewer opportunities to encounter volunteering, nonprofit organizations, and civic life. In doing so, the paper speaks not only to debates about volunteering, but also to broader questions of inequality, access, and how civic habits are formed. At a time when many countries are reconsidering civic education policies, these findings carry clear international relevance. 

The committee was particularly impressed by the paper’s combination of theoretical relevance, methodological rigor, and practical importance. It moves the debate beyond a simple yes-or-no question and offers the kind of careful, evidence-based insight our field needs. For these reasons, the committee is very pleased to recognize “Is Mandatory Community Service a Catalyst for Civic Growth or Fruitless Servitude?” by Hwiyoung P. Lee and Ram A. Cnaan as a deserving recipient of the Voluntas Best Paper Award."

Hwiyoung P. Lee is a PhD student at the School of Social Policy & Practice and an IES Predoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania

Ram Cnaan is Professor, Director of the Program for Religion and Social Policy Research, and Program Director of the Doctorate in Nonprofit Administration at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice

This award is presented biennially for the best papers published in Voluntas in the two preceding years. The awards recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of third sector studies.

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations is the official journal of the International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR) that publishes original peer-reviewed manuscripts from a plurality of disciplinary, methodological, and international perspectives on nonprofit organizations and voluntary action. The journal publishes full-length articles and book reviews.

Citation:

In a world increasingly shaped by complex systems and wicked problems, Shawn Teresa Flanigan’s award-winning article confronts one of the most important questions facing nonprofit organizations today: how should mission-driven organizations respond when they encounter complex systems problems beyond their traditional expertise? By examining environmental nonprofit organizations responding to homelessness in California’s river watersheds, this paper tackles a challenge that extends far beyond a single management domain and speaks to the future of nonprofit management in an increasingly interconnected world. 

Through a rigorous mixed-methods design combining surveys, semi-structured interviews, and extensive participant observation, this paper reveals a compelling pattern: staff’s perspectives on organizational mission vary according to the extent to which they articulate a systems perspective on complex problems. By creatively adapting Chevallier’s problem-solving framework to nonprofit contexts, the paper offers a novel conceptual perspective that bridges systems thinking and mission drift, demonstrating why mission adaptation may be an essential feature of effective organizational responses to wicked problems. 

This paper’s contributions are both timely and important. Rather than treating mission drift as organizational failure, the paper challenges one of the field’s most enduring assumptions by demonstrating how organizational adaptation can become a necessary pathway toward solving society’s most intractable problems. Its insights not only make a significant contribution to nonprofit scholarship but also offers valuable practical guidance for nonprofit leaders navigating increasingly complex and interconnected environments.  

For these reasons, the committee is delighted to recognize "Impacts of Systems Thinking on Mission When Environmental Nonprofit Organizations Encounter the Complex Systems Problem of Homelessness" by Professor Shawn Teresa Flanigan as the deserving recipient of the Voluntas Best Paper Award. Please join me in congratulating her. 

Shawn Flanigan is Professor at the School of Public Affairs, San Diego State University in the United States.

This award is presented biennially for a PhD dissertation that contributes to the field of comparative study of civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropy, voluntarism and related issues. completed or defended in the two calendar years (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025) preceding the award. 

The award will be presented in an awards ceremony on Friday July 17 at the 17th International ISTR Conference in Lisbon.

Citation:

"We are grateful to announce that the 2026 Lester M. Salamon Emerging Scholar Dissertation Award goes to Dominik S. Meier from the University of Basel, Switzerland, for his excellent work: "Social Preferences Across Contexts". Texts like this help to understand the complexity of altruism deeply, with an amazing analysis using computational methods with large-scale observational data that can give another perspective to the comprehension of the Third Sector.

This study can set new methods in understanding the features of the decision environment of prosocial behavior not only in the cases that Dominik analyzes, but it can be applied in other regions and countries. In short, we can understand how and when people are willing to help, and that is one of the grails of the Third Sector.

We also want to make a special mention of Tanja Dittfeld with her dissertation Decolonizing Mo(ve)ments: Decoloniality in/as Praxis with LGBTIQ+ Activists in Uganda, which proposes a framework of epistemic decolonization that can help to understand and confront how knowledge is produced in the Third Sector."

Dominik Assistant Professor for Global Philanthropy at the Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS), University of Basel, Switzerland. 

The June 2026 ISTR Latin America and the Caribbean Network Newsletter is available.

ISTR LAC NEWSLETTER

PRESENTACIÓN

Con la proximidad de nuestra 17th International Conference, que tendrá lugar el próximo mes en Lisboa, ya están disponibles en el sitio web de ISTR la Schedule, las Plenaries y las Special Sessions. El martes 14 de julio, a las 17:45, se llevarán a cabo las reuniones de los ya conocidos Affinity Groups. Estoy proponiendo la creación de un nuevo grupo sobre “Philanthropy in Support of Science”. Si el tema es de su interés, la reunión tendrá lugar en el Building 2, Floor 5, Room C5.08.
Y reserve la fecha: nuestra Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Network Meeting se realizará el jueves 16 de julio, de 17:45 a 18:45, en el Building 2, Floor 4, Room C4.02. ¡Participe!

APRESENTAÇÃO

Com a proximidade da nossa 17th International Conference, que acontecerá no próximo mês em Lisboa, já estão disponíveis no site da ISTR a Schedule, as Plenaries e as Special Sessions. Na terça-feira, 14 de julho, às 17h45, ocorrerão as reuniões dos já conhecidos Affinity Groups. Estou propondo a criação de um novo grupo sobre “Philanthropy in Support of Science”: Se o tema for do seu interesse, a reunião acontecerá no Building 2, Floor 5, Room C5.08.
E programe-se: nossa Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Network Meeting será realizada na quinta-feira, 16 de julho, das 17h45 às 18h45, no Building 2, Floor 4, Room C4.02. Participe!

Andrea Martini Pineda
Editora do Boletim ISTR para a América Latina e o Caribe
editor@istrlac.org
https://istrlac.org/ 

In early April, I was invited to attend a gathering in Buenos Aires called “Reimagining Civil Society: Rethinking Support, Power, and Resourcing.” This in-person event was the outcome of a series of online dialogs with nonprofit organization and foundation leaders to reimagine the future of civil society following the collapse of USAID in early 2025.  Though these were not research-focused discussions, I was interested to listen and get a sense of what is on the minds of these sector leaders, and to look for opportunities for ISTR members. The sessions were hosted by RACI – an association of NGOs in Argentina with global ties to many networks, including the association of national NGO associations (AGNA), Civicus, and the International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE).    

I was intrigued by the opportunity to spend three days in deep discussion with civil society and network leaders about how to build legitimacy and trust and to strengthen global solidarity in response to rising authoritarianism and closing civic space. They asked us to embrace big sky ideas for the transformations that were needed. 

I found that much of the discussion paralleled our conversations in ISTR.  I noticed an emphasis on shifting the focus from Global North to Majority World, and from formal/large NGO projects to meaningful community-led efforts.  There was a recognition that new financial tools and resourcing approaches are needed that are based in trusting relationships and long-term engagement.   

The experience helped me to find some language that would accurately describe the role our research and teaching community plays in building the knowledge base for the broader civil society ecosystem. While no one questioned the importance of research for the development of the field, my experience has been that the generation of knowledge and its connection to the advancement of the sector is not clearly articulated at this level of discussion.  

Three points became clear to me: 1) For some research efforts with strong implications for practice, a great deal can be done in the design, implementation, and dissemination to ensure the connection is made.  Many of you are committed to orienting research this way and to building strong relationships with practitioner and policy groups.  ISTR is making new efforts to be supportive. 2) Not all research efforts actually need to be given attention by practitioner or policy groups.  In some cases, the research is speaking to other research efforts only, and there are good reasons for doing so. This is a role where ISTR has traditionally thrived, of course. 3) There is a great deal of space at the international level for ISTR to engage in research to practice conversations where we have not previously spent much time and where I hope we can do more.    

ISTR can do more to represent the knowledge sector of the civil society ecosystem internationally and to build the case for the value of the sector. We can bring awareness of the role of research and we can provide the relational infrastructure to help connect civil society networks with our members.  

To this end, we have strengthened our communication channels with WINGs – a global network of philanthropy support and development organizations.  I am happy to share that ISTR will be chairing the research interest group for WINGs moving forward and I will be attending their World Forum in September, which will help us to connect the knowledge sector directly to philanthropy networks.   

I will be interested to see how the conversation that was started in Buenos Aires develops in the coming months. The experience gave me some hope. I was grateful for the opportunity to participate and am inspired by the greater clarity I now have for representing ISTR at the global level. 

Megan Haddock, Executive Director 

ISTR PhD Seminar Alumni Quarterly Newsletter
Issue 14  |  May 2026

The May 2026 ISTR Latin America and the Caribbean Network Newsletter is available.

ISTR LAC NEWSLETTER

PRESENTACIÓN

¡Hola, red ISTR LAC! La edición de mayo de nuestro Boletín es especialmente diversa y colaborativa, con contribuciones de miembros de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, México y Puerto Rico: un fiel reflejo de la riqueza de nuestra red. Queremos ampliar aún más esta participación: envíen sus sugerencias antes del día 15 de cada mes para que se incluyan en la edición que se publica a fin de mes. También retomaremos la publicación de videos con noticias de los miembros en nuestro canal de YouTube. Este mes, la investigadora brasileña Bruna Holanda comparte su experiencia publicando en la revista VOLUNTAS. ¡No se lo pierdan! Y, tan importante como su participación en el Boletín es su opinión: si aún no han respondido a nuestra encuesta, los invitamos a participar. Es rápido y marcará una gran diferencia para fortalecer nuestra comunicación. ¡Que disfruten de la lectura!

¡Gracias! Abrazos,

APRESENTAÇÃO

Olá, rede ISTR LAC! A edição de maio do nosso Boletim está especialmente diversa e colaborativa, construída com contribuições de membros da Argentina, Brasil, Chile, México e Porto Rico: um verdadeiro retrato da riqueza de nossa rede. Queremos ampliar ainda mais essa participação: envie suas sugestões até o dia 15 de cada mês para integrar a edição publicada no final do mês. Também retomaremos a divulgação de vídeos com novidades de associados em nosso canal no YouTube. Neste mês, a pesquisadora brasileira Bruna Holanda compartilha sua experiência de publicação na revista VOLUNTAS. Não deixe de conferir! E, tão importante quanto sua participação no Boletim, é a sua opinião: se você ainda não respondeu à nossa pesquisa, convidamos você a participar. AQUI. É rápido e fará muita diferença para fortalecermos nossa comunicação. Boa leitura!

Obrigada! Abraços,

Andrea Martini Pineda
Editora do Boletim ISTR para a América Latina e o Caribe
editor@istrlac.org
https://istrlac.org/ 

The April 2026 ISTR Latin America and the Caribbean Network Newsletter is available.

ISTR LAC NEWSLETTER

PRESENTACIÓN

La edición de abril del Boletín ISTR es muy completa y exhaustiva, y tiene como objetivo destacar la diversidad de temas de investigación que abarca nuestra red. También hemos lanzado la sección "Publicaciones de los miembros": un espacio abierto para compartir el trabajo de los miembros de la red. Si aún no has participado en nuestra encuesta, ¡haz clic y complétala! Es muy rápido. ¡Que disfrutes de la lectura!

¡Gracias! Abrazos,

APRESENTAÇÃO

A edição de abril do Boletim ISTR está bem completa e robusta, buscando dar atenção à diversidade de temas de pesquisa que nossa rede abrange. Também inauguramos a seção “Publicações de Associados”: um espaço aberto para compartilhar as produções de membros da rede. Se você ainda não participou de nossa pesquisa, clique e faça! É bem rápido. Boa leitura!

Obrigada! Abraços,

Andrea Martini Pineda
Editora do Boletim ISTR para a América Latina e o Caribe
editor@istrlac.org
https://istrlac.org/ 

The March 2026 ISTR Latin America and the Caribbean Network Newsletter is available.

ISTR LAC NEWSLETTER

PRESENTACIÓN

En esta edición de marzo de nuestro Boletín ISTR LAC (istrlac.org) encontrará oportunidades de intercambio para jóvenes investigadores, convocatorias abiertas para subvenciones y publicaciones, recomendaciones de lectura sobre nuestra región y la agenda de las próximas conferencias del sector.

No olvide responder AQUÍ y compartir nuestra breve encuesta con los lectores del Boletín ISTR LAC.

¡Gracias!
Atentamente,

APRESENTAÇÃO

Esta edição de Março do nosso Boletim (Newsletter) da ISTR LAC (istrlac.org) traz oportunidades de intercâmbio para jovens pesquisadores, chamadas abertas para bolsas e publicações, indicações de leitura sobre a nossa região e a agenda dos próximos Congressos do setor.

Não deixe de responder AQUI e compartilhar nossa breve pesquisa com leitores do Boletim ISTR LAC.

Obrigada!
Abraços,

Andrea Martini Pineda
Editora do Boletim ISTR para a América Latina e o Caribe
editor@istrlac.org
https://istrlac.org/ 

From the Editors of Voluntas

As Voluntas begins this new chapter, we are grateful for the commitment of our editorial community and the broader field we serve. Thank you for being part of this journey, and we look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead.

 

 Issue 1  |  February 2026

The February 2026 ISTR Latin America and the Caribbean Network Newsletter is available.

ISTR LAC NEWSLETTER

PRESENTACIÓN

La edición de febrero de nuestro Boletín ISTR para América Latina y el Caribe (istrlac.org) ofrece oportunidades académicas y profesionales, como convocatorias de ponencias y anuncios de congresos y conferencias internacionales, incluyendo la Conferencia Internacional ISTR, así como programas de investigación y capacitación.

Continuamos investigando para mejorar la Red ISTRLAC. ¡Participe haciendo clic aquí!

¡Gracias! Abrazos,

APRESENTAÇÃO

A edição de fevereiro do nosso Boletim ISTR para a América Latina e o Caribe (istrlac.org) oferece oportunidades acadêmicas e profissionais, como chamadas para submissão de artigos e divulgação de congressos e conferências internacionais, incluindo a Conferência Internacional da ISTR, além de programas de pesquisa e formação.

Continuamos com a pesquisa para aprimorar a Rede ISTRLAC. Participe clicando aqui!

Obrigada! Abraços,

Andrea Martini Pineda
Editora do Boletim ISTR para a América Latina e o Caribe
editor@istrlac.org
https://istrlac.org/ 

ISTR PhD Seminar Alumni Quarterly Newsletter
Issue 13  |  February 2026

The December 2025 ISTR Latin America and the Caribbean Network Newsletter is available.

ISTR LAC NEWSLETTER

PRESENTACIÓN

Como ya adelantamos en nuestro Boletín de Septiembre, a partir del año que viene habrá un nuevo responsable de la Edición del Boletín. Luego de un llamado a toda la membresía de ISTR, el Comité de Publicaciones, dentro de la cantidad de postulantes, eligió a Andrea Martini Pineda de Brasil para ser la nueva Editora del Boletín (Newsletter) de ISTR para la región de América Latina y el Caribe (istrlac.org) Andrea tiene una gran formación académica (con doctorado y maestrías) y además especializada en comunicación social. Es miembro de ISTR desde el 2019. Por todo esto estamos seguros que su gestión será un fortalecimiento del Boletín. Por mí parte deseo agradecer al equipo que me ha acompañado en estos cuatro años de gestión: Damián Cram (como soporte informático y diseño) y Monique Lemos (como Asistente de Edición y Traductora). Además de su profesionalismo siempre han estado a disposición de resolver obstáculos más allá de sus obligaciones para garantizar la calidad y salida a tiempo del Boletín.

En este último número de nuestra parte, hemos incluido las Secciones de siempre con una sección agregada sobre los Fondos de Cooperación Internacional ya que su reducción sigue teniendo impacto en las organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Hemos adelantado la fecha de publicación teniendo en cuenta la proximidad de las fiestas de Navidad y Año Nuevo.

Será hasta el próximo Boletín de ISTRLAC, ya que como lectores, seguiremos colaborando como miembros de la comunidad de ISTR.

Saludos.

APRESENTAÇÃO

Como já havíamos antecipado em nosso Boletim de setembro, a partir do próximo ano haverá um novo responsável pela edição do Boletim. Após uma convocatória a todos os membros da ISTR, o Comitê de Publicações, dentre os candidatos, Andrea Martini Pineda, do Brasil, foi escolhida para ser a nova editora do Boletim (Newsletter) da ISTR para a região da América Latina e Caribe (istrlac.org). Andrea tem uma sólida formação acadêmica (com doutorado e mestrado) e também é especialista em comunicação social. Ela é membro da ISTR desde 2019. Por tudo isso, temos certeza de que sua gestão fortalecerá o Boletim. Da minha parte, gostaria de agradecer à equipe que me acompanhou nestes quatro anos de gestão: Damián Cram (como suporte informático e design) e Monique Lemos (como assistente de edição e tradutora). Além de seu profissionalismo, eles sempre estiveram disponíveis para resolver obstáculos além de suas obrigações, a fim de garantir a qualidade e a publicação pontual do Boletim.

Nesta última edição da nossa parte, incluímos as seções habituais com uma seção adicional sobre os Fundos de Cooperação Internacional, uma vez que sua redução continua a ter impacto nas organizações da sociedade civil. Antecipamos a data de publicação, tendo em conta a proximidade das festas de Natal e Ano Novo.

Até o próximo Boletim da ISTRLAC, pois, como leitores, continuaremos colaborando como membros da comunidade da ISTR.

Pablo Marsal Baraldi
Editor del Boletín del ISTR para América Latina y el Caribe 
editor@istrlac.org
https://istrlac.org/ 

By Fengshi Wu, University of New South Wales, Sydney 

In this short piece, I will share my observations and reflections on the development and future of global climate activism from the COP in Brazil. 

Two days into the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, “the capital of Amazon”, Brazil (11-21 November 2025), a protest, led by indigenous groups from across Latin America, broke out and confronted the public security personnel.¹ The sensational images of the bodily contact between indigenous elders (fully dressed in their traditional customs) and security personnel dominated the news coverage and collective narrative for the duration of the event. 

However, the real story of civil society and climate activism is much more multifaceted, less confrontational, and dynamic. In fact, the COP30 presidency and representatives from the Brazilian government did meet with the indigenous activists two days after the protest. They first sat with the activists outside of the air-conditioned venues under the sun (and humidity), and then moved indoors to have face-to-face conversations. To be fair, protests and demonstrations (and even hunger strikes)  were common at COPs since the mid-2000s, with the only exceptions being the last three rounds (2022-2024). Moreover, the hosting Brazilian government in fact openly endorsed activism beyond formal negotiating tables and its reaction to the protest on the 2nd day was not excessive. Not one activist was arrested or detained. No extra barricades were installed afterwards, except for moving the outdoor security check-up stations around 100 meters further away from the original position. I did not observe a significant increase in security vehicles, manpower, or others around the COP precinct. Peaceful demonstrations, street vendors of indigenous crafts, and marches continued to take place throughout the 10 days of the conference.  

My current thought is that climate activism at the global level has been diversifying and will possibly split into at least three broad clusters: First, the one that does not attend COPs – staying away from the official political space of global climate governance. This cluster includes some of the most reported on environmental groups, such as Extinction Rebellion (ER), Just Stop Oil, and Earth Liberation Front, that often employ dramatic non-violent public demonstrations and performative resistance.2 Absent from COP, members of this cluster (including the most prominent youth climate activist and Nobel Awardee Greta Thunberg) tend to be more visible in everyday news and social media coverage and are often taken as the face and main force of global environmental and climate activism.  

Second, the one that mobilizes and hosts COP side-events parallel to and outside the official spaces and processes, such as the People’s Summit and the Alternative COP. Many of the researchers and pracademics (readers of this short commentary included) are familiar with and regularly attend them. These alternative spaces and platforms differ from the authorized/invited “side-events” within the main venues of the COP. However, the division here between inside and outside the COP space is less definite than in the first cluster explained above. Like many others, I attended both side-events organized by community NGOs and the UN Human Rights Council inside the COP venue and events organized by universities and NGOs outside of the COP venue. Certainly, the outside events and gatherings (including a large-scale peaceful march on November 16 led by both politicians and indigenous representatives, such as the renowned Marina Silva, currently Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and formerly environmental and indigenous rights activist) are more direct and outspoken in criticizing the current global governance, non-compliance with the Paris Agreement and other international climate-related agreements, and the types of climate obstruction state actors and pro-fossil fuel actors are committing.  

Last but not least, the cluster that is spending most of its time inside official COP space. Members of this cluster include civil society representatives inside the main negotiation rooms (e.g., youth climate ambassadors appointed and funded by each COP member states)3, everyday castle-holders of NGO booths (who distribute pamphlets and pins – a super popular souvenir at COP – and host events), invitees to receive awards or give public speeches, and NGO staff who attend events, take notes, and network. It was good to see that they consist of a significant portion of regular COP attendees – maybe not as high as 1/3, but significant enough to be noticed. (There was a moment I snapped a shot at the security check of the COP venue, feeling like a regular office employee reporting to duty at 9 am every morning.) There is a section of the COP space devoted to long-standing international environmental NGOs and nonprofit research institutions, such as the World Wildlife Fund, Obervatorio Regional Amazonico (ORA), and IUCN. The accelerated process of ‘energy transition’ has (unintentionally) opened limited (not none) space for environmental activism, policy advocacy, and public monitoring, which centers on land-related issues, social justice, and indigenous and community rights. The main areas that need urgent attention from civil society include mining projects (many of which are framed as ‘transitional energy’, e.g., fossil gas), hydro/nuclear and other ‘clean’ energy projects, and new ‘energy transition’ financing projects (e.g., green skills).  

Given such a tripartite trend, I would argue that cross-passing occurs and, more importantly, should continue as a way forward to enhance broad solidarity building. As I mentioned above, members of the second and third clusters do attend each other’s activities, and many activists and pracademics wear both hats. In a nutshell (at the risk of lacking extensive empirical evidence), the activism driven by the first cluster pushes the political boundaries for the other two; and, the other two substantiate and reinforce the claims made by the first cluster by their consistent, nonwavering, and sometimes seemingly mandate work in policy advocacy, public education, fieldwork and research, and community outreach. For an optimist, climate activism can really benefit from boundary-crossing solidarity building in the long run; and, for a pessimist (given the current rise of illiberalism across the board), climate activism can survive better with a higher level of cross-cluster coordination.

1. Only one injury was identified throughout the protests. 

2. The Latin America branch of ER has been reported to have been involved in some fundraising and grassroots organizing in the lead-up to COP30. But, there was no official ER presence at the main precincts of COP30.

3. A candid and informative personal account by a youth representative from Uzbekistan: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sugdiona-khushnudbekova-7a11a2228_you-learn-best-when-you-see-how-things-should-activity-7305215930605662210-PLcF?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAADOsfYcBh9t1r7acpLE8kWr9gPH_cIzjgIk

By Inés M. Pousadela, CIVICUS Head of Research and Analysis, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report. She is also a Professor of Comparative Politics at Universidad ORT Uruguay.

In early November, nearly a thousand civil society activists from all over the world converged on Bangkok, Thailand for International Civil Society Week (ICSW) 2025. Organised by CIVICUS alongside its regional partner the Asia Democracy Network, this was far more than a conference: it was a defiant assertion that even in the darkest times, people power remains the essential countervailing force against authoritarianism and oppression. 

The timing was critical. According to the CIVICUS Monitor, civil society faces severe attacks in at least 116 countries. From the genocide in Gaza to conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Sudan and Ukraine, civilians are being targeted with impunity. Rising authoritarianism threatens hard-won human rights, wealth is being concentrated in the hands of tiny elites who capture politics, disinformation campaigns are undermining democratic institutions and climate change is accelerating while powerful states and fossil fuel companies refuse accountability. Meanwhile, the rules-based international order is giving way to transactional might-is-right diplomacy, and excluded groups, including women, LGBTQI+ people and migrants and refugees, struggle to defend their hard-won rights. 

Against this grim backdrop, ICSW 2025 offered hope grounded in action. Under the theme ‘Celebrating citizen action: reimagining democracy, rights and inclusion for today’s world’, the five-day gathering featured over 120 sessions and cultural events led by over 75 civil society organisations from around the world. The event honoured activists, movements and organisations demonstrating resilience, defending civic freedoms and claiming rights despite overwhelming challenges. 

Daily plenary sessions anchored the gathering, each tackling a distinct challenge. The opening plenary brought together past and present CIVICUS leaders to trace civil society’s evolution through successive crises. The second day examined the democracy crisis, with United Nations Special Rapporteur Gina Romero, activists and journalists documenting sophisticated restrictions and exploring early warning systems and holistic protection strategies. The plenary held on the third day centred excluded voices, with activists including Namibian LGBTQI+ activist Kevin Wessels and Migrant Forum Asia’s William Gois exploring how intersecting oppressions compound exclusion and how communities are building their own power. The final plenary created intergenerational dialogue between established leaders like Debbie Stothard and Gen Z advocates like Serbian activist Mihajlo Matkovic, honestly confronting questions about whether civil society is ready to genuinely share power and resources with emerging leaders. 

Conversations at ICSW 2025 acknowledged that civil society faces a deepening funding crisis on top of political repression. Governments worldwide are cutting civil society funding to prioritise military spending, while a growing number are passing laws that restrict international funding. Yet despite these constraints, grassroots organisations and movements continue providing vital assistance to communities, advocating for better policies and holding human rights violators accountable. As stated in the ICSW’s Bangkok Declaration, without civil society, ‘authoritarianism would go unchallenged, abuses would increase and vulnerable people would face even greater dangers’. 

Sessions at the event showed civil society’s growing sophistication in addressing 21st century challenges. Sessions explored strategies to combat disinformation and propaganda, with journalists from across Asia sharing how they navigate increasingly hostile environments. Pakistani journalist Saba Chaudhry spoke candidly about the dangers facing young female freelancers, where self-censorship becomes a necessary shield against malicious campaigns. Other sessions examined media under siege, the intersection of technology and human rights and innovative approaches to defending civic space in the digital age. 

ICSW 2025 also reflected civil society’s commitment to intergenerational solidarity. The CIVICUS Youth Assembly kicked off the main event with a dynamic one-day gathering of young changemakers at Mahidol University, ensuring that youth voices shaped conversations throughout the week. This attention to emerging leaders recognises that today’s young generations face unprecedented challenges, from climate catastrophe to digital authoritarianism, and must be equipped with tools, networks and platforms to effectively drive change. 

The Bangkok Declaration offers a roadmap for defending democracy and civic freedoms. It calls on governments to safeguard democratic institutions and processes, uphold the rule of law, ensure an independent judiciary and respect fundamental freedoms. It demands guarantees for peaceful protest and media freedoms, the repeal of repressive laws that stifle dissent and the unconditional release of political prisoners. On climate, it insists on phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, investing in renewable energy and protecting environmental human rights defenders. 

The declaration points out that governments alone cannot solve today’s crises. It calls on global institutions including the United Nations and regional institutions to establish independent mechanisms to investigate serious human rights violations, encourage ratification of the Rome Statute and cooperation with the International Criminal Court and integrate human rights considerations into all development, diplomatic and trade cooperation. Crucially, it demands accountability for regimes engaging in transnational repression that targets civil society across borders. 

Driving its own recommendations home, the Bangkok Declaration also acknowledges that civil society must keep evolving. In today’s challenging context, it argues, civil society must reimagine how it champions democracy, inclusion and rights. This means mobilising across new frontiers and reaching beyond traditional confines by widely engaging with grassroots communities, corporations, educators and a broader range of people. The old models of advocacy and organising, while still valuable, must be supplemented with new approaches that match the complexity and interconnectedness of contemporary challenges. 

The fact that ICSW 2025 met with such overwhelming demand, forcing organisers to raise capacity and halt registration early, speaks of civil society’s hunger for connection and collective learning. When civic space shrinks and authoritarianism advances, the impulse to retreat or despair can be overwhelming. Yet the activists gathered in Bangkok chose to celebrate wins, get over setbacks together and commit to a struggle for the long haul. 

ICSW 2025 reminded us that democracy is not a static achievement but a work in progress. The fundamental freedoms of assembly, association and expression that enable people to demand change and hold power accountable are under assault, but as long as civil society doesn’t give up, the possibility of a fairer and more democratic future remains alive. 

1946 - 2025

By Laurie Paarlberg, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Chair on Community Foundations, Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

Eleanor Woodward Sacks, a long-time member of the ISTR community, passed away on November 12 at the age of 79. Eleanor dedicated her career to advancing the community foundation field at local, national, and international levels since 1991. Until her passing, she worked tirelessly to share her deep knowledge of community foundations with the public. Eleanor explained that her passion for the community foundation movement was inspired by her own upbringing, a moral outlook that emphasized a commitment to working together to better one’s community.

Starting as a volunteer with the Oregon Community Foundation, in the mid-1990s, Eleanor served on the United States Community Foundation Services staff at the Council on Foundations as Program Coordinator for the Organizational Development Assistance Program—a technical assistance initiative funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. This was a time of rapid growth for the community foundation field in the United States and in Europe. Through her on- site work delivering this program, Eleanor gained an intimate understanding of the internal operations of community foundations across the United States. She participated in several national initiatives supporting U.S. community foundations and consulted widely on programmatic and organizational development issues.

A trained historian specializing in the social and economic history of the late nineteenth century, Eleanor combined scholarly rigor with practical expertise. She wrote extensively on the global growth of community foundations, producing influential publications such as The Growth of Community Foundations Around the World (2000) and An International Perspective on the History, Development, and Characteristics of Community Foundations (2001). Motivated by the centennial of the community foundation movement in 2014, Eleanor embarked on an ambitious final project: chronicling the development of the movement in the United States. As a visiting scholar at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, she conducted years of archival research to illuminate the “bottom-up/top-down” dynamics that shaped the origins and spread of community foundations nationally and globally. Her final book, the culmination of this work, will be published posthumously.

The November 2025 ISTR Latin America and the Caribbean Network Newsletter is available.

ISTR LAC NEWSLETTER

PRESENTACIÓN

Estimados lectores del Boletín de Noviembre, 
En este número incluimos un artículo destacado del colega Muñoz Grandé de México, que reflexiona sobre la situación general de las ONG. También reiteramos la publicación de un artículo de las colegas Tania Hernández, Angie Holzer, y Ted Gray Barnes Jr., sobre los registros de las organizaciones en América Latina y el Caribe. Creemos que este artículo sirve como primer paso para futuras investigaciones.

Además, varias universidades de la región van convocando para el inicio de los programas del año 2026 y nos pareció importante incluirlas en la Sección de Oportunidades Profesionales.

En la Sección de Congresos y Conferencias informamos varios eventos destacados en la región (en Argentina y Brasil) sobre Filantropía, Inversión Social y Recaudación de Fondos.

También como siempre, incluimos noticias sobre la ISTR para los asociados, una sección de Novedades y por último la sección de Publicaciones.

Esperamos que sea de su agrado este número y alentamos a los Asociados de la ISTR a enviar artículos (en español o portugués) que puedan ser publicados en el Repositorio de ISTRLAC (https://istrlac.org/)

Saludos.

APRESENTAÇÃO

Prezados leitores do Boletim de novembro,
Nesta edição, incluímos um artigo de destaque do colega Muñoz Grandé, do México, refletindo sobre a situação geral das ONGs. Também reiteramos a publicação de um artigo das colegas Tania Hernández, Angie Holzer e Ted Gray Barnes Jr. sobre os registros das organizações na América Latina e no Caribe. Acreditamos que este artigo sirva como um primeiro passo para futuras pesquisas.

Além disso, várias universidades da região estão convocando para o início dos programas do ano de 2026 e nos pareceu importante incluí-las na seção Oportunidades Profissionais.
Na seção Congressos e Conferências, informamos sobre vários eventos de destaque na região (na Argentina e no Brasil) sobre Filantropia, Investimento Social e Captação de Recursos.

Como sempre, também incluímos notícias sobre a ISTR para os associados, uma seção de novidades e, por último, a seção de publicações.

Esperamos que gostem desta edição e incentivamos os associados da ISTR a enviar artigos (em espanhol ou português) que possam ser publicados no Repositório da ISTRLAC (https://istrlac.org/).

Até Mais!

Pablo Marsal Baraldi
Editor del Boletín del ISTR para América Latina y el Caribe 
editor@istrlac.org
https://istrlac.org/ 

ISTR is a member of the American Council of Learned Societies, a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good.

The ACLS has recently launched the Doctoral Futures Initiative to assess and reimagine humanities graduate education to better prepare the next generation of knowledge producers during the broad span of their doctoral careers and beyond. The goals of the initiative are to:

Create a clearinghouse for research

Inventory existing research on past efforts to improve humanities graduate education. Generate new research about promising practices.

Identify promising practices and models

Identify the most promising and replicable methods and models for change from past initiatives and make recommendations for their dissemination and implementation.

Drive future-forward systemic change

Engage decision-makers across the country in the adoption of the most promising practices and models to create humanities doctoral education for 21st century challenges.

Support leaders and institutions

Support leaders, programs, and institutions in implementing changes to their doctoral programs, including by connecting them with change-makers at other institutions.

The expected project deliverables are:

• Research landscape analyses
• Resources and toolkits for use by faculty and administrators
• Menu of best practices and models
• Formal commitments from institutional leaders
• Implementation action plans

More information and opportunities for engagement can be found on the ACLS website: Doctoral Futures - ACLS

The International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR) invites nominations for a Co-Editor in Chief of its official journal, Voluntas. The journal publishes original peer-reviewed manuscripts and book reviews from a plurality of disciplinary, methodological, and international perspectives on nonprofit organizations and voluntary action. 

This is an exciting time for Voluntas.  In 2026, Voluntas is transitioning to an open access journal published by Cambridge University Press, presenting new opportunities amid rapid changes in scholarly publishing, including the impact of AI. The incoming Co-Editor will play a key role in guiding the journal’s adaptation to this evolving environment.

Term

Three-year term beginning January 1, 2027, renewable once by mutual agreement.  

Responsibilities:

Working with the current Co-Editors, Galia Chimiak Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, and Marlene Walk of Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany, the Co-Editor, will: 

1. Oversee editorial development and content, ensuring high standards for all published work. 

2. Provide the publisher with accepted manuscripts and editorial material for six annual issues. 

3. Appoint Associate Editors, Book Editors, and an internationally representative Editorial Board in consultation with ISTR. 

4. Convene annual Editorial Board meetings (virtual or at the ISTR International Conference). 

5. Select Guest Editors for thematic issues. 

6. Promote the journal within relevant academic communities and at professional meetings and maintain communication with editors of related journals. 

7. Submit annual written reports to the ISTR Board of Directors. 

8. Participate in Publication Committee meetings as requested. 

Qualifications:

1. Advanced degree in social sciences and a senior academic or research position.

2. Significant publication record in relevant fields.

3. Excellent English writing and editorial skills.

4. Experience in international and interdisciplinary research.

5. Ability to collaborate with a diverse, global community of scholars.

The selection committee will consider academic and geographic balance among editors, the candidate’s institutional support, capacity, and association with ISTR. 

Subsidy

ISTR provides a small subsidy to each Co-Editor to cover editorial and related costs. In 2025, this amount was approximately $11,000 per year. 

Selection Committee

The Editorial Selection Committee is chaired by Allison Schnable, ISTR President-Elect and will interview finalists in April/May 2026.  The committee will make its recommendation to the ISTR Board of Directors in advance of the 17th International Conference in Lisbon in July 2026. 

Application Deadline: April 1, 2026

Please submit expressions of interest via the submission form here. 

Applications should include:

1. a full curriculum vitae, including a list of publications and past editorial experience; and

2. a 2-3 page statement of a vision for Voluntas, assessing the journal’s strengths and limitations, indicating the topics or issues it ought to address, and discussing the candidate’s capacity and support, if any, the potential editor’s home institution will be able to provide.