Conferences

Dr. Elizabeth Gillespie has actively contributed to the ARNOVA Annual Conference
since 2017, beginning as a doctoral student and growing into a scholar dedicated to
advancing knowledge in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. In 2018, she was
selected as an ARNOVA Doctoral Fellow, an experience that deepened her
engagement with the research community and helped shape her academic path.

Since 2017, Dr. Gillespie has presented seven original research papers at ARNOVA’s
Annual Conferences, including:

  • Presenter, ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2024 Understanding Women’s Philanthropic Giving: A Multiple Case Study
  • Presenter, ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2023 Toward a Typology for Nonprofit Social Change Organizations in Community-Based Settings Cultivating Tomorrow’s Philanthropists: Girls’ Philanthropy in Girls’ Schools
  • Presenter, ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2021 Empowerment-Focused Philanthropy: Bridging the Gap
  • Presenter, ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2019 Creating an Intersectional Feminist NPO/NGO Sector: #MeToo and #AidToo Philanthropy, Social Change, and Feminism: Understanding U.S. Women’s Foundations and Funds
  • Emerging Scholars Research Roundtable, ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2018 Gender Equality and the Work of Women’s Foundations
  • Doctoral Fellowship Seminar A, ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2018 Dissertation: Gender Equality and the Work of Women’s Foundations
  • Presenter, ARNOVA Annual Conference, 2017
  • Economic Empowerment for Women: The Work of Women’s Foundations

ARNOVA has played a pivotal role in her academic and professional development.
Through these annual conferences, Dr. Gillespie has engaged with leading scholars,
built collaborative networks, and refined her research agenda. Presenting at ARNOVA has strengthened her scholarship in key areas, including women’s philanthropy, women’s grantmaking foundations and funds, social change
philanthropy, and girls’ philanthropy. The conference continues to serve as a dynamic space where she shares emerging ideas, contributes original research, and participates in shaping the field.

In addition to ARNOVA, Dr. Gillespie has presented her research at the Midwest Public Affairs Conference (MPAC) in 2017, the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) conference in 2021, and the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools conference in 2022.