EFC mourns the loss of Dr. Lester M. Salamon, a true pioneer of research on philanthropy

It is with great sadness that we learned of the news that Dr. Lester M. Salamon, Professor Emeritus at the Johns Hopkins University and Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies, had passed away on Friday 20 August.

The statement from the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies encapsulates the feeling of loss of a true pioneer of research on philanthropy:

“Our collective loss will resonate across the field of nonprofit and third sector research in the United States and throughout the world. Dr. Salamon pioneered the empirical study of the nonprofit sector in the United States and then globally in partnership with extended network of colleagues.

He dedicated the last 40 years to the idea that the generation and institutionalisation of basic economic data about nonprofit, social economy, and civil society institutions, as well as volunteer work in the existing administrative systems could be leveraged to enhance both the understanding and credibility of this important set of institutions, and for the development of sound public and economic policy.”

Read the full obituary on the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies website