Erica Bornstein

Erica Bornstein is a Professor of Anthropology and Divisional Associate Dean for Humanities at the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on nonprofits, NGOs, and civil society groups, with expertise in voluntary sector regulation, philanthropy, humanitarianism, and political/legal anthropology across Southern Africa and South Asia.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Anthropology (University of California, Irvine, 2001)
  • M.A. in Social Relations (Anthropology and Sociology, UC Irvine, 1995)
  • B.A. (Bennington College, 1984)

Her research investigates how nonprofit institutions shape democratic practices and governance, as seen in her current project Nonprofit Lives. She analyzes the intersection of law, religion, and economic development in NGOs through ethnographic methods.

Prominent publications include A Revolution of Rules (2025) on India's nonprofit regulation and Disquieting Gifts (2012), which won the ARNOVA Award for Outstanding Book in Nonprofit Research. Her work spans comparative studies of faith-based NGOs, secular humanitarianism, and technomoral politics.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2013 ARNOVA Award for Outstanding Book in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research

At the University of Oregon, Bornstein teaches courses on Social Theory, Law and Society, Anthropology of Globalization, and Professional Writing. She contributes to interdisciplinary research and advising initiatives within the College of Arts and Sciences.