Lucas C.P.M. Meijs

Lucas C.P.M. Meijs is Professor of Strategic Philanthropy and Volunteering at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he is affiliated with the Department of Business-Society Management. He has been associated with the university since 2004 and is also a Fellow of the Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM). His academic work focuses on the intersection of civil society, businesses, and volunteering.

Professor Meijs' research expertise spans strategic philanthropy, volunteer and non-profit management, corporate community involvement, voluntary energy as a natural resource, and involved learning through volunteering. His work examines how organizations can effectively engage with volunteers and develop sustainable relationships between businesses and civil society. He has made significant contributions to understanding episodic volunteering, volunteer stewardship, and the segmentation of volunteer behavior. His research demonstrates how volunteering serves as both a social good and a natural resource that requires careful management and stewardship.

Meijs has served as co-editor-in-chief of Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Quarterly, becoming the first non-American to hold this position. He has also been an appointed member of the Raad voor Maatschappelijke Ontwikkeling, the official policy advisory body for the Dutch government and parliament. His international collaborations include guest researcher positions at the Centre of Philanthropy and Non-profit studies at Queensland University of Technology in Australia and visiting scholar appointments at the University of Georgia's Department of Political Science and School of Social Work.

His scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on volunteer management, strategic philanthropy, and civil society-business relationships. The research shows evolution from foundational work on volunteer management toward more complex examinations of episodic volunteering, cross-border philanthropy, and the conceptualization of volunteering as a natural resource. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications for nonprofit organizations and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Professor Meijs teaches NGO/NPO management and business-non-profit relations courses at the master's level, as well as service learning, consultancy, and social entrepreneurship at the bachelor's level. His educational approach emphasizes involved learning through volunteering as a pathway for lifelong development.