A bibliometric analysis on innovation in philanthropy research: a study based on Scopus database

Purpose: Intellectual curiosity about innovation in philanthropic organizations has grown recently. This study aims to provide a thorough bibliometric analysis of the patterns and trends in the scientific literature on innovation in philanthropy. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the Scopus database, a descriptive bibliometric analysis with a visualization tool (RStudio®) was used to assess the creation of 159 articles on innovation in philanthropic organizations. Findings: This research finds a large number of papers on innovation in philanthropic organizations. According to this study, the USA has published more research than any other country. The Icahn School of Medicine has the most popular publications, followed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. According to the number of citations, the Journal of Business Ethics is the most prolific journal. However, according to the h-index, Corporate Reputation Review is the most important publication. Halme M is regarded as a prominent scholar. With 244 citations, the work of Kramer MR and Porter ME is the most referenced. “Philanthropy” is the most often used keywords category, followed by “innovation” and “social innovation”. Practical implications: This study can serve as a useful reference for researchers conducting bibliometric research by offering information on the field’s famous authors. Furthermore, the outcomes of this study make it straightforward for researchers to seek extensive academic collaboration in this field. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to present a pattern in research on innovation in philanthropic organizations. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.