This introduction to a virtual issue in Voluntas co-authored by Susan Appe can be found at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11266-023-00625-4

This virtual issue introduction has two main objectives. First, we conduct an outline of comparative discussions as they unfolded in Voluntas, complementing Anheier’s recent editorial about the progress of comparative research (Part 1). Second, in the spirit of encouraging further comparative research in the field, we highlight exemplar comparative articles in Voluntas which make theoretical and methodological contributions, and which employ a range of qualitative and quantitative comparative approaches (Part 2).