Research Notes for Volunteer Managers and Coordinators
How to make volunteering more inclusive?
Authors: Philine S. M. van Overbeeke, Stephanie A. Koolen-Maas, Lucas C.P.M. Meijs, & Jeffrey L. Brudney
Provided by: Teresa Sofio from Centre for European Volunteering (CEV)
Certain groups tend to be excluded from volunteer opportunities based on perceptions about lack of previous volunteering experience and perceptions by receiving organisations. What strategies can be used by organisations that recruit and place volunteers to guarantee a more diverse and inclusive environment for participants?
Diaspora volunteering in a cross-border and local context
Author: Malika Ouacha – Erasmus University
Provided by: Lizzy Steinhart from LCM Family
This study contributes to the literature on cross-border diasporic philanthropy in cross-national context of countries with no colonial past, but with a diaspora present in both societies. The perspectives are presented in three groups: the Amazigh diaspora living in the Netherlands, the Amazigh diaspora living in Morocco and the recipient social groups of the prior two communities.
Does socio-economic inequality affect individuals’ civic engagement?
Authors: Joris Schröder – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Michaela Neumayr – Vienna University of Economics and Business
Provided by: Cornelia Walther from the University of Pennsylvania and POZE Global Network
Higher inequality is often negatively related to civic engagement, and individual factors moderate this relation. This study is relevant for people working in philanthropy because empirical results vary considerably, and explanations about what underlies this relationship remain fragmented. How does inequality affect individuals’ civic engagement in charitable giving, volunteering and non-profit membership?
Is giving a civil act for personal reasons or for social standing?
Author: Johan Vamstad – Marie Cederschiöld University
Provided by: Heather Little
This article seeks to understand the reasons why people give to charities. It explores the social and individual reasons for giving using social origins theory to analyse the results. This study focuses on whether giving is an act of individual civility (altruistic/personal reasons or making the donor feel as though they are doing good) or societal civicness (conforming to societal norms or affirming the bond between the donor and society more broadly).
What organisational factors affect volunteering?
Authors: Sibylle Studer (University of Basel), Georg von Schnurbein (University of Basel)
Provided by: Nevena Mijatovic (University of Belgrade)
This study aimed to shed light on the organisational factors affecting volunteers that were previously captured in the academic literature. The authors systematically analysed abstracts of 396 publications tackling volunteer coordination from different scientific disciplines and research traditions.
Volunteering is most beneficial for elderly and less healthy Europeans
Author: Arjen de Wit (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Heng Qu (Texas A&M University), René Bekkers (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Provided by: Katherine Hermans from Global Changemakers
The article examines the health advantages of volunteering for European adults. Does volunteering have health benefits? And if so, who benefits most? The results of the study suggest volunteering not only has a positive impact on society as a whole but may also indicate a health advantage for volunteers over the age of 60 and those in poor health. In almost all European countries, volunteers report better health than non-volunteers, indicating that policymakers should promote volunteering as a possible route to better health and healthy ageing.
Comprehensive INGO accountability improves perceived effectiveness
Authors: Alice Hengevoss – University of Basel
Provided by: Scott Mcdonald from Root Capital
International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) have been under increased scrutiny from the public and academia. Critics argue that INGOs should be more accountable to various stakeholders, particularly to beneficiaries. Evidence shows that a more comprehensive approach to accountability can improve INGO performance. This paper analyses survey data of over 200 INGO leaders in 21 countries to develop a framework for comprehensive accountability. The framework identifies three accountability approaches, or logics: resource logic, outcome assessment logic, and discursive logic.
Delivering effective leadership transitions and succession planning in nonprofits
Author: Nils Geib – Universität Hamburg | Silke Boenigk – Universität Hamburg
Provided by: Sufina Ahmad (John Ellerman Foundation)
This study argues that effective nonprofit leadership continuity or succession planning should be a shared leadership responsibility that Boards deliver, Executive Directors/Division Executives and Human Resources (HR) professionals working together. The researchers hypothesise that nonprofit succession planning is rarely considered or applied by nonprofits and primarily involves Boards and Executive Directors/Division Executives.
How socialization influences informal volunteering
Authors: Marlou Ramaekers – Radboud University | Ellen Verbakel – Radboud University | Gerbert Kraaykamp – Radboud University
Provided by: Katy Adams from the University of Heidelberg
Concerns have been raised over the potential decline of community life. This study discusses the impact of parents and current partners on behaviours during adulthood that foster social bonds. The study questions whether parents and partners modelling and encouraging prosocial behaviour affects adults‘ informal volunteering.
Faith-based fundraising and engagement in post-communist Czech Republic
Author(s): Jakub Dostál – College of Polytechnics | Vladimír Hyánek – Masaryk University
Provided by: Peter Stemp from La Salle Foundation
In the Czech Republic, religiosity is decreasing, and distrust in church institutions is on the rise. Despite this, volunteerism and revenue have consistently increased for Caritas Czech Republic’s primary fundraising initiative. This study explores religiosity and trust in the church in the context of fundraising and volunteerism for faith-based organizations in post-communist Czech Republic.
Who is most likely to volunteer with refugees?
Author(s): Maikel Meijeren – Radboud University | Marcel Lubbers – Utrecht University | Peer Scheepers – Radboud University
Provided by: Ksenija Fonovic from CSV Lazio
Socio-Structural Determinants in Volunteering for Humanitarian Organizations: A Resource-Based Approach” helps volunteer coordinators, advocacy leaders, and volunteer support centers understand the characteristics of individuals most likely to engage in volunteer activities for integration. The authors distinguish between ‘activist,’ ‘interest,’ and ‘leisure’ organizations; each of these types attracts potential volunteers with somewhat different characteristics.
Managing tensions between volunteers and health care professionals
Author(s): Georg von Schnurbein – University of Basel | Eva Hollenstein – Swiss Centre for International Health | Nicholas Arnold – University of Basel | Florian Liberatore – Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Provided by: Connor Audsley from The Centre for European Volunteering
This paper analyses reasons for tensions between volunteers and health care professionals working together within the health sector, and how these tensions can be managed, with implications for how the sector can best collaborate. What preceeds tensions between Volunteers and Healthcare Professionals, and how is this viewed differently by managers and volunteers?
Rethinking volunteering as a natural resource
Author(s): Stephanie Koolen-Maas – VU Amsterdam | Lucas Meijs – Erasmus University | Philine van Overbeeke – Erasmus University | Jeffrey Brudney† – University of North Carolina
Provided by: Megan Burgoyne from The Centre for European Volunteering
The article focusses on redefining the concept of volunteering as a natural resource. It proposes to break down this concept into three distinct volunteer resources, each with its own characteristics and dynamics. The paper aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of volunteering and its various forms and dynamics. The key concept is that volunteering can be understood as a human-made, renewable resource that can be grown and recycled. The concept of volunteering is compared to a natural resource and suggests that, as a result, better management of volunteering is required to manage this ‘resource’.
Social norms offer explanation for inconsistent effects of incentives on prosocial behaviour
Author(s): Caroline Graf, VU Amsterdam & Sanquin Research| Bianca Suanet, VU Amsterdam | Pamala Wiepking, VU Amsterdam & Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis | Eva-Maria Merz, VU Amsterdam & Sanquin Research
Provided by: Zeryihun Kassa from Kingston University.
This research paper explores the determinants of prosocial behaviour and the role of incentives and social norms for individuals’ willingness to contribute to public goods. Traditional economic theories suggest that offering incentives can effectively motivate prosocial actions. However, empirical studies reveal a paradoxical pattern where incentives sometimes fail to influence or even diminish prosocial behaviour. The paper introduces a novel approach to understanding these inconsistent effects of incentives by integrating social norms into a formal model of prosocial behaviour. The authors propose a comprehensive model that retains the signalling aspects of image-based theories while accounting for contextual variation in behaviour.
How moral goodness drives unethical behaviour in NGOs
Author(s): Isabel de Bruin Cardoso – Erasmus University | Allison R. Russell – The University of Texas at Dallas | Muel Kaptein – Erasmus University | Lucas Meijs – Erasmus University
Provided by: Anna-Leah Gebühr from UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe e.V.
The objective of this article is to understand – through generating empirical evidence – how the NGO halo effect, i.e. the inflation of moral goodness in NGOs, can explain unethical behaviour. The key question of this article is whether people in NGOs glorify their mission, morals, and people, and if so, how this glorification can explain NGO unethical behaviour. The authors conclude that the NGO halo effect exists, that there are three mechanisms that can explain unethical behaviour.
Driven by values or results: can nonprofits do both?
Author(s): Gerhard Speckbacher – WU Vienna University
Provided by: Kate Sullivan from The Human Safety Net
Results-based management is shown to have helped for-profit companies to overcome challenges in people management when the team members have overlapping or unclear perimeters of their roles. There are often very clear organisational goals, such as profit, which can be translated into individual or team-level goals. Instead, in the case of non-profits, organisational goals are famously complex. Rather than seeing values as a means to an end (e.g. customer orientation to boost revenue), staff in nonprofits often are highly dedicated to values such as justice, human dignity and service as an end in itself. How can nonprofits be enabled to reach their goals and live up to their values given these characteristics?
Did you donate? Talking about donations predicts compliance with solicitations for donations
Author(s): Joris Melchior Schröder, VU Amsterdam | Eva-Maria Merz, VU Amsterdam | Bianca Suanet, VU Amsterdam | Pamala Wiepking, VU Amsterdam & Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Provided by: Andrea Goezinne from Salesforce
The research found that blood donors who talk about their donation experiences are more likely to comply with future requests. This effect is especially pronounced in new donors, suggesting that early engagement through communication can cultivate a long-term habit of giving.
Do we help our neighbours just because they will return the favour in the future?
Author(s): Marlou J. M. Ramaekers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Tanja van der Lippe, Utrecht University | Belle Derks, Utrecht University
Provided by: Ines Sevilla from the Centre for European Volunteering
Understanding how the willingness to help a neighbour is influenced by reciprocity, their need for help, and the perceived helpfulness of the neighbour is essential for fostering community support, especially for those unable to reciprocate. To what extent does expecting a return influence helping neighbours? Does the neighbour’s need and perception of helpfulness balance this out?