Designing organisational management frameworks to empower episodic volunteering

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Voluntas

ISSN

09578765

Publisher

Springer

School

Exercise Medicine Research Institute

RAS ID

34148

Funders

Australian Research Council Cancer Coucil Queensland Union for International Cancer Control

Grant Number

ARC Number : LP150100368

Grant Link

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP150100368

Comments

Dunn, J., Scuffham, P., Hyde, M. K., Stein, K., Zajdlewicz, L., Savage, A., ... Chambers, S. K. (2022). Designing organisational management frameworks to empower episodic volunteering. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 33(2), 217-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-020-00226-5

Abstract

© 2020, International Society for Third-Sector Research. Volunteers are a critical operational resource for not-for-profit organisations in the health and welfare sector. However, trends towards episodic volunteering may be a source of disruption. This study examined contemporary management beliefs and practices about episodic volunteers in the sector. A cross-sectional online survey with 186 managers and coordinators of episodic volunteers across North America and the Asia Pacific examined organisational values and beliefs about volunteers; perceived benefits and challenges of working with episodic volunteers; volunteering management. Episodic volunteers were highly beneficial to organisational profile, mission, service profile, and cost savings. Challenges include matching recruitment to workplace and skill needs; lack of paid staff to supervise and train volunteers and inadequate administrative support. There is a disjunct between the perceived value provided to the not-for-profit sector by episodic volunteers and the extent to which episodic volunteering is supported through organisational training and management practices.

DOI

10.1007/s11266-020-00226-5

Access Rights

subscription content

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS