Fostering Volunteer Satisfaction: Enhancing Collaboration Through Structure

Authors

  • Kristine B. Jensen Bread for the City
  • Kim K. McKeage Hamline University

Keywords:

volunteer management, organizational culture

Abstract

Surveys conducted with two nonprofit human services organizations were used to explore satisfaction among volunteers. The two organizations exhibited distinct cultural configurations of Collaborate + Control versus Collaborate + Create as measured by Cameron and Quinn's (2011) Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument. Volunteers with the Collaborate + Control organization were more satisfied overall as well as across a number of dimensions: group integration, relationships with staff, support from people in the organization, friendships made while volunteering, and ability to do their volunteer job well. Unexpectedly, volunteers with the Collaborate + Control organization were also more satisfied with their freedom to decide how best to carry out their volunteer assignment. The results demonstrate the increased volunteer satisfaction that can result when a collaborative organizational culture is enhanced with attention to clear structures, policies, and procedures. 

Published

2015-06-29

Issue

Section

Articles