Research on Volunteering
Research on Volunteerism: What Still Needs to be Done?
Thirty-five years ago, Susan J. Ellis published an article in the Journal of Voluntary Action (now Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly) entitled “Research on volunteerism: What needs to be done.” Ellis mused – in 1985 – that the only subject at that time that seemed to attract the attention of researchers was 'motivation,' addressing the question of "why would these people work for free?!"
Fast forward to the 21st century. In this issue, Laurie Mook reviews a comprehensive study of research on the management of volunteer resources that examines the relationship between HR practices and performance. We then invite you to contribute your ideas for future research. What research questions should we be asking on this topic in today's context?
Impact Susan: Reflections on a Profession-Wide Icon
In its final appearance, Along the Web presents "Impact Susan," a collection of articles about Susan J. Ellis and her lasting impact on the volunteer management profession that appeared around the country following her death in February 2019. Descriptions and links to these publications, online exchanges, and group chats are provided here as Along the Web, which Ellis created, bids farewell.
An Enterprising Voyage of Discovery: The Legacy of Susan J. Ellis and the Journal’s Future
This special issue devoted to e-Volunteerism’s Co-Founder Susan J. Ellis begins with a feature by Rob Jackson, the Journal’s new Editor-in-Chief. In this article, Jackson reflects on the legacy of Ellis and her life’s work, including how and why she started the profession’s first online journal 20 years ago. He also shares reflections on Ellis’ work that has emerged in the last 17 months since her passing. And he looks ahead to the future of e-Volunteerism by sharing, he writes, some “exciting news and plans about the future for the Journal.”
Financial Disbursements to Volunteers: Reimbursements, Payments, and Non-Cash Benefits
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A Note About Terminology
For the purpose of this project and this article, we use the term ‘disbursement’ as a general term referring to any type of financial value provided to volunteers by an organization in the course of their volunteer service, including reimbursement, payment, or non-cash benefits, defined as follows:
Optimizing Online Volunteer Resource Management in Times of Social Distancing
Now more than ever, technology is playing an all-encompassing role in keeping nonprofits and volunteer programs going. While volunteer-matching apps and social media platforms have been around for a while, social distancing takes us to a whole other level in terms of technology use. In this issue of Research to Practice, Laurie Mook looks at a study of nonprofits in Hong Kong which explored in-depth how technology reconfigured their volunteer management. We focus mainly on the challenges these nonprofits faced to highlight the limitations and unintended negative consequences of going online. The study also suggests several ways to optimize online volunteer resource management, including how to engage your volunteers while programs are put on hold.
Everything I Learned about Volunteer Management, I Learned After I Left It
Do you ever feel like you’re treading water in this vast volunteer management ocean? Struggling against perceptions of what you do that simply don’t match the reality? As Meridian Swift writes, “I know I did. It took getting out and drying off to uncover what was missing in my volunteer management career.”
In this e-Volunteerism feature, well-known volunteer expert Swift reviews how leaving the profession helped her gain new perspectives and insights into volunteer management, and helped Swift see that what she really needed, metaphorically speaking, was a “boat. . . a sturdy foundation that would keep me from treading water.” As Swift writes:
“I began to look at it in a different light. What could have made volunteer management more respected? I dove into researching everything from HR trends, to systems and project management, to ecological symbiosis. Research made me realize that it is we, the volunteer managers, who must control the perception of volunteer management. . . So let’s pull ourselves out of the water and build a boat that lifts high the volunteerism sail.”
Skills Based Volunteering: A Strategic Opportunity in Corporate Engagement
Much that’s been said about the motivations and outcomes of skills based volunteering (SBV) has been written from the corporation’s perspective. We know less about what motivates or what it takes to engage a SBV program from a nonprofit point of view.
In this e-Volunteerism feature, authors from NC State University and the Southeastern Council of Foundations examine the experience of one nonprofit as they expand their already robust volunteer program to incorporate skills based volunteerism. Their findings examine how SBV is perceived from different organizational levels, and the benefits and pitfalls of engaging such initiatives. Using a case study with 20 interviews from multiple stakeholder groups, the authors also discuss the coordination and resources it takes to implement a successful SBV program. This important feature provides insight into capacity considerations for any organization interested in implementing a SBV program.
Linking Volunteer Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Volunteer Resources Managers
In this Research to Practice, Laurie Mook reviews two articles that bring together issues related to measuring the impact of volunteering, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 goals that address social, economic, and environmental challenges at the global and local levels, and are gaining currency across the public, private, and social economy sectors. Volunteer resources managers are well-positioned to embed the SDGs into impact measurement, with the potential benefits of increased volunteer engagement and retention, as well as increased funding. Strategically, reporting on performance related to the SDGs can also be used to influence local and national policy agendas.