Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Helen Bussell is a senior lecturer in Marketing in tary sector with regard to the donation of time.
the School of Business and Management at the The review shows that those who volunteer are
University of Teesside. She leads courses in an extremely diverse group, active in a wide
not-for-profit marketing at undergraduate and variety of contexts. This makes the definition of
postgraduate level and for managers working in a volunteer a more complex task than one
the not-for-profit sector. Her main research in- would expect. It also demonstrates that in-
terests are in marketing in the public and volun- dividuals and organisations may volunteer for
tary sectors. Prior to entering teaching, Helen reasons other than purely altruistic motives.
worked in marketing in the public sector. Finally, the paper identifies gaps in this area of
research and presents topics for further re-
Deborah Forbes is a senior lecturer in Market- search.
ing in the School of Business and Manage-
ment at the University of Teesside. She leads
courses in services and business to business INTRODUCTION
marketing at undergraduate and postgraduate The last 20 years have seen a fundamental
level. In addition she is involved, on a voluntary reappraisal of social policy resulting in the
basis, in training volunteers and management in emergence of a new role for voluntary
marketing for volunteer organisations. Her main groups in the United Kingdom. Key
research interests are in marketing in the volun- aspects of the welfare state and com-
tary sector. Prior to entering teaching, Deborah munity development are now dependent
worked in marketing in the telecommunications on the voluntary sector and volunteer
industry. involvement. The voluntary sector has
become a sizeable part of the UK
economy with assets of 40bn and annual
ABSTRACT spending of nearly 11bn.1 It has been
Although the work of the voluntary sector is estimated that half the population of
growing, the number of people volunteering is the UK volunteer time to community
not increasing at a comparable rate. This paper activities.2
argues that the key to an organisations success In order to cope with the range of work
in recruiting and retaining its volunteers is to the number of voluntary organisations has
have an understanding of its target group. As grown quite rapidly, leading to greater
International Journal of Nonprofit a means to developing this understanding the competition for limited resources (finan-
and Voluntary Sector Marketing,
Vol. 7 No. 3, 2002, pp. 244257. paper reviews the prior research on volunteering cial and human). Although levels of
Henry Stewart Publications,
14654520 and outlines the current situation in the volun- volunteering are high, there are signs that
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Bussell and Forbes
this may have peaked3 so that public the United Kingdom the authors have
sector and voluntary organisations are reviewed the current literature. The aim
now striving to recruit from a decreasing of this paper is threefold. First, to
pool of volunteers.4 Recognising the summarise the research in this area to assist
value of volunteer time and the benefits to those involved in volunteer manage-
individuals of volunteering the govern- ment in developing effective marketing
ment has led a number of initiatives to strategies for the recruitment and reten-
increase the level of volunteering (such as tion of volunteers. Secondly, to assist those
the Millennium Volunteers)5 and also marketers engaged in research in this area.
plans to include citizenship education in Finally, to outline current knowledge to
the National Curriculum for England and identify areas for future research. It was
Wales.6 discovered that there were four key
The study of volunteerism has always aspects to the literature on the volunteer
attracted a multidisciplinary approach.7 As market so the authors have developed the
the competition for volunteers becomes classification model of the Four Ws of
more acute and volunteer managers have Volunteering: What (definition), Where
become increasingly concerned with the (context), Who (characteristics of volun-
recruitment and retention of volunteers, teers) and Why (motivation). (See Figure
marketing techniques are playing an ever 1).
more important role in this sector.
Consequently, there is much interest in
this area among marketers. A great deal of WHAT IS A VOLUNTEER?
work has been carried out in the United It is extremely difficult to define what is
States8 with many studies examining meant by a volunteer as there is no
volunteerism in specific organisations (for standard practice in volunteering;11 volun-
example hospice volunteers)9 or among teers operate in thousands of different
particular groups of people (such as organisations taking on extremely varied
African American men).10 roles. Also volunteers cannot be con-
As a prelude to an investigation of sidered to be one large, homogenous
volunteering in a specific region of group12 as they are of all ages and diverse
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Understanding the volunteer market
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Bussell and Forbes
one survey estimating participation in the examined.7 Research in this area has
UK by some 15,000 organisations.22 either taken place as part of a general
Geroy et al. attempt to identify what discussion on volunteering26,27 or has
constitutes corporate volunteering.23 They focused on volunteer activity in specific
point out that employing organisations organisations.15,2829 Based on a US sample
may be involved in varying degrees. For of 1,058 volunteers, Wymer uses six key
example, organisations may act only as groups when carrying out work on
clearing houses (ie by identifying oppor- segmenting volunteers: human service,
tunities for employees). BITC sees its role arts and culture, religion, youth develop-
as one of three activities: helping to make ment, education and health.27 In a UK
the link between community assignments study of volunteer care and feeding
and its organisation members; arranging Wilson and Pimm group volunteer or-
and organising activities for employees at ganisations along similar lines (charities,
weekends or after hours; or donating sports clubs, business associations, social
money to charities for which employees clubs, health self-help groups, political
volunteer (dollars for doers). This latter groups, religious groups and supportive
role has also been adopted by Barclays agencies).26
where the bank matches hour for hour the A less specific form of grouping was
time staff give to the local community.24 identified by Geroy et al.: produc-
tion, service and sales industries.23 What
is interesting to note is that they
WHERE DO PEOPLE VOLUNTEER? believe there is no relationship between
Just as it is a complex task to define the company type, commitment or support
term volunteer, it is also difficult to by volunteers. In his research Smith
outline the context in which volunteering identifies two sub-categories as being
occurs. This is an important area to con- salient: territory and organisation.7 Earlier
sider as it describes the environment in work by Handy30 distinguishes between
which the volunteer participates.7 Par- three categories of voluntary organisa-
ticipation may take place among those tions: mutual support, where people with
who work full time. Here volunteering mutual enthusiasms come together;29 serv-
may be within a corporate programme (as ice delivery (which tends to be organised
highlighted above) or in the volunteers along professional lines, focusing on
leisure time. For those not in full-time effectiveness and low costs through for-
employment volunteering may be an al- malised roles, responsibilities and ac-
ternative to work or a means to achieving countability); and campaigning or cause
marketable skills.15 Volunteering may be a specific.
single act or may be the systematic pur- Organisational structure may also affect
suit of . . . volunteer activity that par- the experience a volunteer has. Robinson
ticipants find so substantial and interesting argues that the matrix system may be the
that . . . they launch themselves on a most appropriate,31 although Courtney17
career centred on acquiring and express- stresses the value of a small, flat, acces-
ing its special skills, knowledge and ex- sible structure. Research and commen-
perience.25 tary highlight different roles available for
Smith highlights that a key problem in volunteers in organisations, from opera-
this area is the paucity of research and he tional through to manager and board
points out that many important dif- level.17,23,29,3235
ferences in organisations have not been The issue of managing volunteers is of
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Understanding the volunteer market
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Bussell and Forbes
is indeed evidence that altruism exists in volunteering contexts. Okun found that
many types of voluntary activity.13 Nichols the strongest correlate of frequency of
and King found the desire to help others volunteering among older volunteers was
was the most frequently cited reason for the need to feel useful or productive.49
volunteering in the Guide Association.47 Improving human capital appears to be
Helping others has been found to be an becoming an important motivator for
important factor among volunteers of all volunteering. Rifkin points out that
ages: student volunteers48 and those over volunteering provides employment to the
the age of 60.49 unemployed54 and one-third of the sample
It is undoubtedly true that many volun- in Anderson and Moores study of
teers find the activity to be a rewarding volunteers in Canada volunteered in order
experience but Cnaan and Goldberg-Glen to occupy spare time.55 Volunteering is
demonstrate that, as well as an altruis- sometimes seen to enable the volunteer to
tic motive, volunteers tend also to act develop skills which may be useful in
on egoistic motives. People volunteer to a future career48,56 or help to obtain
satisfy important social and psychological employment,13 gain academic credits15 or
goals.50 Different individuals may be in- even aid career advancement.39 Indeed
volved in the same activities but have many of the initiatives in the USA and the
different goals.51 These goals are so diverse UK encouraging the young and the
that Mueller uses four main categories to unemployed to volunteer stress that by
classify the benefits gained. As well as volunteering one can gain confidence,
altruism he lists the family unit consuming prepare for the workplace and gain
the collective good (for example having a marketable skills.
child in the unit), the volunteer enjoying Many volunteers do so as they believe
a selective incentive (for example, pres- they can contribute positively to the or-
tige, social contact), and the improvement ganisation as they have specific skills that
of human capital.52 would bring benefits to the organisa-
The idea of volunteering because a tion. Nichols and King found that many
family member is benefiting from the Guiders had been members when younger
organisation is supported by studies both and wanted to give something back to the
in the USA. and the UK. Smith found association.20
that many voluntary organisations in the Wilson and Pimm discovered some
USA were providing services not supplied less obvious reasons why people may
elsewhere so people volunteered in order volunteer including wanting to wear a
to maintain the required service.7 Many uniform, perks obtained, mixing with
volunteers in the Guide Association in the celebrities, health and fitness, and travel
UK volunteered because they had a child opportunities.26
in the unit and volunteered to prevent The primary motivator for many volun-
closure.20 Investigating family volunteer- teers is the importance placed on cer-
ing, Johnson-Coffey found that families tain values.57 Snyder and Debono have
believed this strengthened the unit, creat- termed this the value-expressive func-
ing family togetherness.15 tion.58 Volunteering allows the individual
The selective incentive concept is ap- to act on his or her underlying values and
parent in many studies.20,26,39,53 A sense of to be his or her true self. Volunteer-
belonging, the need for affiliation, gain- ing may give the individual the oppor-
ing prestige or self-esteem, or a way of tunity to express these core values and
making friends is evident in a variety of beliefs59 or to pass them on to others.53
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Understanding the volunteer market
For example religious involvement and good public relations.33 Hill feels it gives
religious beliefs have been shown to be the organisation an enhanced reputation
associated with a greater likelihood to in the community or benefits the
volunteer.10,60 companys consumer profile.21 Other
Having looked at the benefits that views state that companies are influenced
volunteers may gain, one is still no closer by ethics and social responsibility. For
to understanding why some people volun- Caudron it is a way to address serious
teer when others do not. The process of social problems33 or as Master states,
how people become volunteers is one that corporate volunteering by chartered ac-
requires closer investigation. In his study countants will add some real value to the
of volunteers in Oxfam, Bales identifies communities in which they live and
three stages to volunteering: the predis- work.64 Geroy et al. believe corporate
position to volunteer, making the decision volunteerism is being driven by the
to volunteer and, finally, volunteering.61 increased pressure that corporations face
Okun and Eisenberg suggest that there is to assume responsibility for the com-
a social-adjustive motive.57 People volun- munity in which they operate.23
teer because someone they value asks Benefits are also delivered to
them to. This view is supported by organisations in the form of
Wymer who cites a national study in the increased profitability,63,65 improvements
USA by Gallup which reported that in employee morale and productivity23,33
People are more than four times as likely and better ideas.66 For employees the
to volunteer when asked than when they benefits of being involved in
are not.62 He also found that volunteers work-sponsored volunteering can include
are more likely to volunteer if they developing networks with other
have a friend or family member in organisations, such as the government and
the organisation. In studying volunteer the private sector33 and, according to
recruitment in four different organisations Crouter non-work activities can support,
Riecken, Babakus and Yavas found that facilitate or enhance work life.67
personal contact was important as it Having acquired volunteers, the volun-
reduced the perceived social risk that teer organisation must seek to retain their
deterred some from volunteering.39 support. In a dynamic changing environ-
The growth in corporate volunteerism ment, where the number of voluntary
was discussed above. Why are a growing organisations is growing and the volun-
number of organisations becoming in- teer pool is diminishing, organisations
volved with this? Geroy et al. believe must understand not only what motivates
employee volunteer programmes can be volunteers to join but also what keeps
seen as positive interventions which them. McPherson and Rotolo found that
have much to offer employees and when competition is intense a group will
employers.23 It has been argued, how- have difficulty recruiting and retaining
ever, that it is not just altruism that members and when competition is low
is driving this growth, but changes groups will be more likely to recruit and
in the organisations operating environ- retain members.38 The very composition
ments, such as cutbacks in funding63 of the organisation is redefined as mem-
and downsizing.15 Another view is that bers leave and new members are added.
presented by Caudron who suggests that Retention issues are also addressed by
to the cynic corporate volunteer efforts Mitchell and Taylor who argue that reten-
are thinly veiled attempts to generate tion is enhanced by positive relations
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Bussell and Forbes
between paid staff and volunteers,68 and their length of tenure is likely to be
Wilson and Pimm explore the dynamics small.76
of staff and volunteers.26 Recruiting can raise unrealistically high
Hobson et al. propose that a volun- expectations.72 The expectations and per-
teer-friendly environment would support ceptions of new recruits may differ from
retention.69 In Wright et al. this friendli- reality. Having a friend or family mem-
ness was reiterated in their study of house ber involved in the organisation may
building in the Appalachian mountains, give more realistic expectations to poten-
where having fun helped to prevent tial recruits. Furthermore, it has been
volunteers from leaving.29 Omoto and shown that the image of volunteering
Snyder stress that it is increasing the often deters younger people from donat-
satisfaction of volunteering that will lead ing their time.20,40
to increasing the length of service.70 In To retain volunteers the organisation
some instances, the decline in the num- must offer something particular for its
bers volunteering often means that the own members.72 Okun and Eisenberg
work is left to fewer people and this suggest that for elderly volunteers this
discourages volunteers from continuing.71 differentiating factor could be either
Some are deterred from pursuing their connected to the need for visibility and
involvement in an organisation as current status or satisfied by the rotation of
volunteers may form a distinctive group activities.57 This emphasis on activities as
that is not particularly welcoming to new a means of satisfaction and commitment
recruits.47 is highlighted in the work of Dailey
In some instances commitment levels who shows that, for political campaign
may be low, perhaps just a few hours a workers, commitment was linked to the
week. Here, leaving will cause little or no job characteristics, such as feedback,
disruption to lives or reputation.72 The involvement and autonomy.77 This ele-
issue of time available to volunteer is ment of recognition is also raised by
highlighted by Nichols and King12,20 and Gidron.78 Brown and Zahrly suggest
Davis Smith73 who demonstrate that that some volunteers require activities
people want to volunteer but conflict to improve skills as against generalist
sometimes develops between volunteering activities.79 This is interesting in the light
and paid work and also family commit- of the ongoing discussion on the potential
ments. Individuals have finite resources to of the NVQ as a motivator and retention
devote to organisations.38 Yavas and tool, although in a sample of 21 non-
Riecken focus on the busy hedonistic governmental organisations Amos-Wil-
lifestyles people pursued in the 1990s.74 son found that only six organisations
The effect of the age of children provided training for their volunteers and
on parents ability to volunteer has this tended to be driven by organisa-
been recognised from early research tional requirements rather than individual
in the 1960s75 and seems as relevant need.32
today.12,20 Several studies show that parent Despite efforts by volunteer groups to
volunteers resign when their childs in- develop intrinsic and extrinsic rewards,
volvement in the organisation ends.12,20 it has to be recognised that volunteers
Motivation issues explored earlier may do leave because of factors outside the
also affect retention of volunteers, for volunteer organisations control. The or-
example Rubin and Thorelli state that if ganisation has to be prepared to ac-
a volunteer joins for egotistic reasons then cept this. You will lose volunteers, dont
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Understanding the volunteer market
berate yourself for every loss, but tackle the organisations services are plentiful but
avoidable losses. the supply of volunteers is scarce. Al-
though there is undoubtedly a hard core
of long-serving volunteers there are fewer
CONCLUSION new volunteers coming forward to replace
It has been said that volunteers are the the ones who leave.73 It is, therefore,
most important group of customers for a becoming increasingly important to un-
voluntary organisation.29 Those needing derstand this important group of cus-
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Understanding the volunteer market
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