Examining Volunteer Motivation, Satisfaction Factors

Abstract

Many non-profit organizations must rely heavily on volunteers to carry out core services (Herman and Heimovics, 1989). Due to the importance of volunteers within the sport industry, there have been increased efforts to determine the motivation behind these acts of volunteerism. Understanding the factors that cause and sustain sport volunteerism would assist sport organizations in recruiting and retaining volunteers. Nevertheless, the majority of research has focused on volunteers with professional sporting events and organizations, and very few studies have investigated volunteer motivations behind sport-for-development initiatives. The purpose of this study is to investigate the motivation of volunteers, and to identify factors related to their decision to continue volunteering, when choosing to take part in the SFD program developed at the Sport for Hope Center Haiti, an Olympic Center built by the IOC, that develops grassroots sport program, sport-for-development program, and support of elite sport of the different national sport federation in Haiti. This quantitative study is guided by the functional approach to volunteer motivation. Results will reveal the factors that are behind the volunteers motivation at the Sport for Hope Center Haiti. In addition, what correlation exist between the motives and satisfaction dimensions of this volunteering experience in the decision to continue volunteering. The implications of this research approach will help future research on SFD program, the recruitment, and decision to volunteer again. Finally, recommendations will be provided for volunteer coordinators who seek to increase the number of people who volunteer and to improve their human resource management in the Sport for Development program.