Abstract
Volunteers represent a critical population who contribute to nonprofits’ capacity to achieve missions and goals. Volunteers hold various motivations that enable them to pursue their important work. Volunteer coordinators and managers can implement appropriate recognition strategies to meet the motivational needs of their organization’s volunteers. This publication looks at volunteer motivations and relevant recognition strategies. Written by Tyler Carney, Deanna Brock, Kiera Packer, Vivian Rodriguez, and Matt Benge, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, May 2025.
Accessibility Summary:
In accordance with Title II regulations this content meets all points of exemption as Archived web content and/or Preexisting conventional electronic documents.
References
Anderson, E., & Cairncross, G. (2005). Understanding and managing volunteer motivation. Australian Journal on Volunteering, 10(2), 7–17.
Ashfaq, F., Butt, M. U., & Ilyas, S. (2021). Volunteering: What drives and retains it? An analysis of motivational needs together with organizational policies and practices. Qualitative Research Journal, 21(2), 189–205. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-04-2020-0024
Benge, M. (2021). Tailoring recognition to fit your employees’ needs: AEC635/WC298, 2/2018. EDIS, 2018(1). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-wc298-2018
Boyce, V. M. (1971). A systematic approach to leadership development. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED065763.pdf
Brun, J., & Dugas, N. (2008). An analysis of employee recognition: Perspectives on human resources practices. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 19(4), 716–730. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190801953723
Caligiuri, P., Mencin, A., & Jiang, K. (2013). Win-win-win: The influence of company-sponsored volunteerism programs on employees, NGOs, and business units. Personnel Psychology, 66(4), 825–860. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12019
Clary, E. G., & Snyder, M. (1999). The motivations to volunteer: Theoretical and practical considerations. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 8(5), 156–159. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00037
Cláudia Nave, A., & do Paço, A. (2013). Corporate volunteering — An analysis of volunteers' motivations and demographics. Journal of Global Responsibility, 4(1), 31–43. https://doi.org/10.1108/20412561311324050
Connors, T. D. (2012). The volunteer management handbook: Leadership strategies for success (2nd ed.). John Wiley and Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118386194
Culp, K. (2013). Volunteer position descriptions: Tools for generating members, volunteers, and leaders in Extension. Journal of Extension, 51(1). https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.51.01.18
Dillard, J. (2024). Volunteer recognition: Perspectives from volunteer administration practice [PowerPoint slides]. UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.
Ensor, K. (2023, December 26). How to host a thank-a-thon to express your gratitude to donors. DonorBox. https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/thank-a-thon
Hill, C. A. (1987). Affiliation motivation: People who need people… but in different ways. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(5), 1008–1018. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.5.1008
Kang, H. J., & Cho, S. J. (2015). Study on the effect of recognition and reward for volunteer activity and the willingness to continue and the mediator effect of the satisfaction of the volunteer organizations members. International Information Institute (Tokyo). Information, 18(5B), 2059–2067.
Lough, B. J., & Turner, Y. S. (2017). How to accelerate volunteering through employee volunteer programmes. The Journal of Corporate Citizenship, (67), 77–94. https://experts.illinois.edu/en/publications/how-to-accelerate-volunteering-through-employee-volunteer-program
Lynch, R., & McCurley, S. (1998). Essential volunteer management. Directory of Social Change.
McKee, J., & McKee, T. (2012). The new breed: Understanding and equipping the 21st century volunteer. (2nd ed.). Simply Youth Ministry.
Phillips, L. C., & Phillips, M. H. (2010). Volunteer motivation and reward preference: An empirical study of volunteerism in a large, not-for-profit organization. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 75(4), 07497075.
Rehnborg, S. J., & Moore, M. (2012). Maximizing volunteer engagement. The Volunteer Management Handbook, 103–124. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118386194.ch5

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 UF/IFAS
