Voluntary Service Organizations Research Articles

Cyber risk and voluntary Service Organization Control (SOC) audits

Cyber risk and voluntary Service Organization Control (SOC) audits

Civilian national service programs can powerfully increase youth voter turnout

Low rates of youth voting are a feature of contemporary democracies the world over, with the United States having some of the lowest youth turnout rates in the world. However, far too little is known about how to address the dismal rates of youth voter participation found in many advanced democracies. In this paper, we examine the causal effect of a potentially scalable solution that has attracted renewed interest today: voluntary national service programs targeted at the youth civilian population. Leveraging the large pool of young people who apply each year to participate in the Teach For America (TFA) program-a prominent voluntary national service organization in the United States that integrates college graduates into teaching roles in low-income communities for 2 y-we examine the effect of service participation on voter turnout. To do so, we match TFA administrative records to large-scale nationwide voter files and employ a fuzzy regression discontinuity design around the recommended admittance cutoff for the TFA program. We find that serving as a teacher in the Teach For America national service program has a large effect on civic participation-substantially increasing voter turnout rates among applicants admitted to the program. This effect is noticeably larger than that of previous efforts to increase youth turnout. Our results suggest that civilian national service programs targeted at young people have great promise in helping to narrow the stubborn and enduring political engagement gap between younger and older citizens.

Transformational leadership, self-efficacy and performance of volunteers in non-formal voluntary service education

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine whether self-efficacy is a key mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance, based on intrinsic motivation theory. The study extended the literature on self-efficacy to transformational leadership in non-formal voluntary service education.Design/methodology/approachOne hundred and seventy-eight scouts and scout leaders were sampled from a Hong Kong voluntary service organization that involved volunteers in the process of non-formal education.FindingsTransformational leadership was positively associated with the volunteers' performance. In addition, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance.Originality/valueThe study thus yielded novel insights for management development into the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance, suggesting that self-efficacy mediates this relationship for volunteers in non-formal voluntary service education.

Strategy of Chinese Voluntary Service Organizations' Participation in the Supply of Public Cultural Services

Strategy of Chinese Voluntary Service Organizations' Participation in the Supply of Public Cultural Services

Canadian citizens volunteering in disasters: From emergence to networked governance

How to improve coordination between formal and unaffiliated or spontaneous volunteers after emergencies is currently an international question with a high profile. Drawing on international disaster management literature and experiences and recent crisis events in Canada, our analysis examines four Canadian case studies to show that the inclusion of citizens in EM is becoming indispensable, as simultaneously as the frequency and intensity of natural disasters are seen to be growing due to climate change, and citizens are increasingly presenting their labour and resources as assets to be drawn on in emergency and postemergency situations. In this context, Canadian municipalities are starting to better manage the unpredictability of spontaneous citizen volunteering in emergencies by building anticipatory structures of networked governance for integrating diverse, pre‐existing, and in some cases, pre‐identified groups of citizens as volunteers in emergency management functions. Additionally, as the role of voluntary service organizations is becoming elevated in emergency response and recovery in Canada, these organizations can prospectively play the role of brokers to help emergency management agencies access and manage community‐based networks of voluntary resources.

Intercultural Comfort through Social Practices: Exploring Conditions for Cultural Learning

High quality cross-ethnic interactions contribute to college students’ development, but knowledge is scant concerning campus settings and conditions that promote these interactions. This study indicates that distinct social practices in particular settings create such conditions. Phenomenological analysis of current and past members of a voluntary community service association (VCSA, a pseudonym), appropriated to meet their social needs, revealed practices leading students from differing ethnic backgrounds to challenge stereotypes and engage in cultural learning. Inductively-derived findings led to a transdisciplinary analysis that synthesizes concepts from institutional (higher education), organizational (voluntary service organization), interpersonal (social ties), and individual (personal development) levels. The emergent concept of intercultural comfort differentiated between meaningful diversity interactions within the student association and apprehensive ones elsewhere. Members experienced this intercultural comfort and an ethnically inclusive moral order due to mission-driven practices emphasizing shared purpose, fellowship, and structured interactions.

Comfort versus discomfort in interracial/interethnic interactions

Purpose – Responding to findings of psychological discomfort impeding interracial/interethnic attitude and skill development, the purpose of this paper is to investigate group-level factors as possible antecedents to individuals’ comfort in interracial/interethnic interactions. Among individuals experiencing diversity during a key developmental stage in life, college students, the study inquires whether group practices that foster a sense of belonging and inclusion among all members differentiate comfortable from uncomfortable interracial/interethnic interactions. As part of the analysis, the construct interracial/interethnic comfort is developed and tested as a measure of interactions that are experienced with ease and confidence. Design/methodology/approach – Scale development methods and structural equation modeling were used to analyze survey data from 360 members of a voluntary service organization at 50 US colleges. Findings – The structural equation analyses indicate that the group practices – shared superordinate purpose, a welcoming climate for diverse members, and practices for structuring interactions among all group members – have significant and important effects on interracial/interethnic comfort, which was found to be a reliable construct. The relationship between each of the group practices and individuals’ interracial/interethnic comfort was either totally or partially mediated by the individuals’ sense of belonging, a strong form of inclusion. Practical implications – The results indicate group practices that possess the capacity to contribute to students’ interracial/interethnic attitude and skill development by creating solidarity and comfort in their interactions with diverse others. Institutions can make efforts to further individuals’ cultural development by stimulating the use of these practices in campus groups. Originality/value – This study identifies concepts for understanding and addressing the known, problematic phenomenon of psychological discomfort in settings of diversity. These constructs offer new directions for research on diversity climate by focussing on relational practices at the group level that can move diversity beyond numerical representation to strong inclusion and close relationships.

A Study on the Relation of Collaborative Management Structure and Organizational Performance: Moderating Effect of Social Capital -Focusing on Voluntary Service Organization -

A Study on the Relation of Collaborative Management Structure and Organizational Performance: Moderating Effect of Social Capital -Focusing on Voluntary Service Organization -

The Global Dynamics of Gender and Philanthropy in Membership Associations

This study investigates how women influence charitable giving in a large, international voluntary service organization—Lions Clubs International (LCI). Data were collected from a survey of Lions clubs members in 14 countries to assess the impact of both micro- and macro-level factors on charitable giving. Probit and Tobit models are used to determine the probability of giving as well as the amount of money donated to the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Results indicate that belonging to a club where at least half of the members are female and where we see an increase in the percent growth in female membership in the respondent’s country are associated with both a greater likelihood of donating as well as giving more to this international service club. Findings from our study have direct implications for voluntary service organizations, particularly with regard to issues of organizational culture, as more service organizations recruit female members.

The Practices of a Non-Diversity-Focused Organization and Their Impact on its Members’ Intercultural Behavioral Comfort

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact that university student groups’ practices have on their members’ intercultural behavioral comfort and interactions and their cultural learning. We surveyed 360 undergraduate members of a national voluntary service organization at 50 U.S. four-year colleges. Findings indicate that an organization’s ability to nurture a sense of feeling welcome and identification with organizational purpose predict skills and confidence in dealing with diverse intra-group members – a competency we call behavioral comfort. An additional practice using proactive efforts to promote social interaction predicts behavioral comfort when mediated by a sense of belonging. These findings have important implications for institutions of higher learning, student affairs staff and administrators, campus co-curricular associations, and voluntary organizations.

Servant leadership versus transformational leadership in voluntary service organizations

PurposeThe major purpose of this research is to test the application of two leadership models to a voluntary service club. Servant leadership was predicted to better explain the attitudes and commitment of service organization members than transformational leadership. Both leadership styles were hypothesized to be mediated by empowerment.Design/methodology/approachAt eight clubs of a national voluntary service organization, it was investigated whether transformational and “servant” leadership were positively related to club member satisfaction, commitment and intentions to stay in the club. A sample of 110 participants completed either a printed or an online survey on the leadership style of their current club president and their attitudes toward the club in general. The club presidents completed the leadership surveys.FindingsWhile perceptions of transformational leadership and servant leadership styles were highly correlated, servant leadership was identified as a better predictor of the voluntary club members' commitment, satisfaction, and intentions to stay. Club members' perceptions of empowerment mediated the relationship between servant leadership and satisfaction, commitment, and intentions to stay in the volunteer service organizations.Practical implicationsLeaders of service clubs may wish to adopt a servant leader style. These servant leaders may find it practical to provide empowering experiences to encourage volunteers to perform service club activities effectively. More generally, leaders who provide volunteers with positive, meaningful experiences may be able to maintain their interest in their volunteer positions.Originality/valueIt is believed that this is the first paper to compare directly servant versus transformational leadership in a voluntary organization.

Moral Resources and Political Capital: Theorizing the Relationship Between Voluntary Service Organizations and the Development of Civil Society in China

How can voluntary service organizations (VSOs) emerge and survive in a relatively conservative social and political environment? How can such organizations contribute to the development of civil society in contemporary China? To answer these questions, this study applies the qualitative approach and a triangulation of methods to a case study of the city of Jinan. The findings indicate that self-chosen moral resource I, socially recognized moral resource II, ascribed political capital I, and self-achieved political capital II are the key elements that have an impact on the development of civil society in China. Moral resource I is crucial to the success of VSOs in promoting civil society, whereas moral resource II, political capital I, and political capital II may help them to gain the government’s trust, thus facilitating their survival and growth in a relatively conservative social and political environment.

Places of social poverty and service dependency of people with intellectual disabilities: a case study in Baltimore, Maryland

In the United States, post-asylum geographies of people with intellectual disabilities implicate the condition of service dependency in their social impoverishment, here defined as “isolation from the community and lack of real friendships and relationships” (The importance of income. The Self-Determination National Program Office of the Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, Concord, 1998, p. 2). Social historical geographies of people with intellectual disabilities, both general and local to Baltimore, Maryland, contextualize how one voluntary service organization re/created service dependency and social poverty of people with intellectual disabilities through residential location decisions.

In Search of an Optimal Model for Board–Executive Relationships in Voluntary Human Service Organizations

The roles, functions and power base of the board and the executive of voluntary human service organizations are analyzed. Three existing models and their inadequacies are reviewed. An optimal model of such relationships with two-dimensional coordinates and an indifference curve is constructed. Action guidelines for achieving power-sharing and board development are suggested, which may improve effectiveness.

Amateur structures and their effect on performance: the case of Greek voluntary sports clubs

This study applies an organizational perspective to the measurement of the structure and context of voluntary local sports clubs in Greece. Local sport clubs have rarely been an area of inquiry in terms of their organizational structure and context. This research firstly focuses on collecting and analysing data referring to measurements of contextual (e.g., organizational size, age and resource dependence) and structural (e.g., formalization, specialization, centralization) variables. Secondly, it examines whether the local sports clubs' contextual and structural development has an effect on their performance. The theoretical background underlying this research endeavour is drawn from the classical Weberian theory of bureaucracy as presented by Frisby's conceptual framework in order to be applicable in voluntary leisure service organizations. Forty-one local sport clubs composed the sample of this study. A member of their board of directors was interviewed following a specifically designed, highly structured pre-existing schedule. The results support a trend towards a loosely structured, less bureaucratic organizational operation for the local sport clubs, which is accompanied with external resource dependence and moderate performance.

The changing nature of Irish voluntary social service organizations

Reviews the development of the Irish voluntary sector and examines the unique characteristics of the legal framework in which voluntary organizations operate and the funding and staffing arrangements. Focuses on recent changes in the relationship between the state and organizations. Speculates on the future of these organizations by examining issues such as contracting, cohesiveness and general evolutionary trends.

Employment status and the attitudes and behavior of higher status women volunteers, 1975 and 1992: A case study

This study examines the relationships between employment status and women's attitudes toward and participation in a higher status voluntary service organization. Data were gathered in 1975 and 1992 from a sample of chapters of the International Association of Women (a pseudonym). The 1992 sample included three percent who reported a racial or ethnic identification other than white. Drawing on several theoretical perspectives, we expected to find differences in the attitudes and level of participation of employed versus non-employed members that would have important effects on organizational functioning. However, few differences in the attitudes of members employed full time, part time, and not in the labor force were found in either 1975 or 1992. There were, however, differences in behavior. Employed members reported spending much less time on organizational activities and were less likely to assume leadership roles, but these differences diminished between 1975 and 1992 as employed women became numerically dominant in the organization, suggesting that the growing presence of employed women in IAW led to the development of informal norms and new policies about the amount of time members should devote to the organization and a corresponding loss in the total number of volunteer hours devoted to it.

Psychological empowerment: issues and illustrations.

Discussed several issues related to psychological empowerment. The thesis of this paper is that the development of a universal and global measure of psychological empowerment may not be a feasible or appropriate goal. I begin by distinguishing between empowerment processes and outcomes. Underlying assumptions are discussed including the notion that empowerment differs across people, contexts, and times. A nomological network that includes intrapersonal, interactional, and behavioral components is also presented. Two examples of psychological empowerment for voluntary service organization members and members of a mutual help organization are described to help illustrate differences in the specific variables that may be used to measure psychological empowerment in different populations and settings.

Normative Beliefs in Fund-Raising Organizations

Normative beliefs are investigated in 32 units of a nationwide voluntary service organization. Staff members (n = 263) completed the Organizational Culture Inventory (Cooke & Lafferty, 1989). Performance data on community fund-raising success were obtained archivally. Security-oriented normative beliefs are negatively related to both fund-raising success and to staff job attitudes. Team-work-oriented norms are positively related to staff attitudes.

The Collective Strategy Framework: An Application to Competing Predictions of Isomorphism

The author gratefully acknowledges the comments of Hugh Arnold, Martin Evans, Bob House, Marshall Meyer, and Jitendra Singh. The author also wishes to express her appreciation to Agnes Meinhard and David Tucker for their support in using the data contained in this study and to the ASO editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments. This paper investigates empirically the competing predictions of three perspectives on the determinants of organizational isomorphism-population ecology, institutionalization, and strategic choice-through a collective strategy framework, which categorizes organizations in an interorganizational field by their relationships with one another. The methodological approach, based on a network analysis of multiple organizational relations in a population of voluntary social service organizations, operationalizes the collective strategy typology and links homogeneity among organizations to their location in the organizational field. The results of the investigation offer strongest support for a strategic choice perspective and suggest that the environment is not highly deterministic in shaping organizational characteristics.'