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Guillaume Plaisance1
1 Bordeaux University, IRGO UR4190, IAE Bordeux, France
While many non-profit organizations rely solely on the voluntary commitment of the people around them, the challenge of retaining these individuals has become paramount. In a context where the number of civil society organizations is increasing and the terms of engagement are becoming increasingly volatile, it is up to researchers to better understand the mechanisms of recognition of engagement in order to promote volunteer retention. However, recognizing engagement is complex, as it involves understanding the unique characteristics of each organization, as well as those of each individual volunteer. Indeed, volunteers do not all have the same motivations, the same drivers for engagement, or the same expectations in terms of recognition.
That is why the study I conducted sought to investigate adapted forms of rewards and awards in a specific context: that of France. French organizations are central to society, but they vary greatly in size: 75% of them have an annual budget of less than €10,000, and only 10% employ staff. The aim of the article was therefore to determine whether certain individual features and characteristics specific to volunteering could explain the interest – or lack thereof – in awards, as well as in rewards dedicated to recognizing skills. Given the context of this survey, I also wanted, in consultation with Recherches & Solidarités, to understand whether the economic, social, and political crises had an effect on volunteers’ need for recognition.
Continue reading “Volunteers’ interest in skill-based rewards and in awards in nonprofit organizations: a study of volunteer recognition in France “
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