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Experiential Influences on Volunteers’ Retention and Support Intentions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Walter Wymer Open the ORCID record for Walter Wymer [Opens in a new window]  and
Ljiljana Najev Čačija Open the ORCID record for Ljiljana Najev Čačija [Opens in a new window]
Walter Wymer*
Affiliation:
Dhillon School of Business, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4W8, Canada
Ljiljana Najev Čačija*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, Split, Croatia
*
walter.wymer@uleth.ca
ljnajev@efst.hr
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Abstract

We contribute to the research stream on volunteer retention and commitment that examines the influence of satisfaction on retention by (1) examining potential antecedents to satisfaction, (2) framing satisfaction as volunteers’ satisfaction with their volunteering experience, and (3) evaluating a variety of potential outcome variables. We examined the influence of volunteer’s satisfaction with their overall volunteering experience on six behavioral intentions (1-year retention intentions, 5-year retention intentions, donation intentions, bequest intentions, volunteer recruitment intentions, and word-of-mouth intentions). Data were collected from participating Canadian nonprofit organizations, resulting in 599 completed questionnaires from active volunteers. Satisfaction had a significant influence on the four nonmonetary support intentions. Feeling valued influenced our outcomes indirectly through satisfaction and had a direct effect on four outcome variables. Perceived usefulness was a significant antecedent of feeling valued. Moderation effects, directions for future research, and managerial implications are also discussed.

Keywords

Volunteer retentionVolunteer satisfactionDonation intentionsBequest intentionsFeeling valued

Information

Type
Research Paper
Information
Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations , Volume 36 , Issue 5 , October 2025 , pp. 590 - 600
Copyright
Copyright © International Society for Third-Sector Research 2025

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