This study examines the effects of organizational communications of fun and social identity value (SIV) on the willingness of people atypical for a nonprofit organization to start volunteering at...Show moreThis study examines the effects of organizational communications of fun and social identity value (SIV) on the willingness of people atypical for a nonprofit organization to start volunteering at the nonprofit organization. The study had a 2-cell (control condition versus experimental condition) between-and-within participants experimental design. Participants with an identity atypical to that of the organization (n = 154) were allocated across conditions, were presented the nonprofit organization of the study and varying information about this organization, and completed a survey recording the study outcomes. Participants in the control condition received general information plus filler information about the nonprofit organization presented to them. Participants in the experimental condition received general information about the organization plus information about specific positive features of the nonprofit organization, including that the organization has fun work activities and values the participants’ social identity. Independent sample T-tests showed that participants in the experimental condition perceived higher organizational communications of fun and SIV, and higher anticipated respect and enjoyment, than control participants. A first hierarchical regression analysis showed that, beyond control variables, organizational communications of SIV led to higher feelings of anticipated respect in the participants. A second hierarchical regression analysis showed that, beyond control variables, organizational communications of fun led to higher feelings of anticipated enjoyment in participants. Mediation regression analysis showed that anticipated enjoyment mediated the effect of organizational communications of fun on the willingness to start volunteering. Theoretical and practical implications, strengths and limitations, and suggestions for future research, are discussed.Show less
This study focuses on the role that psychological ownership of the organization, organizational identification, and their predictors, play in the willingness of volunteers (i.e., unpaid workers) to...Show moreThis study focuses on the role that psychological ownership of the organization, organizational identification, and their predictors, play in the willingness of volunteers (i.e., unpaid workers) to promote the membership of the non-profit organization and stay a volunteer with the non-profit organization. Also, it is examined whether openness to diversity helps in increasing the willingness of volunteers to promote the membership of the non-profit organization to persons who belong to groups that are currently underrepresented within the organization. We conducted a survey study and the sample of the research included volunteers with different types of volunteer jobs and organizations (n = 84). The data were analyzed with multiple regression analyses, mediation regression analyses, and moderation regression analyses. The main results showed that among volunteers the identification with the organization, but not the psychological ownership of the organization, had a direct and positive relation with respectively willingness to promote and intent to remain. Furthermore, it was found that among volunteers having control within the organization relates directly and positively to psychological ownership of the organization, while self-investment relates directly and positively to identication with the organization and to the intent to remain a volunteer via organizational identification. Finally, it was found that among volunteers openness to diversity as a moderator strengthens the effect of organizational identification on the willingness to promote the membership of the organization to persons who belong to groups that are currently underrepresented within the organization. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings, and limitations of the current study and suggestions for further research, are discussed.Show less
Non-formal education has been used to reduce social exclusion and support the full development of European youth since the late 1980s. This paper explores the renewed youth policy around the...Show moreNon-formal education has been used to reduce social exclusion and support the full development of European youth since the late 1980s. This paper explores the renewed youth policy around the European Solidarity Corps, a volunteering program that uses experiential learning in support of youth employability, especially for youngsters with fewer opportunities. Awareness, access, and competences are the main variables discussed here that influence youth employability in these non-formal learning contexts. A short ethnography of Olde Vechte Foundation gives a peek into the practical experience of the youth workers and volunteers on the field in The Netherlands. This supports the view of experiential learning as a context and a competence in European youth work today.Show less
