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Means, motive and opportunity: exploring board volunteering

Michael A. Walton (Department of Public Administration, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA)
Richard M. Clerkin (Department of Public Administration, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA)
Robert K. Christensen (Department of Public Administration and Policy, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA)
Laurie E. Paarlberg (The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA)
Rebecca Nesbit (Department of Public Administration and Policy, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA)
Mary Tschirhart (John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA)

Personnel Review

ISSN: 0048-3486

Article publication date: 6 February 2017

1285

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to better understand the conditions associated with serving on boards by investigating the factors that distinguish older volunteers who serve on nonprofit boards from those who only volunteer programmatically.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys of 354 residents of Southeastern North Carolina over age 50. Measures include education, wealth, retirement status, public service motivation (PSM), patterns of residential mobility, secular and religious organization meeting attendance, and volunteer activity in the past year. Data were analyzed using a Heckman probit selection model.

Findings

Respondents who have higher levels of education, are retired, or have lived in the community for longer periods are more likely to report board volunteering, but are not any more likely to volunteer programmatically. Those with higher levels of PSM are more likely to report general volunteering, but are not any more likely to volunteer on boards. Two measures reveal divergent findings based on type of volunteering: moving frequently in one’s lifetime and attending weekly religious services are associated with a greater likelihood of programmatic volunteering but a reduced likelihood of serving as a board member.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include self-reported, cross-sectional data, and a geographically restricted American sample that is older, more educated, and more likely to own a second home than average.

Practical implications

In order to better address board member recruitment, nonprofits should consider extending opportunities through strategies targeting retired community newcomers.

Originality/value

This study contributes an analysis of PSM among nonprofit board members, and identifies factors that distinguish programmatic and board volunteers, in order to better understand the conditions associated with board service.

Keywords

Citation

Walton, M.A., Clerkin, R.M., Christensen, R.K., Paarlberg, L.E., Nesbit, R. and Tschirhart, M. (2017), "Means, motive and opportunity: exploring board volunteering", Personnel Review, Vol. 46 No. 1, pp. 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-01-2015-0012

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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