Accounting for volunteer services: a deficiency in accountability

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the extent to which not-for-profit (NFP) organisations disclose information on volunteer contributions of services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relies on information disclosed in the web sites of NFP organisations.

Findings

This paper finds that disclosure was more prevalent on NFP web sites compared to digital annual report disclosures. This paper finds that more NFPs provided disclosure on the activities of their volunteers than other items pertaining to volunteers and the quantification and valuation of volunteer contributions were the least likely to be disclosed. Importantly, the findings illustrate an accountability deficiency in the comprehensiveness of disclosure which results in an under-representation of the contribution that volunteers provide to organisational sustainability and impact on mission fulfilment.

Research limitations/implications

The convenience sample size restricts further interrogation to tease out organisational characteristics that may influence current disclosure practices.

Practical implications

The findings contribute to international debate over the inclusion of volunteer contributions in the assessment of a NFP's accountability over its resources and ultimately the enhancement of its sustainability.

Originality/value

This exploratory study examines the current state of practice in the disclosure of volunteer contributions at an organisational level in the Australian context.

Citation

O'Brien, E. and Tooley, S. (2013), "Accounting for volunteer services: a deficiency in accountability", Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, Vol. 10 No. 3/4, pp. 279-294. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRAM-09-2012-0037