Volunteerism: A Descriptive Study on the Motivations of Volunteers from Non-Governmental Organizations

Abstract

The researcher conducted a descriptive study on motivations of volunteers from non-governmental organizations in Manila. The main objective of the study was to probe into the motivations of volunteers in non-government organizations with regards to their chosen work. Samples were selected from the list of NGO of the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC). The study used a qualitative approach utilizing a survey questionnaire and a focused interview guide. The Fitch’s (1987) 20-Jtem Community Service Involvement Survey was adopted and revised. It was divided in two parts were as follows: (i) Demographic Profile and (ii) Reasons for Volunteering. In the second part which is the reasons for volunteering, it measures under what motivational orientation a volunteer is. Aside from this, an in-depth interview guide composed of open-ended questions pertaining to the volunteers’ perceptions on volunteerism, was used in the interviews conducted with some of the volunteers who were willing to participate. This had been done to provide an in-depth understanding regarding their act of volunteering. Results showed that altruism is their highly regarded reason in staying in the service. Regardless of all demographic factors, volunteers render their service mainly as an altruistic act. Although not all their expectations from the organization they are serving are met, they still continue serving because they get their happiness from rendering service to other people.