Skip to main content
Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation
Create account
Research and Reports
1 minute read

Predictors of turnover amongst volunteers A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Meeting National Standards and Strategy Seal Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

Introduction

This document offers a comprehensive analysis of why volunteers leave and how to keep them engaged. Through a detailed examination of 117 studies, it identifies crucial factors like job satisfaction, communication, and organizational support that influence a volunteer's decision to stay or leave.

Benefits for Volunteer Involving Organisations

Organisations can greatly benefit from this research by understanding the specific needs and motivations of their volunteers. Implementing strategies based on these insights can lead to improved retention rates, saving time and resources in recruiting and training new volunteers.

Practical Applications for Volunteer Management

For volunteer managers, this document provides a clear framework to enhance volunteer engagement. By focusing on effective communication, creating meaningful work designs, and fostering a supportive environment, managers can build a committed volunteer workforce. The emphasis on positive job attitudes and intrinsic motivation highlights the path towards a more satisfied and stable volunteer base.

Summary

This research not only sheds light on the complexities of volunteer turnover but also offers practical solutions for organisations aiming to retain their valuable volunteer workforce.

Downloads and sources

Visit source (opens in new tab)

More about the authors

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

Make a Suggestion

If you find a great resource that isn't in the directory or want to provide feedback on the Volunteering Gateway, drop us a line!

More like this

Volunteer Resources

Financial and other reporting resources

Registered charities have obligations to the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) including reporting financial and other information and keeping records. This range of useful resources to help you understand the ACNC's reporting obligations and what is required for a charity.
1 minute read
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
General
Information

Language Guides

This information, guides and videos provide resources for appropriate language to use when talking about sensitive topics like trauma, drugs/alcohol, emapthy and de-escalation.
1 minute read
The Centre for Volunteering, The Knowledge Base
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Resources

Becoming an Inclusive Volunteer Mentor

This online course equips volunteers to mentor participants with disabilities as part of the Inclusive Volunteering Pathways to Employment Program. It covers inclusion, disability, and mentor responsibilities
1 minute read
Volunteering ACT, The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering Tasmania, The Knowledge Base
MyPass
Tech

MyPass

MyPass is volunteer onboarding and compliance management software centred around a digital Skills Passport, designed to help volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) reduce their risk and cost of operations.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Resource management Event management
Volaby
Tech

Volaby

Volaby is an end-to-end volunteer and people management platform, enabling organisations to do more with less! Built from the collective voice of our volunteer managers using the platform, Volaby helps you automate and simplify the volunteer and manager experience to save time and scale impact.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Event management
SEEK Volunteer
Tech

SEEK Volunteer

SEEK Volunteer helps connect people to volunteering opportunities that enrich their communities, lives and careers.
Recruitment
scheduled

Employment Pathway: Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment

This webinar explores how volunteering can support pathways into paid employment. Learn how to build employable skills through volunteering, articulate transferable experience, and create pathways that help volunteers transition into the workforce.
The Centre for Volunteering
–
Free
scheduled

Starting a Not-for-profit Organisation - July 2026

This webinar introduces the legal basics of starting a not‑for‑profit organisation. Learn about legal structures, incorporation, registration, charity status and key steps to establish and operate a compliant organisation.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
–
Free
scheduled

Becoming an Inclusive Volunteer Involving Organisation

This free inclusion workshop explores how to build inclusive volunteering opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Learn to identify and reduce barriers, support young people, and create inclusive teams and workplaces.
The Centre for Volunteering
–
Free