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

The Relationship Between Leadership Behaviors and Volunteer Commitment: The Role of Volunteer Satisfaction

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

Introduction

This document summarises research on the dynamics of leadership, job satisfaction, and commitment within volunteer organisations. It delves into how leadership styles, organisational culture, and volunteer motivation impact satisfaction and retention. The studies underscore the importance of empowerment, organisational learning, and specific leadership behaviours in enhancing volunteer engagement and commitment.

Benefits for Volunteer Organisations

For volunteer organisations and management practitioners, this document offers valuable insights into fostering a positive environment for volunteers. It highlights:

Leadership that focuses on enabling learning and innovation boosts volunteer satisfaction, which in turn, enhances their commitment to the organisation.

Encouraging a culture of learning and innovation among volunteers not only increases their satisfaction but also their affective commitment, leading to better organisational performance.

Understanding the mediating role of volunteer satisfaction between leadership behaviours and volunteer commitment can help organisations tailor their management practices to retain volunteers effectively.

Application

This document serves as a crucial resource for volunteer organisations aiming to improve volunteer engagement and well-being, ultimately contributing to sustained volunteerism and organisational success.

Benevene Paula , Buonomo Ilaria , West Michael. The Relationship Between Leadership Behaviors and Volunteer Commitment: The Role of Volunteer Satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, VOL 11, 2020 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.602466 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.602466, ISSN: 1664-1078

Downloads and sources

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

Checklists

Events public liability & risk management

High-level guidance on public liability insurance and a practical checklist to help organisations manage risks when planning events.
1 minute read
AoN
General
Information

Cultural awareness for volunteers

An introductory resource for volunteers on cultural heritage, caring for Country and working respectfully with Traditional Owners.
1 minute read
WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction
First Nations
Factsheets

Engaging Volunteers Factsheet

This Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) factsheet offers some things to keep in mind when engaging volunteers.
1 minute read
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
General
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
INVOLVE
Tech

INVOLVE

Volunteer management a headache? INVOLVE simplifies everything! Automate tasks, gain instant insights, schedule visually, track hours effortlessly, and collaborate seamlessly. Built in Australia, your data's safe. Focus on your purpose, not admin.
Volunteer database Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Event management
GoodCompany
Tech

GoodCompany

GoodCompany is a Workplace Giving Platform based in Australia and NZ. It's designed to enable companies and their people to come together to donate, volunteer, fundraise, and match donations for the charities closest to their hearts.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management Donations
scheduled

Understanding Not-for-profit Finances - August 2026

Build confidence in not-for-profit financial reporting. This practical webinar explains key responsibilities, reporting updates, and how to read financial statements. Gain clear, plain-language guidance from a Chartered Accountant.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
A$49.00
scheduled

Volunteering Rights and Responsibilities

This workshop is designed to build an understanding of volunteer and organisational rights, responsibilities and expected practice.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

What Matters Most to You? Identifying Skill Development Priorities for Volunteer Managers in the NT - ONLINE

Volunteering SA & NT is planning a Learning and Development Roadshow across the NT. This session invites volunteer managers to share priorities to shape relevant, practical training. Learn the proposed roadmap, and help define future development needs.
Volunteering SA&NT
Free