Exploring motivations and barriers to volunteering amongst CBU students

Abstract

Volunteering is a complex phenomenon with numerous motivations to start and continue to volunteer. Better understanding CBU students’ motivations and barriers to volunteering could help CBU improve volunteering prevalence. The current study used a mixed methods approach for data collection and analysis. The volunteer functions inventory (Clary et al., 1998) was used to assess which of six motivations is primary for current student volunteers’, and an adapted version of the volunteer functions inventory (Clary et al., 1998) was used for non-volunteers to better understand why they do not volunteer. VFI data suggests understanding and values to be common primary motivations though tied motivations were common. Adapted VFI data suggests lack of spare time and lack of assistance from CBU in connecting students with volunteer opportunities are barriers for those who do not currently volunteer. Grounded theory analysis of nine interviews with current or recently graduated student volunteers about their motivations, perceived barriers, and suggestions for improving volunteer prevalence revealed eight major themes and four subthemes. The themes and subthemes from the analysis were: “If you don’t have money to live you can’t volunteer”; “Taking on too much”; "CBU has such difficulty getting info out to students"/CBU really doesn't communicate well; CCR website is "needlessly complicated"; Most students are not aware of the CCR; Out of province & international students feel left out by CBU; CBU needs to market benefits of volunteering & connect students to volunteer opportunities; Appeal of readily available opportunities; "I pick the things I actually care about"; “Community service is part of my upbringing"; Volunteering as a way of Seeking/Creating/Finding/Contributing to "My Community; and Marginalized students seek like minded friends. This study adds to the literature by providing evidence to suggest that students often possess more than one primary motivation to volunteer. Additionally, student’s motivations can be fluid from their initial motivation to volunteer in a particular capacity to why they continue volunteering.