Eleventh International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Volunteers are essential to the success of nonprofit organizations like museums. This research explores the motivation factors for volunteers in an art museum setting, in particular the individual motivations for remaining at an organization for a period of time not less than one year. This study examined the lived experiences of volunteers and how these experiences affected volunteer satisfaction and volunteer retention. This research examined the following as possible motivation factors: management, roles and responsibilities, initial motivations for volunteering, and types of satisfiers and dissatisfiers. The research utilized a phenomenological case study, first with a pilot study and followed up with a full case study, that employed mixed-methods to examine the research question: What is the relationship between volunteer experiences and volunteer satisfaction and retention in museums? In order to answer this question, the following sub-questions were examined: What are the factors that lead volunteers to join museums; What are the motivation factors that lead to volunteer retention; What are the factors that lead to volunteer dissatisfaction; and What is the relationship between factors of volunteer motivation for volunteering and retention. Increased understanding of volunteer motivation and factors of satisfaction or dissatisfaction may improve volunteer retention and increase the potential for future volunteers and volunteer programs.