Social Media’s Influence on the Motivations of College Students to Volunteer

Abstract

This research examined the volunteer behaviors of college students by determining the underlying motivations to volunteer and the influence of social media on their desire to volunteer. Guided by a functional approach to motivation, the Volunteer Functions Inventory was used to assess college students’ motivations to participate in volunteer behaviors. Undergraduate students at a small liberal arts university in the southeast United States were surveyed to determine the influence of social media on the desire to volunteer. This research suggests social media’s influence can be a powerful volunteer recruitment and retention tool for nonprofit organizations.