‘It’s Simply Intrinsic’: Exploring Motivations of Full-Time Volunteers in Humanitarian and Spiritual NGO of India

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study centers around humanitarian and spiritual non-government organizations (H&S NGOs) of India, many of which are essentially driven by full-time volunteers. Semi-structured interviews of 22 full-time volunteers in a large and renowned H&S NGO helped us explore their volunteering journey, which moved through three phases of casual volunteering, fixed time volunteering, and finally full-time volunteering. Thematic analysis of the interviews led to different types of motivation in different phases. We used self-determination theory to understand their needs and found out that their decision of full-time volunteering was driven by relatedness needs, autonomy needs, and competence needs. These needs are thoroughly discussed using the lens of Indian ethos in volunteering traditions. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

PRACTICE POINTS

• Humanitarian and spiritual non-government organizations of India are essentially driven by full-time volunteers.

• The age-old tradition of “seva” (service) and “daana” (charity) are imbibed in the spiritual, religious, and cultural discourse of the country which influences volunteering motivation.

• Full-time volunteers generally move through three phases volunteering – casual volunteering, fixed time volunteering, and finally full-time volunteering.

• Casual volunteering phase shows all three kinds of motivation – amotivation, extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation.

• Full-time volunteers are driven by intrinsic motivation and respond to relatedness needs, autonomy needs, and competence needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Full-time volunteering
• India
• motivation
• needs
• NGOs

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interest.