Challenges Faced by Staff in Faith-Related Agencies When Dedicated Volunteers Age in Place

Abstract

This article is based on increasing requests we have received to help staff of faith-related agencies face challenges posed when dedicated volunteers have “aged in place” and change is needed. We begin by identifying challenges faced when dedicated volunteers “age in place” within established organizations, defining concepts such as psychological contracting and role salience that are pertinent to understanding volunteer and staff commitment. We use constructed case examples of two faith-related agencies to illustrate the types of challenges that can occur and then offer potential guidelines for how to assess and address difficult situations in which dedicated volunteers may not be able to continue in their cherished roles.

Keywords:

• Civic engagement
• human resources
• psychological contracting
• role salience
• volunteering