Solutions to enhance volunteers’ intention to remain : a study at the steam for Vietnam organization

Abstract

Member retention has forever been a puzzle for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. STEAM for Vietnam, an organization that grows almost doubling every year, requires a large and sustainable workforce. However, low retention rates make it challenging for the foundation to achieve organizational objectives. The probability of volunteers to remain can be significantly predicted by their intention to remain. Therefore, the paper aims to identify the factors influencing volunteers' intentions to stay. The research methodology was developed through two phases: qualitative and quantitative phases. The qualitative phase involved in-depth interviews with ten focus group participants and a critical literature review to identify factors affecting the intention to stay and propose a research model. The quantitative phase uses the PLS-SEM algorithm to test the proposed research model, with experimental data collected from 157 volunteers from six different departments at STEAM for Vietnam. The results show that the intention to remain is influenced by job autonomy, support from supervisors, support from colleagues, and goal congruence. At the same time, job significance and value congruence are not statistically associated to the intention to remain. Regarding its contribution to research, this study provides an overview and data-driven standpoint on the challenging issue of intention to remain of volunteers in the nonprofit sector. This area has not been significantly focused in Vietnam's research environment. The findings shall give the Management Board a broad understanding of the variables influencing volunteers that have not previously received adequate recognition. At the same time, practical recommendations have been proposed to enhance volunteers' intentions to remain at STEAM for Vietnam.