Abstract
Volunteers are recognized as people devoting significant time to provide unpaid services to social organizations. In nonprofit
hospitals, volunteers play three essential roles. First, they provide assistance and care to patients. Secondly, they generate
strategic value through fundraising, marketing, and community relations’ activities. Third, they generate financial benefits
for the institution by reducing hospital costs. This article examines such roles and contributions of volunteers at two Brazilian
nonprofit hospitals. Managers at these organizations consider volunteers valuable for the psycho-social service they provide,
the strategic actions they develop, the cost savings they generate, the goodwill they create, and the funds they raise. In
conclusion, volunteers at both hospitals are key stakeholders whose altruistic motives as good citizens motivate them to join
either of the organizations, help humanize their services, and assist with the development of strategies that make significant
contributions to the improvement of performance at both locales.
hospitals, volunteers play three essential roles. First, they provide assistance and care to patients. Secondly, they generate
strategic value through fundraising, marketing, and community relations’ activities. Third, they generate financial benefits
for the institution by reducing hospital costs. This article examines such roles and contributions of volunteers at two Brazilian
nonprofit hospitals. Managers at these organizations consider volunteers valuable for the psycho-social service they provide,
the strategic actions they develop, the cost savings they generate, the goodwill they create, and the funds they raise. In
conclusion, volunteers at both hospitals are key stakeholders whose altruistic motives as good citizens motivate them to join
either of the organizations, help humanize their services, and assist with the development of strategies that make significant
contributions to the improvement of performance at both locales.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-18
- DOI 10.1007/s11266-011-9228-y
- Authors
- Victor Meyer, Graduate Program in Business Administration, Pontifical Catholic University of Parana´ State, Rua Imaculada Conceição, 1155 Prado Velho, Curitiba, PR 80215-901, Brazil
- Lucilaine Pascucci, Graduate Program in Business Administration, Positivo University, Rua Prof. Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, 5300 – Campo Comprido, Curitiba, PR 81280-330, Brazil
- J. Patrick Murphy, School of Public Service, De Paul University, 1 East Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
- Journal Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
- Online ISSN 1573-7888
- Print ISSN 0957-8765