Nonprofit organizations often depend on volunteers, so volunteer retention is an important priority for these organizations. Yet volunteers may be on the periphery of communication, particularly when it comes to voicing feedback to others within the organization. The present study examines volunteers’ satisfaction, motivations, and the ways in which those volunteers respond to problems in the organization. Results indicate relationships between participants’ satisfaction and motivation and their responses to problems. Motivation, satisfaction, and responses to frustrating events all affect volunteer retention. The theoretical implications of these results regarding volunteer voice and retention are discussed as well as practical implications, which suggest that nonprofit organizations should be more intentional in terms of volunteer motivations, ensure that volunteers feel supported and have opportunities to connect with other people in their volunteer work, and encourage volunteers to express their ideas using considerate voice.
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