Management Research in Non-Profits

  Within the workplace, Managers and Directors find themselves looking for ways to correct a problem or a potential problem that may hinder the future success of the company or organization. Working within a non-profit organization that mentors children, there are many obstacles a Director faces to ensure the continuation of the program for the future. Among these issues are fundraising and the recruiting of volunteers to meet the rising demand of children in need for mentors. Perhaps the most important issue a Director faces is finding volunteers to serve in a mentoring role, specifically to ascertain what obstacles influence the recruitment of younger mentors and how to increase the number of younger volunteers from the local and/or regional high schools and colleges. According to Shields (2009), the long term survival of non-profits depend upon the recruitment and retention of young adults (p.140). Doing a study to help answer the problem of recruiting and retaining young volunteers would be of great benefit to not just the Director but to the organization as a whole with possible benefit to other local organizations. Recent studies have indicated that the average percentage of volunteers under the age of 24 is 16 percent (Hager and Brudney, 201, p.145). For the Director of a mentoring organization such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, it is imperative that the extensive research be conducted to understand what variables affect the low percentage of younger volunteers. The variable might be the lack of time or that the younger volunteer may be more transient than the older volunteer who has established roots (Hager and Brudney, 2004, p.9). The research in this area will need to provide clear information and a detailed analysis that leads to decisive conclusion. Surveys at the local colleges, high schools and churches will need to be conducted to determine the findings contained within the report. A comparison of another region that may be more populous might be able...