Week 4, Assignment 2

This week was the best week I have had in finding a great source for my research topic. In case you forgot my research question it is: "How can nonprofit leadership motivate and maintain a strong volunteer force?" So far in my search I have only been able to find sources that have a small section that addresses my needs. I have even found sources that don't directly address my topic but can help because they are about motivating workers and I apply some of that to volunteers. This week my source is a beautiful 17 page paper specifically on my topic. I learned a lot from this source that will help in the creation of a great paper. 

I started my search a little differently since in the past I have struggle with the search of a relevant source. I grouped "nonprofit motivation" with and "volunteer" somehow in all my other searches I hadn't tried this and this time I found a huge number of sources that specifically related to my topic. After a quick search with the peer reviewed button checked I was able to find this reliable source that had been cited in many other journals and based on it's bibliography appeared to be well researched. 

I learned a lot about how relationship building between the paid and volunteer workforce in nonprofits is essential to volunteer motivation. I also learned that I need to make sure my volunteers feel a sense of ownership and pride in the nonprofit. I was also surprised to find that if I don't give my volunteers enough responsibility they won't feel pride in their work as a volunteer.