In this presentation, Dr. Nesbit shares the results from her ongoing research project exploring the influence of community contextual factors on volunteering. The presentation shares information about America’s changing volunteering dynamics since the early 2000s, include differences in volunteering rates across rural and urban places. It then addresses how different community contextual factors affect volunteering, such as community demographics, socioeconomic conditions, and age structure. Another aspect of community context is also addressed—the importance of a community’s civic infrastructure—the array of nonprofit, public, and business organizations that might support or dampen engagement. Dr. Nesbit will also discuss the implications of her research for nonprofit organizations and volunteer managers.
Bio: Rebecca Nesbit, Ph.D. is a professor of nonprofit management in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Georgia. Dr. Nesbit received her Ph.D. in public affairs from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. She also has a Master of Public Administration degree from Brigham Young University. Dr. Nesbit’s research explores issues of philanthropy and volunteerism, public policy and management in the nonprofit and public sectors. In particular, Dr. Nesbit conducts research on volunteer programs, volunteers’ characteristics and motivations, and volunteer management in public and nonprofit organizations. Her work has appeared in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Public Administration Review, the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, and Administration & Society.
