The Impact of Perceived Organizational Support and Satisfaction with the Volunteer Management System on Participation Motivation: The Mediating Role of Organizational Identity (Case Study: Volunteers of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee, Sari County)

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Business Management. Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Public Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

3 Master of Business Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and supportive institutions depend on the active participation of volunteers to achieve their social objectives. One of the main challenges for these organizations is retaining volunteers and sustaining their participation in social activities. In recent years, researchers in the fields of human resource management and organizational behavior have focused on factors that can enhance volunteers' motivation to participate and their sense of belonging. Among these, perceived organizational support (POS) and the quality of volunteers' experience with volunteer management systems (VMS) are considered crucial factors that can influence participatory attitudes and behaviors. Perceived organizational support indicates the extent to which individuals perceive that the organization values their contributions and cares about their well-being, which can strengthen their sense of belonging and organizational identity. Furthermore, the use of volunteer management systems as technological tools can improve volunteers' interaction experiences with the organization and increase their satisfaction. However, the exact mechanisms through which these factors affect volunteer participation motivation, as well as the role of mediating variables in this relationship, require further investigation. Accordingly, the main problem of the current research is to examine how perceived organizational support and satisfaction with the volunteer management system impact volunteer participation motivation, and what role organizational identity plays in this context. The research hypotheses include the positive impact of perceived organizational support and VMS satisfaction on organizational identity and participation motivation, the impact of organizational identity on participation motivation, and the mediating role of organizational identity in these relationships. The findings of this study can contribute to improving volunteer management strategies in supportive organizations.
Methodology
This research is applied in terms of its purpose and follows a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consists of active volunteers in the target supportive institution. The research sample includes 155 volunteers selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was collected using standard questionnaires related to the research variables, including perceived organizational support, volunteer management system satisfaction, organizational identity, and participation motivation. The validity of the research instrument was evaluated through face and content validity assessments, as well as Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The reliability of the questionnaires was also examined using indicators such as Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability, the results of which indicated an acceptable level of reliability for the instruments. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed for data analysis. In the first stage, descriptive analyses and the examination of respondents' demographic characteristics were conducted using SPSS version 25. In the second stage, SmartPLS version 3 was utilized to test the research hypotheses and examine the relationships among variables. Initially, the measurement model was evaluated for validity and reliability, and subsequently, the structural model was analyzed to test the hypothesized relationships. The use of the SEM approach enabled the simultaneous examination of both direct and indirect relationships between variables, as well as the mediating role of organizational identity within the research model.
Findings
The results of the data analysis indicated that perceived organizational support has a positive and significant impact on volunteer participation motivation. This finding suggests that when volunteers feel the organization values their efforts and supports their activities, they exhibit a greater willingness to continue their collaboration and participation in organizational activities. Additionally, the results demonstrated that perceived organizational support has a positive and significant effect on organizational identity. This indicates that perceived support from the organization can strengthen volunteers' sense of belonging and identification with the organization. On the other hand, satisfaction with the volunteer management system also showed a positive and significant impact on organizational identity and participation motivation. This finding implies that the efficiency and ease of use of volunteer management systems can create a more positive experience for volunteers, thereby increasing their level of participation. Furthermore, the structural model results revealed that organizational identity has a positive and significant impact on participation motivation. Moreover, organizational identity plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between perceived organizational support and participation motivation, as well as in the relationship between VMS satis

Keywords

References

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Journal of Endowment & Charity Studies
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 7
April 2026
Pages 167-196

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 December 2025
  • Revise Date: 05 April 2026
  • Accept Date: 21 April 2026

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