Volunteer Management in Non-Profit Organizations: Experience of Huellas Foundation in Medellín, Colombia

Lenis Yelin Araque

Abstract

This study explored how volunteer management is adapted to the specific context of a nonprofit organization (NPO). Through a participatory autoethnographic approach in Huellas Foundation, a Colombian NPO that supports its mission operation in volunteer action, it examined how management practices evolve and adjust according to the particular needs of the context. The analysis revealed two fundamental principles that emerge and guide volunteer management: self-realization and institutional recognition. It also identified four key components that shape the management process: the conversation between roles, profiles, times, and interests; the understanding of volunteering as a cultural reference; the balance between legal shielding and emotional construction; and the contribution of volunteer action to the social organization. The findings suggest that effective volunteer management requires continuous adaptation of practices according to the specific context, considering both the needs of the organization and the motivations of volunteers. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on how the contingent approach to volunteer management manifests itself in a Latin American context and offers valuable insights for the adaptation of practices in different organizational contexts.

Relevance to scouting

Volunteers make Scouting possible. From contributing at world events to guiding day-to-day operations, volunteers around the world are engaging more than 60 million young people through impactful and life-changing educational initiatives, events and activities. Adults can make a big difference in the Movement by volunteering their time and skills so that more young people can experience the transformative impact of Scouting. To better manage this scale, WOSM recently adopted Rosterfy as a centralised volunteer management solution to streamline recruitment, screening, scheduling, communication, and recognition of volunteers. The strategic volunteer‑management research (on adapting management to organisational and volunteer needs) is directly relevant: Scouting requires methods that are adaptable across contexts (countries, cultures, scales), balancing formal policies with emotional and motivational factors.