Factors Contributing to the Satisfaction of Animal Shelter Volunteers: The Importance of Voice.

Volunteers are a critical resource for many types of organizations and efforts need to be made to ensure they are satisfied with their experience. Using data from an online survey of 651 animal shelter volunteers this research explores the role of volunteer input or "voice" in the policies and practices of organizations, and its impact on satisfaction with the volunteer experience. The findings indicate that volunteers more negative about their opportunities for voice were significantly less satisfied with their experience overall. Further, there appears to be a relationship between the nature of the animal shelter and satisfaction with voice and the volunteering experience. Indeed, internal shelter factors are more important to volunteer satisfaction than the traits of the individual volunteer. Specifically, volunteers are more satisfied with their experience and with the extent of their opportunity for voice if they are at a limited intake shelter with higher save rates. Informed by survey data, this research recommends shelters implement several policies and practices to improve satisfaction with volunteer voice.