Understanding the reasons why people begin and continue to volunteer can contribute to the recruitment of new volunteers and to the retention of those that already engaged, by bringing the individual goals of potential volunteers closer to the requirements and benefits associated with the existing work opportunities. This study aims to adapt and validate the Volunteers Function Inventory (VFI) for Brazil as well as to correlate the VFI with the reduced version of Schwartz's Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ21). Results confirmed the convergent validity between these two instruments. In addition, the factor structure of the original instrument was partially replicated, with the motivations of the 319 participants grouping around four factors (values and understanding, protection, career, and social enhancement). These results suggest the existence of cultural differences in the motivations for volunteering. Other empirical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Prosocial behavior; Motivation; Volunteer work; Functional approach; Values
