The sport volunteering irony: correlates of the financial compensation of volunteers in non-profit sport clubs

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the financial compensation and its correlates among volunteers in non-profit sport clubs. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was distributed online among sport clubs in Austria. Data were collected in person in clubhouses or at a distance (n = 1,840 volunteers). The studied correlates include voluntary roles and member characteristics, motivation to volunteer, socio-demographics and the perceived club’s orientation towards volunteering. The correlates are entered into a set of regression models examining the likelihood of receiving financial compensation and, for the sub-sample of recipients, the extent of financial compensation. Findings The results show that 12.9% of volunteers receive financial compensation, with average annual compensation being about €96. The regression analyses indicate that contribution to the provision of the club’s sport programs, extrinsic motivation and belonging to a more economically vulnerable income group increase the likelihood of receiving compensation and the level of compensation payment. On the contrary, intrinsic motivation and an understanding that volunteering is inherent to clubs reduce the likelihood and level of compensation. Originality/value This study provided initial empirical evidence of a phenomenon that should not really exist, i.e. the compensation of volunteers who are, by definition, rather unpaid workers. By describing the phenomenon and identifying correlates, this work demonstrates the irony of sport volunteering. It advances the literature by proposing a theoretical underpinning and a set of explanations for the conditions under which volunteers are more likely to claim compensation payments. In light of tax claims related to paid work, it gives insights about a delicate, under-researched topic.