Sustainable engagement of episodic volunteers in community-based sport festivals

Purpose Sustainable volunteer engagement is essential to the long-term success and operational continuity of community-based sport festivals. For event organizers, the return of episodic volunteers is not only a logistical advantage but also a key indicator of organizational sustainability and community commitment. This study investigates the effects of motivation, work climate, and perceived organizational support (POS) on critical volunteer outcomes, specifically satisfaction, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and continuance intention. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 215 episodic volunteers across two major festivals: the Baltimore Running Festival and the Korean American National Sports Festival. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the reliability and validity of the measurement model, and structural equation modeling (SEM) tested the hypothesized relationships. Findings Results indicated that motivation significantly predicted all three outcomes, whereas work climate and POS were significantly associated with satisfaction and OCB but not with continuance intention. These findings underscore the role of motivation in fostering volunteer behaviors that contribute to the long-term sustainability of community-based sport festivals. Research limitations/implications The focus on volunteers from two events and the exclusion of potential moderating factors such as volunteering experience, employment status, and household income present valuable opportunities for more nuanced future analyses. Practical implications Insights from this research offers actionable insights for sport festival organizers seeking to implement volunteer management strategies that support retention, foster positive volunteer behaviors, and contribute to the sustainable delivery of community-based sport festivals. Originality/value The study offers actionable insights for sport festival organizers seeking to implement volunteer management strategies that support retention, foster positive volunteer behaviors, and contribute to the sustainable delivery of community-based sport festivals.