Antecedents of Undergraduate Involvement in Philanthropy
Open Access
- Author:
- Levy, Daniel
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Rick R Jacobs, Thesis Supervisor
Rick R Jacobs, Thesis Supervisor
Jeanette N Cleveland, Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- philanthropy
Big Five
Public Service Motivation - Abstract:
- With decades of research and growing interest in Public Service Motivation (PSM), how can philanthropic organizations benefit from understanding the motivations of their volunteers? Previous studies have focused on various populations, as well as how Public Service Motivation relates to philanthropic involvement, but fail to incorporate personality traits or biographical data. Drawing on measures and frameworks from previous research, this study attempts identified the antecedents of philanthropic involvement among undergraduate students by relating the Big Five personality traits, biographical data, and Public Service Motivation to philanthropic involvement at the undergraduate level. Positive associations between total Public Service Motivation and philanthropic involvement were found. Additionally, Public Service Motivation subscales were positively associated with several Big Five personality factors as well as philanthropic involvement. Demographic data were shown to be related philanthropic involvement. Using the findings in this study, philanthropic organizations can more effectively recruit undergraduate volunteers by creating recruitment strategies focused on the factors that relate to more involvement in philanthropic organizations by undergraduates.