Volunteer satisfaction in sports clubs: A multilevel analysis in 10 European countries

Regular voluntary engagement is a basic resource for sports clubs that may also promote social cohesion and active citizenship. The satisfaction of volunteers is an imperative factor in this engagement, and the purpose of this article is to explore individual and organizational determinants of volunteer satisfaction in sports clubs. Theoretically, our study builds on the actor-theory concepts where volunteer satisfaction depends on subjective evaluations of expectations and experiences in a sports club (‘logic of situation’), so that positive evaluations lead to higher satisfaction and, hopefully, retention of volunteers. This research uses a sample of 8131 volunteers from 642 sports clubs in 10 European countries, and is the first analysis to combine determinants at the level of the club and the volunteer (multilevel). Results show that the most important determinants of satisfaction are the conditions of volunteering (recognition, support, leadership and material incentives) and the workload of volunteers. Surprisingly, club characteristics, size or having paid staff are not significant determinants of volunteer satisfaction. The results of this analysis can assist more effective volunteer management in sports clubs that are facing challenges of individualization and professionalization

Public subsidies for sports clubs in Germany: funding regulations vs. empirical evidence

Feiler S, Wicker P, Breuer C. Public subsidies for sports clubs in Germany: funding regulations vs. empirical evidence. European Sport Management Quarterly . 2019;19(5):562-582.Research question: The purpose of this study is to examine if the funding principles set by sport policies at different governmental levels in Germany are associated with the actual receipt of subsidies by voluntary sports clubs. Put differently, this study analyses whether the engagement of sports clubs in different areas promoted by the government is financially rewarded. Research methods: This paper is based on a three-wave balanced panel dataset obtained from an online sports club survey in Germany (n = 1275). Three Heckman selection models were applied to identify if fulfilling different funding principles affected the receipt of subsidies from sports organisations, states, and communities. Results and Findings: The results show that the fulfilment of funding conditions is rewarded in different ways: while some policy regulations are reflected in the receipt of subsidies, others are not. Specifically, competitive sport and youth promotion activities, which are traditional focuses of clubs and public funding, are financially supported, while health sport, a newer funding area, is not, despite governmental policies proposing support for health-enhancing sport offers. Implications: This study adds to existing knowledge on financing voluntary sports clubs by empirically testing whether and to what extent funding conditions based on sport policies translate into clubs actually receiving subsidies. From a managerial perspective, developing programmes for youth seems promising since such programmes are financially supported at different governmental levels. Moreover, clubs should apply for subsidies to cover any costs related to core sport needs (equipment and travel) and for basic funds

Nonprofit Pricing: Determinants of Membership Fee Levels in Nonprofit Sports Clubs in Germany

Feiler S, Wicker P, Breuer C. Nonprofit Pricing: Determinants of Membership Fee Levels in Nonprofit Sports Clubs in Germany. International Journal of Sport Finance. 2019;14(4):262-277.In Germany, membership fees in nonprofit sports clubs are comparatively lower than fees or prices for other leisure time activities, such as sports offers from fitness clubs, music schools, or theatre visits. However, it is unclear on which basis sports clubs set their membership fees for different groups and why fees differ between clubs. Based on panel data of nonprofit sports clubs in Germany (n=1,538), this study investigates which factors influence the setting of membership fee levels using classical pricing-approaches adapted to the nonprofit context. The results show that costs related to coaches and instructors as well as facility costs significantly determine the level of membership fees, whereas perceived competition does not. Moreover, club goals such as offering competitive sports or sports for socially vulnerable groups have an impact on the level of membership fees. Furthermore, clubs with higher revenue diversification display lower levels of membership fees two years later

Organizational Mission and Revenue Diversification among Non-profit Sports Clubs

Wicker P, Feiler S, Breuer C. Organizational Mission and Revenue Diversification among Non-profit Sports Clubs . International Journal of Financial Studies. 2013;1(4):119-136.The beneficial effects of diversified income portfolios are well documented in previous research on non-profit organizations. This study examines how different types of organizational missions affect the level of revenue diversification of organizations in one industry, a question that was neglected in previous research. Based on contingency theory, it is assumed that different missions are associated with different funding sources. Since missions can be complementary or conflicting, specific attention needs to be paid to the combination of missions. The sport sector is chosen as an empirical setting because non-profit sports clubs can have various missions while their overall purpose is promoting sport. Panel data from a nationwide survey of non-profit sports clubs in Germany are used for the analysis. The regression results show that revenue diversification is significantly determined by organizational mission. Historically, typical mission statements like promoting elite sport, tradition, conviviality, non-sport programs, and youth sport have a positive effect on revenue diversification, while clubs with a commercial orientation and a focus on leisure and health sport have more concentrated revenues. The findings have implications for club management in the sense that some missions are associated with higher financial risk and that the combination of missions should be chosen carefully

Board gender diversity, critical masses, and organizational problems of non-profit sport clubs

Wicker P, Feiler S, Breuer C. Board gender diversity, critical masses, and organizational problems of non-profit sport clubs. European Sport Management Quarterly. 2022;22(2):251-271.Research question:This study examines the effect of board gender diversity and a critical mass of women on the board on organizational problems of non-profit sport clubs. It relies on theories from social categorization and information/decision-making perspectives and on critical mass theory. Research methods:Four waves of data from a German sport club panel (2009-2015;n = 6504) are used which allow analyzing causal effects with lagged variables. Gender diversity was measured with the share of women on the board, the Blau index, and the number of women on the board. The perceived severity of human resource, financial, facility, and development problems represent the dependent variables. Results and findings:The results of regression analyses show that board gender diversity significantly reduces human resource and financial problems. Human resource problems are even smallest in clubs with an overbalanced board (>= 60% women), while facility problems are perceived as bigger in such clubs. The results provided evidence for critical masses of one or at least three women for reducing human resource problems and of at least four women for perceiving bigger facility problems. Development problems are not impacted by board gender diversity or critical masses. Implications:The findings for human resource and financial problems support the information/decision-making perspective, suggesting that board gender diversity benefits the organization because of diversity in resource access, human and social capital, and improved quality of decision-making. Thus, increasing gender diversity of the board can be a way to reduce problems in these areas

How to Raise Voluntary Giving for Nonprofit Sports Clubs: An Analysis of Factors Influencing Donations

Feiler S, Wicker P, Breuer C. How to Raise Voluntary Giving for Nonprofit Sports Clubs: An Analysis of Factors Influencing Donations. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. 2015;26(4):1219-1239.Nonprofit sports clubs generate revenue from a variety of sources. One of the main income categories is donations. Previous research only analyzed the amount of money generated through donations, but not the influencing factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate determinants of donations for nonprofit sports clubs. The study is based on the public goods theory (Weisbrod in “The economics of nonprofit institutions.” “Studies in structure and policy.” Oxford University Press, New York, pp 21–44, 1986) and the contract failure theory (Hansmann in Yale Law J 89(5):835–902, 1980) and makes use of an unbalanced panel data set from a nationwide online survey of nonprofit sports clubs in Germany (n = 41,343). The results show that particularly the provision of elite sport and the promotion of young talents positively influence the reception of donations. Moreover, sports clubs caring for social aspects, companionship, and conviviality as core values are able to generate higher revenues from donations. The same applies to clubs employing paid staff. Contrary, a commercial orientation was found to have a negative effect