- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=A Sustainable Corporate Volunteering Program Needs To Appeal To The Employee's Self-Interest: Why? Without self-interest, volunteers easily opt out of commitments and objectify those they are trying to help. https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/9291?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/9291?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/9291?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=A Sustainable Corporate Volunteering Program Needs To Appeal To The Employee's Self-Interest: Why? Without self-interest, volunteers easily opt out of commitments and objectify those they are trying to help.&body=ESG News from Realized Worth https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/9291?absolute=1 "Share via email") # A Sustainable Corporate Volunteering Program Needs To Appeal To The Employee's Self-Interest: Why? Without self-interest, volunteers easily opt out of commitments and objectify those they are trying to help. ##### Selflessness and altruism make for bad volunteers. Without self-interest, volunteers easily opt out of commitments and objectify those they are trying to help. Sep 28, 2010 12:28 PM ET ## Good: just not good enough When people show up to volunteer for the first time there are multiple reasons behind that decision. Almost certainly, those reasons are extrinsic. A motivation is extrinsic when it exists outside of the person - like an athlete who feels compelled to run harder when he hears the crowd cheer him on. On the other hand, intrinsic motivation exists within us - like when that athlete runs harder because of the pleasure the sport brings. ([For more on extrinsic versus intrinsic motivation read our blog post](http://realizedworth.blogspot.com/2009/09/want-good-volunteers-forget-altruistic.html)). When it comes to volunteering, it’s not that extrinsic motivation isn’t good - it’s just not good enough. Extrinsic motivations aren’t good enough because they don’t last. On the other hand, when our motivation is intrinsic, personal, and tied to our identity, it becomes a priority. If we want people to volunteer with us over the long haul, then we must leave behind the glorified altruistic, for genuine self-interest. But wait, isn’t volunteering is about giving back? Isn’t it about appreciating how much we have, and helping someone who doesn’t have so much? Volunteering is selfless, isn’t it? Doing good, solving problems, making the world a better place? It’s Us. Helping Them. Right? Well, that’s certainly where we all start. But there comes a point when our good intentions toward others threaten to transform them from people into objects. [WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOTIVATION? ](http://partnershipsinpdx.eventbrite.com/) [REGISTER HERE FOR THE SEMINAR IN PORTLAND. OREGON ON OCTOBER 5TH, 2010](http://partnershipsinpdx.eventbrite.com/) When we are motivated to help someone else we naturally consider what good we can do, what resources we have to offer, and how we can actively be a part of some kind of solution. We want to ‘fix’ something, develop a solution to the problem. We want to make life better. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as that’s the starting point. If we stay there, with those notions of the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ we will almost certainly begin to objectify people. Self-interest, not altruism is what makes for a great volunteer. Help your volunteers discover the personal reasons they have for being there. Doing so will ensure their commitment and keep them from objectifying those they are working with. We're discussing this very issue at an all day conference in Portland, Oregon on October 5, 2010. Love to see you there! [REGISTER HERE FOR THE SEMINAR IN PORTLAND. OREGON](http://partnershipsinpdx.eventbrite.com/) Chris Jarvis Senior Consultant, Realized Worth, Toronto, Canada 317-371-4435 Email me; chrisjarvis@realizedworth.com Join our [Facebook Page ](http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Toronto-ON/Realized-Worth/77156401490?ref=ts) Follow me on Twitter [@RealizedWorth](http://twitter.com/RealizedWorth) Check out [My LinkedIn Profile](http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjarviscan) [![Realized Worth logo](/sites/default/files/Clients/Stamp_Web_0.png)](/profiles/realized-worth) ### More from Realized Worth ###### [RW Institute Launches The Empathy Project: A Structured Volunteer Experience Designed to Build Global Empathy at Scale](/news/rw-institute-launches-empathy-project-structured-volunteer-experience-designed-build-global) Jan 30, 2026 8:05 AM ET ###### [How Reliance Rallied 13,700 Teammates — and Smashed Every CSR Benchmark in Just 7 Weeks – a Case Study](/news/how-reliance-rallied-13700-teammates-and-smashed-every-csr-benchmark-just-7-weeks-case-study) Jul 21, 2025 2:25 PM ET ###### [RW Institute Launches Prosocial Makerspace on January 20/25 at 1pm DC Time.](/news/rw-institute-launches-prosocial-makerspace-january-2025-1pm-dc-time) Dec 11, 2024 11:25 AM ET ###### [2023 Social Impact and CSR Recognition Awards](/news/2023-social-impact-and-csr-recognition-awards) Aug 30, 2023 1:18 PM ET ###### [Transforming the Human Condition Through Corporate Volunteering](/news/transforming-human-condition-through-corporate-volunteering) Apr 20, 2023 2:43 PM ET ###### [6 Communications Principles To Boost Engagement in Your Employee Giving and Volunteering Programs](/news/6-communications-principles-boost-engagement-your-employee-giving-and-volunteering-programs) Apr 17, 2023 10:00 AM ET ###### [How To Cultivate a Community of Volunteer Leaders](/news/how-cultivate-community-volunteer-leaders) Apr 12, 2023 2:00 PM ET ###### [Understanding Our Nonprofit Partners: Who Are Our Partners in Impact?](/news/understanding-our-nonprofit-partners-who-are-our-partners-impact) Apr 10, 2023 11:00 AM ET