Volunteer Centers

Volunteer centers belong to a group of organizations in civil society that are termed infrastructure organizations. Infrastructure organizations do not directly deliver services to members or users but support other organizations in improving their capacity and mission. Whereas typical infrastructure organizations are large, national organizations that support voluntary associations or nonprofit institutions within particular fields (such as health, culture, education, etc.), volunteer centers are smaller infrastructure organizations that exist within specific local geographic areas. This entry provides an overview of the historical background for volunteer centers and discusses key issues within the international research agenda.