1. Citizen Perceptions of the Third Sector and Social Innovation
René Bekkers
Dave Verkaik
ISTR 12th Conference
Center for Philanthropic Studies
June 30, 2016
VU University Amsterdam
Stockholm

2. The VU Amsterdam Team
René Bekkers – Arjen de Wit – Dave Verkaik – Danique Karamat Ali

3. What we wanted to know
How does volunteering have an impact on social innovation?
What do citizens in Europe think of third sector organizations, and the impact of volunteering on social innovation?

4. Method: secondary data analysis
Problem: lack of a single dataset including all relevant factors
No data on perceptions of the impact of volunteering on social innovation
Eurobarometer 62, 2004
Eurobarometer 75_2, 2011
World Values Survey,
Giving in the Netherlands Panel Survey,

5. Perceived benefits of the third sector
EU citizens perceive the third sector to have a societal impact in a variety of areas, from health care to employment.
Also Europeans recognize that volunteering produces a mix of benefits to society and individual participants, through enhanced cohesion, expression of values of solidarity, self-fulfilment and personal development.
Social innovation, however, is not clearly visible as one of the benefits of volunteering in these analyses.
17 juni 2016
VU Lustrumcongres Scenarios van Besturen

6. European citizens trust third sector organizations

7. Citizens trust third sector organizations more than government

8. Development in trust

9. Results citizen perceptions
The proportion of volunteers in a country is not related to the level of trust in third sector organisations in that country
Volunteers do have a more positive perception of third sector organisations than non-volunteers, but the difference is not large
The number of areas in which volunteers are perceived to have a societal impact is strongly related to a high proportion of volunteering in one country

10. Volunteering in Europe

11. Which of the following do you think are the two main benefits from volunteering in the EU? (max 2)

13. Benefits of volunteering

14. Not so much for solidarity

15. More so for social cohesion

16. And personal development

17. Volunteers think that they matter

18. Most strongly for sports

19. Less so for social inclusion

21. A stunning non-correlation

23. Regulation mechanisms
Permits for those meeting a set of standards
Policing and punishment of rule breakers
Perks for good citizens
Praising the good kids
Preaching good behavior
Promise elicitation
CONTROL  TRUST
17 juni 2016
VU Lustrumcongres Scenarios van Besturen

24. Civil society vs government
Data source: World Values Survey, 2012
17 juni 2016
VU Lustrumcongres Scenarios van Besturen