Faith in Disaster Preparedness: Insights on the Influence of Religion on Humanitarian Volunteer Relief Operations
研究非政府组织（NGO）的宗教性如何通过社会资本和人与组织契合理论影响志愿者的社会资本、承诺和运营绩效，发现NGO宗教性过强会降低志愿者表现，但宗教契合度可缓解负面影响。
Religious beliefs have often served as a lens through which communities interpret and cope with disasters. Not surprisingly, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that support disaster relief have roots in religious traditions. The religious orientation of an NGO is a key concern as it can influence volunteer outcomes and operational performance. This is important because volunteers are an indispensable asset for NGOs, playing a pivotal role in the efficacy of humanitarian aid efforts. This study employs social capital and person-organization fit theories to examine how NGO religiousness influences social capital, volunteer behaviors, and operational performance. It also analyzes how NGO and volunteer religiousness “fit” affects these relationships. The hypotheses were tested using two scenario-based video experiments: Experiment 1, which collected data from 100 students in a laboratory setting, and Experiment 2, which involved 198 online volunteers. Results from Tobit and Poisson regressions indicate that increased NGO religiousness may diminish volunteer social capital, commitment, and operational performance. However, NGO and volunteer religiousness “fit” mitigates the adverse effects of NGO religiousness, enhancing volunteer behaviors. A large-scale survey of 503 respondents supports these findings and provides insights to guide future research into volunteer motivations. This study contributes to the Humanitarian Operations Management literature and informs the strategies of NGOs regarding religious alignments, volunteer recruitment and retention, and operational performance.