In a city that has known commitment and apathy, achievement and stagnation, and is home to both rich and poor, what are the necessary requirements for the lasting success of a charitable organization? Voluntarism, Community Life, and the American Ethic, by Robert S. Ogilvie, is an insightful and accessible examination of what motivates philanthropic participation in American society. Though the themes are broad, the evidence offered is specific. The book focuses largely on a personal interest and field of study for the author —— the establishment and maintenance of faith-based homeless shelters.

At its heart, this is the story of two shelters, run by two churches in two very different sections of New York City —— Sacred Heart Church in Glendale, Queens, and the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Ogilvie selects these two institutions on the basis of their large volunteer staffs and their successful retention rates. Although his research is comprehensive and his expertise evident, Ogilvie steers clear of esoteric language and relies heavily on personal case studies and revealing, often moving, anecdotes to narrate the evolution of these shelters. What results is primarily a human interest story that can be read and appreciated by nonprofit sector insiders and outsiders alike.

The author's initial concern is to paint a clear picture of the communities involved and illustrate the similar and unique difficulties faced in launching each of these shelters. Glendale, Queens, is a modest but middle-class neighborhood, located a safe distance away from the haunts of the city's homeless. What began as a quiet, cautious, and often-unpopular effort eventually developed into a thriving shelter that now boasts the highest number of volunteers for any such organization in New York. Its counterpart, the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, is located in a wealthy, socially progressive neighborhood with a demonstrated commitment to social justice. Resistance from parishioners was not the primary obstacle here — rather, those involved found themselves competing for funds and services with other internal programs sponsored by the church.

While using the stories of the Sacred Heart and Fifth Avenue shelters as a structural narrative guide, the story within the story is that of the volunteers. Ogilvie wonders why they come, what they see, what they learn, and why they stay. It is through extensive interviews with volunteers at both shelters that Ogilvie arrives at what are perhaps the book's most insightful conclusions. Among the varied responses, the sentiments expressed by volunteers at both shelters are similar —— people come to do good, at times feel obligated to do good, and desire to do good in an environment that puts them at minimal risk of harm. Therefore, it is a precarious combination of good intentions, social responsibility, and effective management that contributes to the success of a community-driven charitable organization. The author writes that "...without an effective organizational effort, few would volunteer in the shelters and the vast network of shelters would not exist." He also notes that while many respondents report a sense of personal satisfaction that results from such work, such organizations do not exist for the spiritual benefit of the volunteers.

The book's ultimate success lies with its effective weaving of a certain social history with the personal stories of those involved. The experiences of the volunteers —— as told in their own voices-resonate, even to those who are unfamiliar with their work, what it entails, and how it features into the American ethic.

For citations to additional materials on this topic refer to the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject headings headings "Voluntarism-analysis" or "Voluntarism-research."