Abstract
This research is an attempt to operationalize and test some of the concepts in a new model for volunteerism. Of specific interest was change in scores for empowerment, compassion satisfaction, and burnout based on volunteer length of service. Volunteers from the non-profit organization, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Placerville, California, completed the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) and Menon’s Empowerment scale. CASA administrators supplied information about eighteen months of volunteer retirements including start and end dates of service. Empowerment, especially the components of perceived control and perceived competency were significantly lower in groups with 9 to 18 months of volunteering experience compared with groups with 0 to 8 months. Compassion satisfaction also declined between groups but only approached significance. No significant differences were found with the burnout measure. Only some of the model was supported, additional studies are needed.