Volunteering has become increasingly recognized as governments try to shrink the public purse, yet it is an area where little knowledge has been established. Using the National Survey on Volunteer Activity (1987) conducted in Canada, this paper examines types of and reasons for volunteering among Canadian seniors, compares these with types of and reasons given by younger adults, and examines the predictors of different types of reasons. The data reveal that seniors are less likely to volunteer out of self-interest but are more likely to volunteer for reasons of obligation and social value than is true of younger adults. Reason for volunteering, furthermore, is related to the type of volunteer activity in which individuals engage. Those volunteering out of obligation and for social value rather than self-interest (that is, seniors) are more likely to be involved in service provision. The reason for volunteering is also related to satisfaction with the experience.
