This text investigates the systematic methodologies required to effectively recruit, manage, and retain volunteer personnel within non-profit and community organizations. Paul J. Ilsley provides a framework rooted in organizational behavior and human resource management, arguing that volunteers require the same level of professional structure and strategic planning as paid staff to ensure organizational success. The book synthesizes administrative theory with practical application to address the common challenges of volunteer turnover and engagement.

Experts in the non-profit sector frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the professionalization of volunteer management. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous approach to a field that is sometimes treated with informal methods.