Germany launches 2026 Volunteer Awards as study reveals factors behind volunteer turnover

The German states of Rhineland‑Palatinate and Bavaria have announced the "Ehrenamtspreis 2026," a volunteer prize that will recognise outstanding civic engagement across the regions. Eight prize categories, one for each administrative district, will each award €5,000 to a selected project or organisation, with winners chosen by an independent jury. A parallel public‑vote prize will allocate an additional €5,000 based on online voting.

A research brief from the Leibniz Institute for Psychology summarises a systematic review and meta‑analysis of 117 studies covering more than 55,000 volunteers worldwide. The authors identify key predictors of volunteer turnover, highlighting the importance of organisational support, role satisfaction and personal motivations in determining whether volunteers continue or cease their involvement.