The factors influencing recruitment and retention of volunteers in community organizations were identified through a literature review. The following were among the key findings: (1) helping others is the main reason people volunteer; (2) personal invitation is the most effective means of recruiting volunteers; (3) individuals who are satisfied with their personal life are the most satisfied volunteers; (4) volunteers' satisfaction lies in a sense of self-knowledge and finding a good fit between personal values, motives, and skills for the volunteer position; (5) minority communities are an untapped population to be recruited for volunteer service; (6) Black American and Hispanic American men have been the most difficult groups to recruit; (6) interviews are an important factor in recruiting, and they prove beneficial to individuals seeking to volunteer and organizations; (7) recruiting through the use of advertising requires additional resources and time and is not as effective as personal invitations are; (8) volunteers continue to serve when they have interaction with others in the organizations and when they believe that they and their work are recognized; and (9) organizations utilizing volunteers must be equipped to recruit and retain volunteers that will benefit the organization's mission, objectives, and population served. (Contains 22 references.) (MN)