Empowering communities through service-learning: a model for nonprofit volunteerism and civic responsibility

Chin-Yen Alice Liu

Social Responsibility Journal, 2025, vol. 22, issue 2, 261-277

Abstract: PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how higher education institutions fulfill their social responsibility mandates through structured service-learning. Using the internal revenue service (IRS) volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) program in the USA as a case study, it explores how skill-based volunteerism in academic curricula functions as an institutional expression of corporate social responsibility (CSR) while advancing student learning and nonprofit service capacity.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a case study approach, analyzing the redesigned Income Tax course where students gain hands-on experience by providing free tax preparation services to underserved populations in the USA. The engageability framework is applied to assess how value-based practices, managerial strategies, physical support and supportive networks improve student engagement and nonprofit sustainability.FindingsThe study finds that integrated academic-service models significantly improve student volunteer retention, professional skill development and nonprofit capacity, while reinforcing the university’s role as a socially accountable stakeholder. Additionally, embedding real-world service into coursework with nonprofit missions fosters greater civic responsibility, professional skill development and long-term engagement while addressing critical community needs.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature on CSR in higher education by positioning structured service-learning as a tool for fostering authentic student engagement and critical awareness of CSR motives. It extends the engageability framework into academia, providing a scalable model for aligning institutional resources with community needs. It offers practical insights for educators, university leaders and nonprofit practitioners seeking to design sustainable, mission-driven service-learning programs that fulfill both educational and societal goals.

Keywords: Service-learning; Corporate social responsibility; Nonprofit volunteerism; Civic engagement; Community-based learning; University-nonprofit partnership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:srjpps:srj-03-2025-0198

DOI: 10.1108/SRJ-03-2025-0198

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