Selective Approach to Regulating the Transformation of Volunteering into Social Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Purpose. To substantiate a selective approach to regulating the transformation of volunteering into social entrepreneurship and to develop a segmentation toolkit for differentiated support of volunteer initiatives’ transition to entrepreneurial models under the conditions of russia’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. Methods. Systematisation and comparative analysis for synthesising theoretical approaches to volunteering transformation and nonprofit readiness for scaling; a matrix method for constructing a segmentation tool along two axes — transformation trajectory and readiness level; and expert assessment for prioritising segments by cascading potential, resource intensity, and probability of success. The methodological foundation draws on the concept of selective regulation of commodity markets, adapted to the specificity of the volunteer sector. Results. Five principles of selective regulation were formulated — targeting, proportionality, gradualism, contextuality, and cascading; a readiness assessment system was developed across five dimensions (organisational maturity, financial capacity, competency potential, market orientation, and value compatibility), operationalised through ten indicators with a three-point scale (total score from 10 to 30); a 3×3 segmentation matrix was constructed combining three transformation trajectories (manufacturing, service, and hybrid) with three readiness levels and describing nine typical segments; differentiated support instruments were designed for each segment; an integrated model of selective regulation with feedback loops and a cascade effect was built. Conclusions. The scientific novelty is that a comprehensive model has been proposed addressing not volunteering and entrepreneurship separately, but specifically the transitional state between them under wartime conditions. The practical significance pertains to state authorities (rationale for differentiated rather than universal programmes), volunteer organisations (a self-diagnostic tool for assessing transition readiness), and support institutions and donors (a framework for designing segment-targeted programmes).