Motivation in third sector co-production settings: A Self-Determination Theory perspective on sequential co-production

IMPACTThe article shows how third sector organizations can move beyond the repeated recruitment of volunteers and instead develop a renewable pipeline of co-producers. The concept of ‘sequential co-production’ explains how beneficiaries can be motivated to become future co-producers of services when programs deliberately foster competence, autonomy, relatedness and beneficence. For practitioners—namely trustees, commissioners, service designers, volunteer managers, and youth, community and sport-development professionals—this article offers a practical lens for redesigning participant journeys, volunteer development and performance measures around sustained engagement rather than short-term outputs. It also shows why relational and motivational infrastructure can strengthen legitimacy, community capacity and resilience when funding pressures or external shocks disrupt conventional delivery. The article helps leaders in charities, social enterprises and public-service partnerships ask a crucial question which goes beyond delivering services: how are we designing communities capable of sustaining services they benefit from?