By Esther Iekovich
Master's Program in Gerontology, Faculty of Health Sciences,
Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel,
and Yossi Katan,
The Bob Shapel School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
The article presents findings of a study that wishes to provide an answer to the question: what characterizes the organizational structure and activities of voluntary organizations in a period of changes in the social services systems, one of the central among them being the process of privatization, which transfers responsibility for the delivery of state and municipal welfare services to non-government organization, including voluntary organizations? The delivery of these services is financed by the government and by the local municipalities. The study examined this question in 51 local voluntary organizations providing welfare services to the elderly. The study findings indicate that these organization are not characterized by some of the unique qualities attributed to voluntary organizations, such as social mission, active involvement of members and volunteers, engagement in advocacy and in the development of new services.