Volunteers play a critical role in driving social innovation and sustaining the operations of social enterprises (SEs) and nonprofit organizations (NPOs). However, existing research in organizational studies and entrepreneurship does not adequately explain individual behavior within the volunteering context. This study addresses this gap by exploring how relation-based psychological contracts and social exchange theory (SET) jointly shape volunteer satisfaction, retention, and social innovation tendencies in social enterprises (SEs) and non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Taiwan and Indonesia. Drawing on quantitative survey data from 540 active volunteers, the research investigates how mutual expectations between volunteers and organizations influence sustained engagement. Findings reveal that fulfilling relation-based psychological contracts significantly enhances volunteer satisfaction, which in turn drives higher retention and greater contributions to social innovation tendency. While task uncertainty weakens these effects, the relationship between psychological contracts and volunteer outcomes through satisfaction is still influenced, though to a lesser extent. By integrating psychological contract theory and SET, this research advances theoretical understanding of volunteer behavior and offers actionable insights for improving volunteer management, ensuring long-term engagement, and maximizing social impact in mission-driven organizations.

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