Beyond the Sector: Rethinking Nonprofit Public Service Motivation

This study seeks to explore the conceptual dimensions of Nonprofit Public Service Motivation (NPSM) to redress the sectoral orientation bias evident in extant PSM literature. The findings delineate a higher-order NPSM construct comprising four subordinate dimensions: the virtue of benevolence and serving society, the aspiration to serve the public charity cause, the empathy and self-sacrifice for others, and the desire for self-advancement. These dimensions are further categorized into normative, affective, and rational motivations. Furthermore, a 19-item scale is formed through a rigorous scale development process. This study advances PSM theory within cross-sectoral contexts and furnishes a validated operational instrument.