The Author initially examines the organizational phenomenon of voluntarism within the broader context of the institutional restructuring processes of modern welfare, and proceeds to analyze the main structural characteristics of voluntary organizations in Italy and the different - and sometimes conflicting - organizational dynamics that can currently be found. These are, in general, consequence of the «tension» that has matured within the associations between the original mission and the professionalization of the services, between tradition and innovation. The aim is to analyze organizations’ attitudes towards strategic management of change and towards the development of project management autonomy, essential to preserve social identity in the process of professionalizing services.