This case–control study evaluated the factors influencing volunteering in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Women’s Health Volunteer (WHV) programme, which is implemented in 150 centres in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province. We recruited 145 cases (volunteers) and 146 controls (non-volunteers) from the centres. Data were collected by questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables included were length of residence in neighbourhood, number of siblings, husband’s age and education and job, family size, quality of life, self-rated health status, neighbourhood intimacy, child under 2 years, house ownership, wealth index. Social network variables included were ego network size, type of acquaintance, intimacy with others, relationship communication, relationship duration, emotional support, advisory support, monetary support, physical support, time support. There were significant associations (P < 0.05) between women's propensity to volunteer and family size, presence of a child under 2 years in the family, neighbourhood intimacy, social network composition, and emotional and advisory support.