The article is based on sociological research identifying problems of volunteers movement development in Russia. The purpose of the article is to consider volunteer management as a sociological problem. Review of Russian and foreign sociological research on volunteer management is offered Major scientific approaches and aspects of researching this problem in the context of civil society development, third sector activity, sociological measurements of Russians’ participation in volunteer activities and helping behavior practices are specified. It is proved that in Russian sociology processes of external (governmental) volunteer management extension are not reflected in academic discourse yet. The author suggests the model of social volunteer management system. It is a theoretical construct for logical analysis of real situation in volunteer management, which helps to reveal and comprehend cause-and-effect relationships explaining dynamics of volunteer group, its specifics and features of its different subgroups’ activity. Practical issues of volunteer management in Russia are analyzed. Contradiction between public administration prevalence and development of volunteering is described as a key element of civil society. The article also reveals contradiction between Russians’ readiness to help other people and their real actions. The contradiction between public servants’ declarative statements about the importance of volunteering in life of the country and selective support of volunteer activity in Russia is investigated as well. The author shows some contradictions in regional management of volunteer activities in the Sverdlovsk region.