In this paper, we apply the Civic Voluntarism Model (CVM) proposed by Verba, Schlozmanand Brady on the organisational level. Simultaneously contributing to the research on thepolitical integration of ethnic minorities, we examine resources, motivation and recruitmentnetworks of ethnic associations, and probe the extent to which these mechanisms influencecollectively organised political participation. We use data based on face to face interviewswith representatives of 106 organisations of four different immigrant groups in Stockholm.Our results indicate that participation rates of ethnic associations vary with size, access toinformation technology, level of internal democracy, overall aspiration to influence society,and contacts with political elites. Noteworthy, however, our analyses suggest that members’proficiency in the Swedish language is not important in this respect. Conceptually andmethodologically the study demonstrates how the CVM can be fruitfully applied whenanalysing differences in the political activity of voluntary associations.