Evaluating Volunteer Contribution

Have you ever dutifully tracked and reported the "industry standards" of volunteer numbers, hours, and financial value – and not had it translate into support? I've witnessed it time and again. Research on value proposition helps us understand why. In marketing, when we talk about something’s value, we are discussing its price, which is typically a dollar amount assigned to a good or service. Marketers tell us that goods and services also have a value proposition: our willingness to buy or use them. Value proposition is based on our subjective perception of that item or service’s quality. We can apply these principles to volunteerism. Volunteer value is often defined as the hourly dollar value of service calculated by Independent Sector, currently at $33.49/hour in the U.S. However, when we suggest working with volunteers to co-workers or senior leaders, they are more likely to be thinking about value proposition, which is their subjective perception of volunteer engagement. This may be some version of "what’s in it for me?" or "what’s in it for our organization mission?" Co-workers might wonder if the volunteer will produce good work and be reliable. Execs might question if volunteers will contribute to the bottom line or be a good use of time. If our colleagues think that a volunteer’s quality will be low and that his or her time commitment will be high, they are less likely to adopt that volunteer – no matter what dollar amount the volunteer’s value is. Research suggests that is because our subjective perceptions drive our behavior more than so-called objective data. This might explain why our numbers and dollars alone aren’t working. We have to speak to our team’s experience with volunteers. And when it comes to data, we need to share data that are meaningful to them and reflect their subjective interests. Which makes me wonder: if our industry standard does not adequately serve us, perhaps it is time to consider what would. #VolunteerImpact #NonprofitManagement #CorporateSocialResponsibility #SocialImpact #Nonprofit  

#Nonprofits - Making a direct connection between #volunteers’ work and the #mission of your org is essential for motivation, engagement, and retention. Here are 10 ways to help volunteers see the impact they are making: 🎯 Impact Stories – Share real-life stories of people or communities positively affected by the volunteers' work. Whether through testimonials, videos, or blog posts, these narratives make the mission tangible. 🎯 Mission Moments – Begin meetings or shifts by sharing a quick "mission moment" that illustrates how the organization's work—enabled by volunteers—is making a difference. 🎯 Data and Metrics – Provide concrete statistics that show the collective impact of volunteers. For example, “Last month, volunteers helped serve 500 meals to families in need,” or “Your work helped increase literacy rates by 20%.” 🎯 Personalized Feedback – Regularly acknowledge individual volunteers by connecting their specific contributions to the organization’s larger goals. A simple “Because of your efforts today, X happened” makes the connection clear. 🎯 Immersive Experiences – Arrange site visits, client interactions, or behind-the-scenes tours so volunteers can directly witness the impact of their work. 🎯 Volunteer Spotlights – Feature volunteers in newsletters, on social media, or at events, highlighting their role and how it advances the mission. 🎯 Actions Tied to Mission Statements – When assigning tasks, explicitly link them to the mission. Instead of saying, "Sort these donations," say, "By sorting these donations, you're ensuring families get the resources they need more quickly." 🎯 Annual Volunteer Impact Reports – Create a volunteer-focused impact report that showcases how their work contributed to the organization’s success over the past year. 🎯 Engaging in Self-Reflection – Ask volunteers how they see their work making a difference and encourage them to share their insights with others. 🎯 Connecting to Leadership – Arrange for organizational leaders, board members, or beneficiaries to personally express their appreciation and explain how volunteer efforts support long-term goals. Now your turn ... ❓What are YOUR favorite ways to help volunteers see the impact of their work? ❓

We track volunteering metrics in our weekly reports. Most companies only track revenue, profit margins, and billable hours. We used to be the same way. Numbers on spreadsheets, focusing solely on business metrics. But something was missing from our weekly reports: the impact we were making beyond business. That's when we realized: what gets measured, gets done. If we wanted to build a culture of giving back, we needed to track it just like we track everything else. So we started measuring every type of impact: from community service to pro bono design work Here are the 4 key lessons we've learned: 1/ Different Types of Impact Matter Community service isn't the only way to give back. When a designer donates their skills or a marketer helps a local charity, it all counts. 2/ Goals Drive Action Setting a clear target (1,250 hours yearly) gives everyone something to work toward. Just six hours per person per year - one hour every other month. 3/ Recognition Breeds Participation Weekly tracking shows everyone's contribution matters, whether it's serving meals or designing a free logo for a nonprofit. 4/ Rewards Reinforce Values A half-day off might seem small, but it shows we value giving back as much as billable work. This isn't just about tracking numbers. It's about building a culture where giving back is part of who we are.