No more talk of the dollar value of volunteers!
07:13, 19 April 2010
.. Posted in Volunteerism and Volunteer Management.. Link
I cringe every time I read someone touting volunteers as being great because "they save money," or a blog entry or article trumpeting the latest dollar value associated with an hour of volunteering. Because the message this promotes is:
We involved volunteers because we didn't have to pay them. Give us all the money we need to hire paid staff, and we'll get rid of the volunteers.This is a dangerous way to talk about the value of volunteers. Here's but one example of that danger:
I was contacted by a state historical agency once upon a time. There were patrons of the state historical library that frequented the site and helped fellow visitors in finding information on an ad hoc basis. The agency decided to formalize the activities as a volunteer program, so visitors would know they were talking to someone who officially-represented the organization, so helpers received the proper training, and so helpers received the proper thanks.
The informal helpers became formal volunteers, and the volunteers loved it -- they saw it as a "promotion", as a recognition of their knowledge and past help. The volunteer program flourished over just a couple of years, and the agency decided to present it as a success story to the state legislature, which provides funding for the library.
Unfortunately, agency representatives presented it in terms of money saved: they calculated a dollar value for each hour the volunteers had contributed, and said, "This is how much money we saved involving volunteers." And the state legislature was very impressed -- so impressed that they cut one of the paid staff member positions and other budget items, and told the agency to do more with volunteers "so you can save even more money."
Other consequences of talking about volunteers only or primarily in terms of money saved/the dollar value of each hour they provide:
- It reinforces the idea of volunteers are free (they are not; there are always costs associated with involving volunteers)
- It reinforces the idea that the number of hours contributed by volunteers is the best measure of volunteer program success (quantity rather than quality and impact)
- It negatively influences how staff relate to and think of volunteers, as well as the person in charge of recruiting and supporting such -- the volunteer manager
How do you talk about the value of volunteers?
- Talk about the importance of allowing members of the community to come in to your agency, as volunteers (and, therefore, with no financial stake in the agency), to see for themselves the work your organization does. Surveying volunteers about their experience can tease out testimonials in support of this, as can monitoring posts to your online discussion group for volunteers and their posts to your blog or FaceBook fan page.
- Note how involving volunteers -- representatives of the community -- helps educate the community about what the organization does. If you have done pre- and post-event or activity surveys of volunteers you can more easily show changes in perception or increases in knowledge.
- Talk about why certain positions are reserved specifically for volunteers (such as counselors, advisers, theater ushers, short-term consulting projects to assist paid staff, event staff, entry-level administrative staff, project leaders, interns, etc.), and why your agency wants volunteers, specifically, in those positions rather than paid staff.
- Note how involving volunteers creates support for your organization in other ways. How many volunteers are also financial donors? Have volunteers spoken at local government meetings or written letters to the editor of your local newspaper on your organization's behalf? Are there any influential community members (elected officials?) who are former volunteers with your organization? What have volunteers done to educate friends and family about your organization and its mission? Again, survey your volunteers, formally and informally, frequently, to gather this information.
- Talk about how involving volunteers is a reflection of your organization's mission. If you are a nonprofit theater, for instance, you probably involve unpaid ushers. What have ushers experienced that is a reflection of your mission (which may be to present theater productions of that are of cultural significance for your community, or to ensure that community members of all ages and backgrounds are introduced to and educated about the place of theater in our society, etc.). If you involve volunteers as interns, how could you tie this involvement to the mission of your organization?
- Note how involving volunteers helps your organization reach particular demographic groups -- people of a particular age, in a particular neighborhood, of a particular economic level, etc., especially groups who might not be involved with your organization otherwise.
- Note how involving volunteers has created partnerships with other organizations (nonprofits, government, business).
- Note how volunteer involvement has garnered the organization good PR (in media reports, government reports, blogs, etc.)
- Talk about how community ownership of the organization is demonstrated through volunteering. This is especially important if your organization is staff primarily by volunteers.
What are your thoughts about the value of volunteers? Post your comments using your Google, Yahoo, AIM or OpenID account.
