The volunteer satisfaction index

VSI

The Volunteer Satisfaction Index

Developed by: Roseanna Galindo-Kuhn

The VSITM is a measurement tool unique to the context of the unpaid work environment. Developed in 1999, the measurement tool has continued to draw the interest of researchers worldwide and the application of professional volunteer administrators seeking a better understanding of volunteerism. The VSI has proven effective as a foundation for program development and need analysis.

“The work of volunteers impacts on all our lives, even if we are not aware of it.”

Anthony Worall-Thompson

Volunteers

The Need for the VSI

The VSI was developed specifically for the unique context of volunteerism

Five dimensions of volunteer satisfaction emerged from the extensive research behind the development

The knowledge of the VSI can be directly applied to build and grow successful volunteer programs

Publication

The seminal research surrounding the VSI ’s construct definition and development, and validity was published in 2001 in the Journal of Social Service Research.

Galindo-Kuhn, R. & Guzley, R. (2001). The Volunteer Satisfaction Index: (VSI ) Construct Definition, Measurement Development, and Validation. Journal of Social Service Research, 28 (4), 45-68.

“I see something that has to be done and I organize it.”

Elinor Guggenheimer

Development of the VSI

A Unique Context for Work

Unpaid vs. Paid Work Environments

Extensive two-year research project

Thesis, publication, and application

Professionalization of the nonprofit management sec

Assignmen

t

•Work AssignmentEffic

acy

•Participation EfficacyInteg

ration

•Group Integration

Support

•Organizational Support

Communication

•Communication Quality

Work Assignment

Job Fit Logistics Square pegs in round holes Reverse HR Expectations

Participation Efficacy

Meaningful Client impact Measurable outcomes Connecting the dots A story to tell

Organizational Integration

Belongingness Volunteer-staff relationships Volunteer-volunteer relationships Acknowledgement Stakeholders

Organizational Support

Resources Education and training Professional development Evaluation Support vs. Supervision

Quality of Communication

Quantity is not Quality Interviews to Thank You’s Channels

Information Dissemination Relationship Building

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.”

Eugene O’Neill

Application for Practitioners

Looking Through the VSI Lens

Recruitment Recognition Retention

Outcomes

Organizational capacity building Intent to remain Extra role behavior Attrition or addition

And sometimes deletion

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”

Will Rogers

Assessment

Measuring Satisfaction

Need Analysis Priorities Trending Benchmarking

The Volunteer Satisfaction Index

Need Analysis and Trending

Com-muni-cation Quality

Work As-

sign-ment

Partici-pation Effi-cacy

Organi-zational Support

Group Integra-

tion

Grand Mean

2007 6 6.39 6.25 6.11 6.24 NaN 6.19799999999999

2009 6.15 6.33 6.14 6.2 6.15 NaN 6.194

2010 6.37 6.32 6.32 6.43 6.28 NaN 6.344

5.75

5.85

5.95

6.05

6.15

6.25

6.35

6.45

2...

Jul-0

7

Sep

-07

Nov

-07

Jan-

08

Mar

-08

May

-08

Jul-0

8

Sep

-08

Nov

-08

Jan-

09

Mar

-09

May

-09

Jul-0

9

Sep

-09

Nov

-09

Jan-

10

Mar

-10

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

306

329 333323 324 318

305

364

389 384

431

454

VolSat- VSI Education & Research VolSat is owned by Roseanna Galindo-

Kuhn, developer of the Volunteer Satisfaction Index (VSI).

VolSat was created for volunteer administrators whose organizations want to make optimum use of the VSI.

An education and research entity, the VolSat mission is to build a stronger nonprofit sector through the dedicated understanding of volunteer satisfaction.

VOLSAT – VSI EDUCATION & RESEARCH

WWW.VOLUNTEERSATISFACTIONINDEX.COMROSEANNA GALINDO-KUHN(503) 864-5229 VOLSAT@ATT.NET

THANK YOU!