Getting Ready to Account for Volunteer Value

OISE Certificate Course

B.J. RichmondFaculty of Education, York University

Bjrichmond@edu.yorku.caOctober 18, 2004

Agenda

10 – 10:25 Presentation - BJ

10:25 – 11:00 Discussion and Report Back on Homework Assignment

11:00 – 11:20 Presentation - Laurie

11:20 – 11:40 Exercise

11:40 – 12:00 Discussion – risks, benefits, issues of calculating volunteer value

Presentation: Outline

Getting Ready To Account for Volunteer Value

Levels of Reporting Steps Tips

Levels of Reporting: What Fits

Levels of accounting for volunteer value

To funders (Jane/Finch) Other stakeholders (CBCF Ontario) Social Statement (EVAS – What

Counts) In financial statements (CCI)

Levels of ReportingAudience Required Data

1. Funders Estimates OK

Some tracking

2. Stakeholders

(e.g. Ann. Rept.)

Accurate estimates

Tracking, some verification

3. EVAS Accurate Estimates

Tracking, verification

4. In Financial Statements

Accurate estimates

Tracking, verification, standardization

Data Required on Volunteers

Contact Information Task Descriptions Hours Optional: Non-reimbursed out-of-

pocket expenses Optional: Benefits, Skills retained by

volunteers

Sources of Data1. Financial statements2. Quantitative data

E.g. How many volunteers, how many hours: from tracking, surveys

3. Qualitative data (optional) E.g. Skills, benefits retained by

volunteers: from interviews, open-ended questions on surveys, focus groups

4. Market comparisons: NAICS, other

Steps: Assess Hours, Role

Collect tracking information: Hours by task, total including Board and

Committees – What Counts, page 169 Examine role, contribution for a better

idea of what value to put on tasks: Determine weight of contribution in org. FTE for vols; for staff; ratio In light of organization’s outputs

Steps: Value volunteer tasks

Assign comparative market values for volunteer tasks By task if they diverge significantly –

either in the range of tasks or in their weight in contributing to the organization Include Board and Committees

Or use general social services figure – See What Counts page 171

Steps: Value volunteer expenses

Assign values for volunteers’ non-reimbursed expenses

Use surveys, focus groups to determine

See What Counts page 173

Steps: Value volunteer skills, benefits

Assign values for skills development, other benefits Use surveys, focus groups to determine Skills could include: fundraising,

technical, office, interpersonal skills Assess negative experiences See What Counts pages 174, 175

Steps: Verify

Use survey, focus groups to verify information Volunteer hours, tasks Non-reimbursed expenses Skills development, personal

development, any benefits This information can be helpful for

volunteer management

Tips

Task Tip

Collect data on Board

Make regular part of December meeting: serve cake

Contact information

Recruit volunteer to keep track – with a purpose e.g. newsletter

Track hours Develop standard forms, collect regularly (bi-weekly), verify

Survey volunteers

Adapt existing survey bi-annual; existing events such as training

Data collection

Include incentives in job descriptions

Recap: EVAS - Calculations Required

1. Value of volunteer hours2. Optional: Non-reimbursed out-of-

pocket expenses3. Optional: Dollar value of volunteer for

skill developmentNote: In class 5 Laurie will show you how it the

information is put together in an Expanded Value Added Statement (EVAS) …

Exercise

Get into groups of three or four. Discuss information from your

organization: systems for tracking, counting, reporting volunteer hours; show examples that you brought

Add up the total volunteer hours for all the organizations represented in your group, and report back

Next

Laurie will walk you through some ideas about calculation volunteer value and an exercise.

Then we will discuss some of the issues involved.

Discussion

What are the pros, cons and issues of attributing a value to volunteer contributions for the sector as a whole?

For your organization? Do you anticipate opposition from

any stakeholders, and if so, how would you deal with it?

Things to think about …

How ready is your organization to report on volunteer value – what more would be needed?

What human and material resources can you identify to assist your org?

When and how can you get started?