The Impact of Volunteering

Dana, a reader of our blog, asked for an article about the impact of volunteering. We researched the idea and found two items that addressed the impact and also had an application in writing grant proposals.

The first was published in 2011 by Points of Light and was titled, “Social Impact of Volunteerism.” It took a global view of the economic, social and personal volunteerism. It provides valuable insights and references, particularly for the background or need section of a grant proposal. Read it here.

The HandsOn Network provided the second item. It is a calculator that helps determine the dollar value of individual volunteer time. The calculator addresses the issue that not all volunteer activities have the same monetary worth. So, rather than using the general $22.14 per hour for volunteer assistance, it allows for identifying specific jobs and their compensation. Called “Economic Impact of Volunteer Calculator,” it is free, easy to use and provides a more accurate picture of volunteer worth, another factor when applying for grants. The calculator is here.