Funding Available to Strengthen Volunteer Management

Posted by on July 23, 2007

Funding Available to Strengthen Volunteer Management

The Corporation for National and Community Service announced the availability of up to $800,000 in funds to nonprofits to increase volunteer retention and expand their capacity to use and effectively manage volunteers to meet challenges in their communities.

The grant competition was announced at the closing session of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Philadelphia, which brought together 3,000 leaders of national service and volunteer programs for three days of professional training to strengthen volunteer management.

?The good news is that volunteering is at historically high levels and is increasingly being seen as not just nice, but necessary to solve tough social problems,? said David Eisner, Corporation David Eisner. ?The challenge is that we have a have a leaky bucket ? too many volunteers drop out each year. Our sector needs to plug that bucket in order to reach our true potential to address society?s needs.?

Today, more than 61 million Americans (or 27 percent) volunteer through nonprofit organizations with another 5 million finding ways to help outside any formal group. According to the Corporation?s recent ?Volunteering in America: State Trends and Rankings in Civic Life? report, approximately 20 million people who volunteered in 2005 did not return to volunteer in 2006. This represents an estimated loss of an estimated $50 billion dollars worth of volunteers? effort in the nonprofit sector.

Grants in the approximate range of $50,000 to $200,000 are available to organizations to improve and expand use of volunteers to address societal challenges. The goal is to support nonprofits in systemically addressing the challenges that lead to poor volunteer retention and limited use of volunteers. There is a 50% required in-kind or cash match for this grant. Applications are due by September 6, 2007. More information is at <a href="http://www.cns.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=50">http://www.cns.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=50</a>.

Strengthening and professionalizing volunteer management has been a goal of the Corporation for a number of years, and that focus has intensified with the release of the agency?s five-year strategic plan that sets a goal of 75 million volunteers serving their communities by the year 2010. The Corporation has supported research and training and technical assistance resources and has placed a greater emphasis on volunteer mobilization and management through its grants and programs.

For the past six months it has convened a series of discussions with leaders of America?s nonprofit sector. Those discussions have led to a new publication released at the conference in Philadelphia called ?Volunteering Reinvented: Human Capital Solutions for the Nonprofit Sector.? The paper makes a case to other nonprofit executives about the value of volunteers and the potential return on investment when they plan as seriously for their human capital strategy as they do their fundraising campaign. The paper is available at <a href="http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0719_volunteering_reinvented.pdf">http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0719_volunteering_reinvented.pdf</a>.

While individuals stop volunteering for various reasons, one significant factor is satisfaction. The expectations of today?s volunteers are changing. In addition to expecting a well-managed volunteer program and effective communications with staff, today?s volunteers ? just like paid employees ? are more likely to need to clearly see how their contributions result in a positive, measurable difference in someone?s life. They need to see the ?mission return? for their volunteer time investment. And if they don?t, they are more likely to leave.

?I have seen many non-profits assign the president to manage a $1 million gift, but assign the intern or a busy receptionist to oversee volunteers whose service could be worth five times as much,? said Eisner. ?This is a mistake. Investing in volunteer recruitment, management, and retention can yield vital long term benefits, and that?s what these grants are all about.?

The purpose of this grant competition is to assist national, regional, and statewide nonprofit organizations in planning for and implementing activities within their networks and communities to: increase volunteer retention; expand current use of volunteers by creating new volunteer roles and recruiting the appropriate volunteers to fill them; improve the both the impact of volunteers activities and how that impact is measured; and develop strategies that sustain the impact and results associated with the project after the conclusion of Corporation funding.

Organizations interested in the grants should submit an email stating their intent to apply to volunteermanagement@cns.gov by August 15 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This is not required, but helps plan the review of the applications. The notice and application instructions are available at <a href="http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp">http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp</a> or by e-mailing volunteermanagement@cns.gov.

The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 6, 2007. Applications submitted by e-mail or fax will not be accepted. Applications are to be submitted electronically using eGrants, the Corporation?s integrated, secure, web-based system for applications. You may access eGrants at <a href="http://www.nationalservice.gov/egrants/index.html">http://www.nationalservice.gov/egrants/index.html</a>.

The Corporation for national and Community Service strives to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering by providing opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country The Corporation administers the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility in America. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.nationalservice.gov">http://www.nationalservice.gov</a>.