A Time to be Bold: Engaging Volunteers in a Shifting Environment
As Minnesota is gradually coming out of the recession, the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration (MAVA) conducted a follow-up study to our 2009 report on the status of volunteerism and volunteer programs during challenging economic times. In late 2010, 350 leaders of volunteers and nonprofit managers across the state responded to a survey. The following themes emerged in the findings.
The survey found reliance on volunteers has increased for the majority of organizations with 54% reporting an increased reliance on volunteers compared to two years ago and 50% reporting an increase in volunteer hours of service. Volunteers have a real impact in tough times with 30% reporting volunteers helped preserve organizational services. 66% of organizations experiencing increased inquires about volunteering indicated the increase was primarily driven by unemployed people.
The survey also showed that volunteerism practices in organizations are being updated to meet the needs of a new volunteer corps, with 58% of organizations involving volunteers in new roles and positions, 48% increasing flexibility of when volunteers can volunteer, 42% asking volunteers to use their professional or workplace skills, and 35% involving volunteers in leadership positions or managing projects.
Respondents shared hundreds of strategies for volunteer programs to respond to the current times. The goal of the survey is to help leaders of volunteers capitalize on their organization’s volunteer resources by seeing how their experiences in the changing times compare to overall trends and to share strategies for responding to changes.
**Survey Results Released February 2011**
Status of Minnesota's Volunteer Programs in a Shifting Environment
Click here to read the executive summary.
Click here to read the full survey results.
Click here for 2009 survey results.
Leaders of volunteers are facing many new situations, challenges and opportunities with the economic downturn and current changing environment.
It is not business as usual. To address these unprecedented times, MAVA seeks to provide resources to help leaders of volunteers better understand what is changing and learn strategies to address the changes.
In the News!
MAVA Featured on MPR's Midmorning program on Volunteerism, December 23, 2010.
"Volunteer Nation"
Results of Shifting Environment Survey featured on Minnesota Public Radio, December 4, 2009. "Nonprofits See Uptick in Volunteers During Down Economy,"
click here to listen to the broadcast or read the article!
Featured in the
West Central Tribune for "Time to Be Bold" workshop in Willmar.
Featured in Minneapolis Star Tribune on November 9, 2009,
"Volunteer to Find Careers"
Survey release featured in Energize Inc's December update as
"Hard facts- No Whining - Solid Ideas."
Pioneer Press quotes initial survey results.
Resources
View notes and strategies from MAVA's symposiums and discussion forums on "A Time to Be Bold."
Click here to view the 2009 Minnesota Civic Health Index, a survey aimed to take the pulse of American civic life in a moment of great change.
See Susan Ellis's December Hot Topic: When the Ax Falls: Budget Cutting and Volunteers
View the national News Brief on “Volunteers and the Economic Downturn” released by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
See the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits' report on the Current Conditions of Nonprofits.
View MAVA's resouces for job seekers.
Research featured in Ramsey County's 2010 Report on Volunteerism.
Let's continue the conversation from our December 4th Symposium! Join our discussion forum!
View questions from participants, hear what our panelists have to say and post your own thoughts on topics ranging from staff furloughs, volunteer photographers and Volgistics!
Click here to view the discussion topics from our December 4th symposium in Maplewood.
Have a question or topic you would like to discuss? Post them on the
MAVA Discussion Forum!
Power Points and Handouts from A Time to Be Bold: 12/4/09
Handouts: Engaging Volunteers in a Shifting Environment
Panel Presentations:
Decision Making Matrix for Evaluating New Opportunities
Polly Roach, Vice President- Strategic Services, Mentoring Partnership of MN
Notes from 12/4 Symposium
Thank you to the Otto Bremer Foundation, the St. Paul Foundation and the Initiative Foundation for funding, in part, the efforts to bring these resources to leaders of volunteers in Minnesota.
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