The Importance of Volunteer Centers In Mississippi HISTORY. FACTS. BENEFITS. Sue Suter, CEO April 29, 2014 Map of MS Volunteer Centers Mission UNITED WAY OF SOUTH MS To rally resources, collaboratives and leadership to improve the quality of life in South Mississippi. Volunteer Centers Can they help us accomplish our Mission? Working Collaboratively to provide Vital Services and Solve Community Problems Combined Opportunities • All three sectors provide services or access to meet individual needs and desires. • All three affect the public agenda. • Each sector appears to be more engaged in the traditional turf of the others (Change). • Interaction offers opportunities for rich and constructive, mutually reinforcing relationships. Successful Cross-Sector Collaborations: • Different kinds of collaboration require different kinds of capacities. • Capacity is the wherewithal–what it takes—to get a job done. • It includes people, money, skills, technology, authority, legitimacy, power, relationships, and other resources. • The $1 Trillion dollar National Non-Profit Sector has grown rapidly in recent years. • To keep up with this expanding need, NonProfits will require an increase in volunteer investment Volunteers One of America’s Greatest Natural Resources VOLUNTEERS: FILLING IMPORTANT ROLES Non-profits are using volunteers to fill important roles within their organizations, including the following: Board of Directors Financial management Accounting Technology Legal counsel Administrative support Program and service delivery Marketing and communications Organizational development Fundraising and development Strategic partnerships Non-Profits depend on this Vital Resource Volunteers can: • Increase capacity. • Increase active donors. • Increase access to new corporate, public, and community partners. • Increase R.O.I. • Decrease Admin % Capitalizing on volunteer resources, even through shortterm contacts such as “days of caring” events, can later lead to a cadre of community supporters • people who know about your organization, • value the services you provide, • and commit to supporting your mission in an ongoing way. Increase annual gift Regular scheduled financial gift One time financial gift Volunteer long term Volunteer one time event Volunteering and the Giving Continuum Planned Gift A growing commitment is often dependent on your ability to engage them Volunteers Donate Significantly More Money to Nonprofits than Non-Volunteers On average, those who have volunteered in the last 12 months donate ten times more money to charities than non-volunteers ($2,593/yr vs.$230/yr). Two-thirds (67%) of those who have volunteered in the last 12 months say they donate to the same charities they volunteer for. These volunteers also say they are more likely to increase their charitable donations in 2010 (32%) vs. (26%) of non-volunteers. Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund Volunteerism and Charitable Giving in 2009 Executive Summary Households in which members volunteer give more than twice as much money to charities than households with no volunteers. Independent Sector, 2001 Volunteering in America 2012 – National %s Volunteering in America 2012 – South %s Value of volunteering 2011-12 • Assuming a full-time employee works 1,700 hours a year, volunteer hours were the equivalent of 8.9 million full-time employees in 2011. • At average private wages, volunteer time was worth $296.2 billion, about the same as donations. Permission is granted for reproduction of this document with attribution to the Urban Institute. Copyright ©2012 Volunteering in America 2012 – National vs. South% Volunteering in America 2011-12 • In 2011, 26.8 % of adults in the United States volunteered with an organization. Volunteers contributed 15.2 billion hours, worth an estimated $296.2 billion. • On an average day in 2011, approximately 6% of the U.S. population, or 14.6 million Americans, volunteered for an average of 2.84 hours. Permission is granted for reproduction of this document with attribution to the Urban Institute. Copyright ©2012 Volunteering in America 2011 – National vs. South % Mississippi Louisiana Florida • 25.8% of residents volunteer, ranking them 35th among the 50 states and Washington, DC. • 19.4% of residents volunteer, ranking them 51st among the 50 states and Washington, DC. • 22.9% of residents volunteer, ranking them 45th among the 50 states and Washington, DC. • 574,850 volunteers. • 670,820 volunteers. • 3.41 m volunteers. • 83.4 million hours of service. • 89.4 million hours of service. • 458.7 million hours of service. • $1.8 billion of service contributed. • $1.9 billion of service contributed. • $10.0 billion of service contributed. Volunteer Centers and United Ways • 1800 – United Ways across the globe. • 1200 – United Ways in the United States. • 292 – United Ways have a Volunteer Center. (United Way DB2 Survey, 2012) • 2.68 million – volunteers connected to opportunities through UW. (ibid.) • 1.3 million – volunteers serving directly with United Way. (ibid.) INTERNAL VOLUNTEER SERVICES DONATED TO UNITED WAYS: • • • • Board members • Loaned Executives • Campaign Volunteers • Interns/National Service Members (VISTAs) • Annual Events (Days of Caring,• MLK Day, Days of Service, • 9/11 Day of Remembrance) • Special Events (CEO Talent Show, ACE, Awards Luncheon) Community Building Events Finance, Technology, Personnel, Advisory Councils ASB Communication and Marketing Volunteer Center Projects VOLUNTEER MISSISSIPPI PRIORITIES: Mission: Engage and support Mississippians of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities. Over the next 3-7 years: 1) Involve more citizens in meaningful, focused volunteer work 2) Strengthen the work of nonprofits by • recruiting a strong volunteer workforce • providing the tools to effectively utilize financial, human, and in-kind resources VOLUNTEER MISSISSIPPI SO FAR: In 2010 – one of only 19 State Commissions to receive Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) dollars to increase volunteer rates and create a Volunteer Center Network. Initiated 3 new volunteer centers in Starkville, Oxford and Hattiesburg; helped strengthen 3 existing volunteer centers in Hernando, Columbus and Gulfport. More than 45,000 volunteer engagements and over 400,000 hours of service • Up from only 1500 volunteer engagements So where do you locate quality volunteers? NATIONAL SERVICE INITIATIVES • • • • • AmeriCorps State National and AmeriCorps VISTA. RSVP – Retired Seniors Volunteer Program Foster Grandparents Senior Companions Senior Corps LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS – • • • • • • Colleges and Universities Local Schools Civic Clubs (e.g, Rotary, Civitan, Elks Lodge and VFW) Faith Groups Military Retired Volunteer Groups Corporate Partners – 2011 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey Corporate Volunteer Findings 55% of employees who volunteer on a regular basis would recommend their company to a friend The Corporate Benefit of Volunteering Millennials who frequently volunteer are more likely to be proud, loyal, and satisfied Employees as compared to those who rarely or never volunteer Career Progression Volunteer Would Recommend Employer Always/Often Rarely/never Empoyer Satisfaction Company Loyalty 0 20 40 60 80 Deloitte Volunteer Impact Survey, 2011 The Corporate Benefit of Volunteering Millennials who frequently participate in their company’s employee volunteer activities are two time more likely to rate their corporate culture “very positive” as Compared to Millennials who rarely or never volunteer (56% vs. 28%). Deloitte Volunteer Impact Survey, 2011 Mission VOLUNTEER SOUTH MS Promote and support volunteerism to enhance the MS Gulf Coast Community. “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” —Winston Churchill United Way of South MS Volunteer Center Who We Are: Match Makers • Born in 2006 to manage Katrina related volunteer efforts. • Started as a joint venture with the MS Commission for Volunteer Services (Marsha Meeks Kelly) • Internal to the United Way of South Mississippi. • One of 6 volunteer centers in MS. • A Points of Light/HandsOn affiliate. • An 24/7 online tool that provides access to volunteer opportunities. • A place to give or request product donations. • A resource for management of service related events and disasters. What We Do: We promote agency volunteer opportunities. We educate volunteers and area agencies on best practices. We respond to community needs that require volunteers and volunteer management (Days of Service and Disasters). We facilitate corporate volunteer engagement. The Numbers: • Average of 138 ongoing or date specific opportunities • 180 member agencies • 2012 registered volunteers • 6 Annual Events Last year the Volunteer Center returned an estimated $3.1 million to our community through volunteer hours, grants and product donations. For Every $1 Donors Invest, UWSM Returns Return on Investment $11.21 $4.95 $1 37 Benefits for Volunteers: • Discover opportunities that match time, talent and passions. • Option to track volunteer hours and print reports. • Elect to receive email alerts about area opportunities and special events. • Complete a user profile to target select opportunities • A one-stop-shop for everything related to volunteering. Benefits for Non-Profit Partners: • • • • Plan and manage their employee “Days of Service”. Employee get to know charities through service. Employees can track their time (measure value). Company volunteer managers can receive regular training and resources for improving employee volunteer experiences. • Employees who volunteer are happier at work. A Case in Point From highly skilled volunteers who provide specialty services to youth groups who complete simple repairs, most non-profits rely on their volunteers for their very survival. Jan - MLK Day of Service EITC/VITA Tax Program Education Reached over 3500 people at MLK Day Celebration Distributed flyer about Volunteer Center and UWSM March – 2013 Alternative Spring Break 62 participants from 28 states come to serve 1,535 hours by 62 volunteers = $33,447.65 “ASB program fee: $250; gas to Biloxi: $30; an unforgettable week of friendship and service: priceless.” – Anika Langaigne April – Spring Day of Caring 3 corporate volunteer groups - the IP Casino Resort Spa, Hard Rock Casino Biloxi, and Coast Electric Power Association Service Project Locations (Boys & Girls Clubs, Women's Center, YMCA, Community Garden, Recovery Center). 76 volunteers X 5.95 avg. number of hours per volunteer = $9,853.44 June 22 - Day of Action United Way of South Mississippi invited corporations across the Coast to partake in the school supply drive. American Red Cross Biloxi-My Charter Bank-Mississippi PowerHancock Bank-University of Southern Mississippi Gulf CoastButler/Snow-Coast Electric-DuPont. Total number of youth served: 50 ($1,000.00 in supplies) Sept 11 - Day of Remembrance 450 Students and teachers collect donations for local USO Students have Celebration Patriotic Rally on 9/11/12 Local Military Officer Speaks to kids about service and giving back $2500 in donated items and over 1200 service hours contributed. Lessons learned by students…PRICELESS!! Fall 2012 - Leo Seal Day of Caring Primary Annual Corporate Day of Caring 11 Project sites (Play grounds, Painting, Senior Vet Luncheon etc…). 171 volunteers donate 770 hours = $17,000.00 Disaster Response and National Service Katrina – Volunteer Center was born out of this disaster (2006). Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill – Opened VRC for Volunteer Management Hurricane Isaac – Virtual VRC and Volunteer Management. Currently have 3 AmeriCorps Vista members (In 2nd year of Grant). Moving towards becoming a AmeriCorps Hub for 25-30 AmeriCorps State/National service members (2014). Internal Volunteers Board members Campaign committee members Advisory and technology committees Marketing and Community Impact Committees Office Assistance and much more…. United Ways of the Gulf Coast Possibilities for Shared Voluntourism Projects Joint Disaster Assistance and management capabilities Marketing and Training Partnerships