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Cost of a Volunteer
08 April 2003

Following US President George W. Bush's call for more Americans to volunteer, the Grantmaker Forum on Community & National Service probed the nonprofit sector’s concerns and issues about absorbing an influx of new volunteers. What capacity do these organizations have to place them? What financial resources can they draw upon to train them? What infrastructure do they need to supervise volunteers and recognize their contributions?

Clearly it takes some amount of financial capacity for a nonprofit organization to turn even the most eager citizens into valued volunteers. Recognizing that “Volunteers aren’t free,” the Grantmaker Forum on Community & National Service decided to explore the question: What does it cost to mount an effective and high quality volunteer programme?

The information presented here does not attempt to calculate a ratio of return on investment. Instead, it is intended as an exploratory examination of the costs — many of which are hidden — associated with operating a high quality volunteer programme. By this work we hope to raise up for further consideration the financial implications for the nonprofit sector of a significant national increase in volunteerism."

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© The Grantmaker Forum on Community & National Service


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Posted by: Nina   Date: 09 January 2006 20:52   From: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I think it´s higly interesting for anybody that any person that should think about starting a volunteer program to think that a volunteer is not some "free labour", specialy for the company that uses them.

Here in Brazil people are still too naive about volunteering. I´ll certainly copy this article to as many as I can.


Posted by: james   Date: 09 October 2006 08:17   From: Mombasa, Kenya.
What the UN is doing to the needy cases in the field is very encouraging. In fact let everyone see the need to participate in helping the people around them. It's a spirit that should be rotating in every corner of the society.

I am saying these in the limelight of the way United Nations program has been much in effect in Africa. Given that the least Africa can afford is asking for assistance.

These is Africa and its people need to borrow an extended leaf from the very hand that respond during a crisis.

People were created for each other and machine for human response.

I feel africa is not yet there where it see the need to participate.

Someday let us see these dreams come true. Afica with a heart to bear a burden of the big and small brother in the society that we've neglected with reluctance that there is an international humanitarian body that takes care of everything while we take a nap.

A dream should be realised and the reality put in place that it's not that America is over-flowing with resources as to which it has 60-75% the highest percentage boost towards UN programs. No! It's the human heart these beloved country has towards women and children.

A call for US president George W Bush to the world to embrace the need for everyone to see the terror as an international human danger never reverse these to be absorbed as a fatherly advice.

I request everyone to think beyond their noses and build the human heart and live in the most accepted trend of humanity.

United Nations is doing what everyone is entitled to do as humans.

James


Posted by: james   Date: 21 October 2006 09:23   From: mombasa, kenya
Some lasting solution should be enacted whenever there is looming tension and early building of animosity among warring nations to avoid the destruction, loss of innocent lives as much as we are at right stand in giving assistance.

My point is, crying over a spilled milk adds more of starvation and pain than food on the table.

Let there be an international realisation on putting more and strict recomendation to countries that put the lives of innocent citizens in the name of liberation.

A set-up to fight against dubious crave for selfish urge to leadership when their own iterests are well taken care of.

UN. programs could do more than settling the worst hit in giving the community a noble reason to smile without memories of lost ones.

What is happening in Somalia is not appealing.

May we see the need to consult in matters that broadens our smile rather than issues that leaves marks of pain to the opharns of uncalled war.

James.





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