What's Happening?
A recent report by the Points of Light Foundation reveals that only 19 cents of every $100 given by foundations is allocated to volunteer support. The report, titled 'From Nice to Necessary: Unleashing the Impact of Volunteering Through Transformative
Investment,' argues that volunteerism is often undervalued and underfunded, despite its critical role in nonprofit operations. The report highlights the need for increased investment in volunteer infrastructure and calls for foundations to recognize the essential contributions of volunteers to social change. It also points out the lack of government funding for volunteerism, aside from programs like AmeriCorps, and the absence of discussions on online volunteering.
Why It's Important?
The findings of the report underscore a significant gap in funding for volunteer support, which is crucial for scaling nonprofit services and fostering community engagement. Volunteers play a vital role in various sectors, including disaster response, healthcare, and social movements. The underfunding of volunteer infrastructure could limit the capacity of nonprofits to effectively mobilize and manage volunteers, thereby impacting their ability to deliver services and drive social change. The report's call for increased investment in volunteerism highlights the need for a shift in funding priorities among foundations and other stakeholders.
What's Next?
The report suggests several action steps for enhancing volunteer support, including developing metrics for the impact of volunteerism, encouraging foundations to allocate specific funding for volunteer capacity-building, and promoting cross-sector partnerships. These recommendations aim to elevate volunteerism as a civic priority and ensure sustainable support for volunteer engagement. Nonprofits may need to advocate for more comprehensive funding strategies that include government and corporate contributions to volunteer infrastructure.
