Is Time Really “Free”?
You probably know that nonprofits rely on volunteers for support with day-to-day tasks. Stacking inventory, serving food, caring for animals, answering phones, and similar activities are the bread and butter of a nonprofit organization’s daily operations. But did you know that when you volunteer, sometimes those hours behind the counter actually pay for the services and programs provided to clients?
I consider volunteer work to be valuable in three main ways: personal growth, community impact, and financial value to the causes we support. The final point is the hidden economic value of those “free” hours of work. When I first started volunteering, I was focused entirely on the direct impact of the work being accomplished. As I’ve spent more time behind the scenes, I’ve realized that volunteering is far more complex – and valuable – than many assume.
One key area that volunteers can benefit a nonprofit’s mission is through a mechanism called “match.” You may be familiar with fundraising campaigns that use a match system: a generous donor says, “I will match all the donations during this time frame up to X dollars.” The nonprofit benefits when potential donors are motivated to give because their donation will be matched, and the organization benefits again when those dollars are doubled.
However, another form of matching is crucial for nonprofits as well. Many grants require nonprofit organizations to provide an in-kind match, a condition of the funding where the organization needs to document a certain amount of volunteer time, donated goods, or other resources as contribution to the project. When volunteer time qualifies as an allowable in-kind contribution, the nonprofit can document those hours as part of its required match. In other words, your donated time can help the organization demonstrate the resources it is contributing to a grant-funded program.
The exact rules vary, and not every volunteer hour can be counted toward every funding source. But the takeaway is that volunteers are often not only appreciated, but crucial to carrying out the mission. So next time you’re volunteering at your local animal shelter walking the dogs, or doling out dinner rolls at your local food bank, remember that you’re helping twice. Your time has a real value, and it is appreciated! And I hope that if you do not currently volunteer in your community, you will consider supporting a local nonprofit with your time and effort. There are so many organizations needing help, and so many different ways to help.
Do you currently volunteer, and if so, what have you gained from the experience? Comment below!
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