Volunteers Are Essential Drivers of Change: Measuring and Communicating Their True Value
At HandsOn Twin Cities, we know volunteers aren’t just “nice to have.” They are essential drivers of social progress—powering nonprofits, strengthening communities, and advancing civic life across Minnesota and the country. Yet too often, their contributions are undervalued, under-measured, and underfunded.
The Power of Volunteerism
According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, between September 2022 and September 2023, more than 75.7 million Americans aged 16 and older formally volunteered—about 28.3% of the population. Together, they contributed nearly five billion hours of service, the equivalent of 2.5 million full-time employees, with a labor value estimated at $167.2 billion.
Volunteers are the backbone of nonprofit operations:
85% of all charities in the U.S. have no paid staff and rely entirely on volunteers.
88% of nonprofits operate with budgets under $500,000, meaning volunteers often make the difference between what can get done and what actually gets done.
Volunteers extend the reach of nonprofits, help deliver critical services, and connect neighbors in meaningful ways. They are not supplementary. They are fundamental.
The Engagement Gap
Despite their essential role, many nonprofits struggle to find resources to recruit, train, and support volunteers:
Less than 1% of philanthropic giving supports volunteer engagement.
The top 10 U.S. foundations allocate only 0.07% of their portfolios to volunteer development.
Volunteer managers often work with limited budgets, minimal staff, and few systems—despite volunteers powering a large share of their organization’s work.
As one participant at the 2025 Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference shared:
“Don’t just show the costs of the volunteer program—show the impact of that investment.”
By measuring and communicating volunteer impact clearly, nonprofits can make a stronger case for why volunteer engagement deserves real funding and attention.
Measuring the True Value of Volunteers
The hybrid conference emphasized the need to tell the whole story of volunteer impact, blending qualitative and quantitative approaches. Key takeaways included:
Name roles by impact, not tasks (e.g., Community Engagement Ambassador instead of Event Helper).
Align roles with organizational goals to ensure every position connects to the mission.
Share outputs and outcomes. Hours and numbers matter, but so does the change those hours create.
Engage leadership in conversations about what they need to see to invest more in volunteer engagement.
Collaborate across departments. Fundraising, volunteer engagement, and programs share one goal: impact.
From our November nonprofit member gathering, these strategies emerged to capture and communicate volunteer value:
Track hidden costs and saved resources: Survey staff on accomplishments enabled by volunteers, including supervisory time and resource offsets.
Collect stories and data: Gather qualitative and quantitative input from staff and volunteers to illustrate real-time impact.
Connect to mission and outcomes: Show how volunteer work advances organizational goals, using these examples in reports, grant applications, and advocacy.
Use systems and tools: Platforms like Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Monday.com, or Smartsheet help organize, track, and summarize volunteer impact and associated financial value.
Report strategically: Translate data into actionable insights for staff, funders, and leadership to justify investments and advocate for program growth.
When we show how volunteers achieve outcomes—like expanded services, innovation, or cost savings—we turn good stories into powerful evidence.
The Perception Divide
Most nonprofits see volunteers as essential, but funders don’t always see it the same way:
74% of nonprofits say volunteers save costs.
72% say they improve the quality of services.
Yet only 39% of funders agree that volunteers reduce costs, and just 25% believe they improve quality (Do Good Institute, 2023).
This gap limits investment in volunteer programs and the people who lead them. The good news? We can close it by changing how we talk about volunteerism, grounding stories in both data and heart.
Why This Work Matters
Nonprofits form the bedrock of American civil society, often filling gaps where government and markets do not. Declines in volunteer participation threaten not just nonprofit capacity but also civic health and social connectedness.
Volunteering benefits everyone: it boosts physical health, supports mental well-being, strengthens social connections, and fosters empathy, resilience, and trust.
At a time when many nonprofits are doing more with less, investing in volunteer engagement isn’t optional; it’s essential to collective impact.
A Call to Action
As communities face new challenges and fewer resources, it’s time to reimagine how we value volunteers.
Invest in volunteer engagement infrastructure—training, technology, and leadership.
Bridge the gap between funders and nonprofits by showing the measurable impact of volunteers.
Broaden participation so more people can experience the power of giving their time.
Volunteers aren’t a backup plan: they’re the backbone of our communities. When we recognize, measure, and invest in their impact, we strengthen not only nonprofits but the civic heart of our society.
HandsOn Twin Cities: Connecting People Through Purpose
At HandsOn Twin Cities, we help nonprofits build systems and capacity to engage volunteers in meaningful, mission-driven ways.
When volunteers share their time and talents, organizations of every size can serve more people, dream bigger, and build stronger, more connected communities.
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