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What's New in our Research and Evaluation Calculating the Economic Impact of Volunteers The Economic Impact Of Volunteers Calculator estimates the appropriate wage rate for volunteer time based on what the person does, the value of specific tasks according to market conditions as reported by the US Department of Labor. 2006 National Conference Evaluation Reports: Overall Report Workshops and Seminars Follow-up Measuring Volunteering Committee Report 181 KB This report summarizes the findings from the discussions at the meeting hosted by the Points of Light Foundation on March 15, 2006. Many of the leading scholars who study volunteering, and leading practioners who are consumers of such research attended the meeting to examine the finding by Chris Toppe, Senior Social Scientist at the Points of Light Foundation, that current research methodologies underestimate volunteering. The Principles of Excellence: An Employee Volunteer Program Assessment The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, working with a committee of its business members, created the The Principles of Excellence: An Employee Volunteer Program Assessment to establish a set of standards for effective and sustainable employee volunteer programs (EVP). The Principles has been used by hundreds of businesses and corporations as guidelines they could use in shaping their EVPs. Further, these Principles have served as the criteria for the Points of Light's Awards for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs, a prestigious award that attracts dozens of nominations annually. The Principles of Excellence have become widely accepted as a national standard, and the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network have created an online tool that allows organizations to visually assess their progress against this standard. Volunteering in Under-Resourced Rural Communities Final Report 1.92 MB Findings from our rural study underscored the need for a greater focus on mobilizing low-income volunteers as equal partners in addressing the intractable social and economic challenges faced by rural families and communities today. The study brought to light the uniquely rural conditions that affect volunteer management and highlighted the need for a strategic and intentional approach to volunteer engagement. Our explorations also helped identify critical challenges that prevent participation and uncover effective strategies in engaging and empowering rural residents. Report on the State of Volunteer Centers in 2003: Based on the 2004 Volunteer Center Survey 834 KB This report continues a series begun in 1993 by the Points of Light Foundation to survey Volunteer Centers in the United States. Historically, the goal of the these surveys has been to obtain and share information about Volunteer Centers and to provide an internal yardstick or benchmark for informal comparisons by individual Volunteer Centers every two years. Extraordinary Need, Extraordinary Response - Volunteer Centers Respond to the 2004 Hurricanes 800 KB In 2004, Volunteer Centers played a significant role in addressing the needs of local communities devastated by Hurricanes Charley, Francis, Ivan, and Jeanne. Volunteer Centers comprise the largest national infrastructure dedicated to volunteering and volunteer efforts, connecting two million people with more than a million volunteer opportunities annually; working in partnership with more than 75,000 organizations; and training more than 150,000 individuals a year. More than 140 million people (the majority of the U.S. population) live the thousands of communities served by more than 330 local Volunteer Centers. Love Thy Neighbor: The Role of Faith in Volunteer Motivation 320 KB The Points of Light Foundation has issued more than 1,100 Daily Point of Light Awards since 1998 and more than 150 President's Community Volunteer Awards since 1992 to individuals, groups, and organizations across the country. This study assesses the motivations of awardees and the role of faith in their motivations, using quantitative and qualitative survey methods. The Points of Light Foundation Announces State Volunteering Rates (September 13, 2004) A Friendly Atmosphere for Your Volunteers 1.27 MB Provides a background on management techniques that promote volunteer friendliness. The State of Knowledge Surrounding Employee Volunteering in the United States 1.30 MB Intends to provide a critical synopsis of the state of knowledge surrounding employee volunteer programs in the U.S. Points of Light Foundation Strategic Plan Constituent Survey and Data Analysis & 2003 National Conference Focus Group Input 7.21 MB In the spring and summer of 2003, in an effort to better understand how constituents of the Points of Light Foundation feel about issues that impact the volunteering sector, and how the Foundation is doing at addressing these issues, a survey and set of focus groups were developed to help inform the Foundation's work. The focus groups were conducted at the National Conference on Community Volunteering and National Service held in Baltimore, Maryland, and the survey was sent via email through the Foundation's member database. Points of Light Foundation Survey of Community Ministries Data Analysis Report 7.47 MB Interfaith Community Ministries are a lead partner in one of the many components of the Points of Light Foundation's faith effort. In order to help the Foundation better understand the needs of Community Ministries and how it better serve them, 785 surveys were sent by mail in mid September 2003. Points of Light Foundation Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2004 - 2009 448 KB Provides an historic perspective of the Points of Light Foundation and a view of its future, combined in a strategic plan for fiscal years 2004 to 2009; outlines key assumptions that influence the plan; the strategic vision and mission; and key goals; also includes the Foundation's Statement of Values; a description of its program portfolio; an overview of the planning process used to create the plan; pertinent evaluation processes; and sources of funds for the Foundation's work.

Observations from the Volunteering Front Line

A series of research briefing from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation published quarterly. These one-page reports are intended to inform the field about the most recent trend in volunteering. The Changing Nature of the Volunteering Field 344 KB Keeping abreast of Current Trends: Explores how the nature of volunteering is changing. Focus on Employee Volunteering 227 KB Developing a Common Base from which to Proceed: Asks what do we know about the level and scope of employee volunteering in the United States and what gaps in knowledge need to be filled. State Volunteer Rates and Volunteer Centers 122 KB Determining Volunteer Center Impact: Provides state volunteering rates and asks what impact on these rates do the presence or absence of Volunteer Centers have. Recognition Programs & Volunteering 206 KB Determining the Impact of Recognition Programs. The Volunteer Response to Hurricanes: Volunteer Centers Respond to the 2004 Florida Hurricanes 120 KB Assessing the role of Volunteer Centers, Volunteer Reception Centers and unaffiliated volunteers in Hurricane relief and recovery. Family Volunteering: Building Strong Connections 93 KB Evaluating the occurrence of volunteering in family settings.

Findings from the Field

A new series of research briefings from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation that will be published monthly. These one-page reports are intended to summarize and highlight the most recent research findings in the volunteering field. June 2005 Vol. I, No 2 6.7 MB Highlights from Motivations for Volunteering with Youth-Oriented Programs; and Volunteering in Under-Resourced Rural Communities Final Report Premier Issue: April 2005 Vol. I, No 1 110 KB Research highlights from Thrivent Study -- Why People Volunteer; America Gives -- Survey of Americans' Giving and Volunteering after September 11; and Volunteering in Singapore

Other Reports

2005 National Conference Evaluation Reports: Overall Report 189 KB Workshops and Seminars 89 KB Follow-up 109 KB 2004 National Conference Evaluation Reports: Onsite Overall Report 190 KB Workshops and Seminars 137 KB Follow-up 141 KB 2003 National Conference Evaluation Reports: Onsite Overall Report 241 KB Workshops and Seminars 184 KB Follow-Up 176 KB 2002 National Conference Evaluation Reports: Onsite Overall Report 314 KB Workshops and Seminars 253 KB Follow-Up 160 KB The 2001 Volunteer Center survey: A Report on Findings and Implications 209 KB Provides an overview of the member Volunteer Centers that make up the Volunteer Center National Network, outlines the basic organizational composition of these Volunteer Centers, and gives an indication of the different roles that Volunteer Centers play in their communities. Read more. Family Volunteering: An Exploratory Study of the Impact on Families 185 KB Presents the results of exploratory research that has been conducted to inform the conceptual framework of a study of the impact of family volunteering on families. Evaluation Report: Engaging Persons with Disabilities 2395 KB Describes the outcomes of a year-long initiative, funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, to engage more people with disabilities in volunteer service. Press Release Evaluating Points of Light Foundation’s Grassroots Efforts: Leadership Training and Listserv. 144 KB Evaluates the effectiveness of the Grassroots Volunteer Leadership Development Training and the Grassroots Leaders Listserv, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to provide grassroots leaders with information relevant to their work, and connecting them with community-building volunteering activities. Ten Year Review of Accomplishments 1991-2001 1270 KB provides an historical overview of the Foundation's growth and achievements. Initial Responses to the September 11th Tragedies 180 KB by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network chronicles the immediate volunteer response led by the Foundation and its partners to the events of September 11th. Principles of Excellence: validation of the Principles of Excellence as a set of guidelines for companies that are working to build and improve the effectiveness of their employee volunteer programs. Validation conducted by Center for Urban Policy and the Environment, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Volunteer Center Standards of Excellence: validation of a set of benchmarks on the Volunteer Center Core Competencies. Validation conducted by Center for Urban Policy and the Environment, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Early Points of Light Foundation Reports

Changing the Paradigm a report on the status of volunteer management practice.