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Corporate Social Responsibility
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4.24.2006 ET
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Study: Volunteers and Non-Profits Overlooking Opportunities to Maximize Impact
2006 Deloitte / Points of Light Volunteer IMPACT Study Shows
Valuable Workplace Skills of Volunteers Go Largely Untapped
(CSRwire) NEW YORK- Despite a need for more resources, the vast majority of
non-profit organizations are not capitalizing on the valuable professional
skills of their volunteers, a new study has found. More than three quarters
of non-profit leaders (77 percent) believe that skilled volunteers could
significantly improve their organization's business practices. Yet just
12 percent of non-profits actually put volunteers to work on such
assignments. That's among the findings of the 2006 Deloitte / Points of
Light Volunteer IMPACT Study, released today by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
and the Points of Light Foundation to coincide with National Volunteer
Week.
"Professional skills of volunteers are extremely valuable to non-profits,
but to a great extent, are being underutilized ," said James H. Quigley,
CEO of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. "This insight uncovers an untapped
resource that could significantly increase the effectiveness of
non-profits and their contribution to the community."
"Volunteers are one of our nation's most valuable assets, but more can be
done to unleash their potential," added Robert K. Goodwin, president and
CEO of the Points of Light Foundation, the Washington, D.C.-based
non-profit organization that sponsors National Volunteer Week.
Untapped Potential
The 2006 Deloitte / Points of Light Volunteer IMPACT Study, which surveyed
non-profit executives and volunteers from corporate America, showed that
nearly nine out of 10 non-profit leaders (89 percent) generally agree that
volunteers' workplace skills are valuable to non-profits. Working
professionals shared a similar view. Seventy-three percent of them believe
their workplace skills are valuable to a non-profit organization.
Yet, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of non-profit executives report they
do not work with any companies that provide volunteers. Just 12 percent
of non-profits report they typically align tasks with the specific
workplace skills of volunteers.
Other key research findings include:
Two out of five volunteers (40 percent) say they actively look for
opportunities to use their workplace skills when they volunteer
Nearly one-third (29 percent) of volunteers believe their workplace
skills are what non-profit organizations need from them most
Only about one in five volunteers (19 percent) say they primarily
apply their workplace skills in their volunteer assignments
The study indicates that skills-based volunteering is highly beneficial to
the volunteer, as nearly two-thirds of volunteers (63 percent) think
volunteering has had a positive effect on their career. Quigley notes,
"People who use their workplace skills as volunteers are rewarded on many
different levels. Often their volunteer experience gives people an
opportunity to demonstrate and improve their abilities in a different
context, which can spark creative problem solving that is directly
applicable in the workplace. We see that frequently at Deloitte."
Inspiring By Example
Following the theme of this year's National Volunteer Week - "Inspire By
Example" - Deloitte is acting on the findings of the 2006 Deloitte /
Points of Light Volunteer IMPACT survey by enhancing its approach to
IMPACT Day, the organization's national day of volunteer service on June
9.
"Deloitte has a long history of contributing to its communities, and we
believe we can have an even greater long-term impact by changing the way
we view community involvement," Quigley said. "We are implementing a
long-term strategy to align the professional skills of our employees to
help non-profits address strategic business challenges. We call this
approach skills-based volunteerism."
Survey Methodology
The 2006 Deloitte / Points of Light Volunteer IMPACT survey was
administered by Opinion Research Corporation. A nationally representative
sample of 750 white-collar workers who hold owner/manager or
sales/clerical positions was asked eight aided and unaided questions in a
CARAVAN® omnibus survey conducted March 2-6. Two subsequent, but
independent, questions were asked of 755 white-collar workers March 23-27.
Both surveys had margins of error of +/- 3.6 percent.
A nationally representative sample of 200 non-profit directors and
managers were asked 10 different aided and unaided questions during an
online survey conducted March 23-24. That survey had a margin of error of
+/- 7.0 percent.
About Deloitte
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss
Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates.
As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any
of its member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions.
Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity
operating under the names "Deloitte", "Deloitte & Touche", "Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu" or other related names. Services are provided by the
member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu Verein.
Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the US member firm of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu. In the US, services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte
& Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte
Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP and their subsidiaries),
and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.
About the Points of Light Foundation
The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network engages
and mobilizes millions of volunteers who to help solve serious social
problems in thousands of communities. Through a variety of programs and
services, the Foundation encourages people from all walks of life -
businesses, faith-based organizations, low-income communities, families,
youth, and older adults - to volunteer. For more information call
202-729-8000 or visit www.PointsoftLight.org. To
volunteer, call or visit www.1-800-Volunteer.org.
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