Volunteer Match Where volunteering begins. 1 Great Expectations: Boomers and the Future of...

VolunteerMatchWhere volunteering begins.

1

Great Expectations: Boomers and the Future of Volunteering

VolunteerMatch User Research Study

Presented by:



2

Acknowledgements

HARTRESEARCH

P e t e r D

A S S O T E SC I A


3

Introduction

77 million Baby Boomers are beginning to rethink “retirement”

Opportunity for a profound social legacy

Will they volunteer? What makes them different? Are nonprofits interested? How will they connect?


4

About VolunteerMatch

Our mission is to help everybody find a great place to volunteer

Our popular online service welcomes millions of visitor a year

Preferred recruiting service for 46,000 nonprofits

Strong network of corporate partnerships


5

Methodology Telephone survey among 507 adults age 55 to 75 who

currently do not volunteer; conducted June 12 – 16, 2006; margin of error = ±4.4 percentage points

Online survey among 2,316 volunteers registered with VolunteerMatch; conducted June 12 – July 6, 2006; margin of error = ±2.0 percentage points.

Online survey among 1,024 staff of nonprofit organizations that use VolunteerMatch; conducted June 9 – 27, 2006; margin of error = ±3.1 percentage points

20 in-depth telephone interviews with volunteer coordinators at nonprofits that use VolunteerMatch: 10 interviews among coordinators at nonprofits that use volunteers age 55 and older, 10 interviews among coordinators at nonprofits that do not use older volunteers; conducted August 7 – 16, 2006


6

What’s Next?Non-Volunteers 55+ Phone Survey


7

Non-Volunteers See Retirement As A New Chapter

37%

52%

33%

56%

43% 45%

Retirement is a time to takeit easy, take care ofyourself, enjoy leisureactivities, and take a much-deserved rest from workand daily responsibilities

Retirement is a time tobegin a new chapter in lifeby being active andinvolved, starting newactivities, and setting newgoals.

All Non-Volunteers

Among Non-Volunteers 55+

Age 55 to 64 Age 65 to 75

Source: Hart Survey of Non-Volunteers (N=507)


8

More than Half of Non-Volunteers 55+ Have Some Interest in

Volunteering

20%

29%

36%

1%14%

How interested are you in volunteering, either now or at some point in the

future?

Very interested

Fairlyinterested

Somewhatinterested

Not veryinterested

Not sure

Non-Volunteers 55+Very/fairly interested

College graduates

Professionals/managers

Women age 55-64

Churchgoers

45%

42%

41%

39%

Just 11% of non-volunteers say they have tried to find a volunteer opportunity in the past year.



9

Among Non-Volunteers, Professionals and Women Aged 55-64 Show Most

Interest

Men 55-64 Men 65-75 Women 55-64 Women 65-75

Very

/Fair

ly

Inte

rest

ed

Som

ew

hat

Inte

rest

ed

Not Very

In

tere

sted

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

How interested are you in volunteering, either now, or at some point in the future?


Professional,manager

White-collarworker

Blue-collarworker

Retired

Very

/Fair

ly

Inte

rest

ed

Som

ew

hat

Inte

rest

ed

Not Very

In

tere

sted

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Non-volunteers 55+ by Gender

Non-volunteers 55+ by Occupation148 103 142 108 35 91 53 276


10

Selected Most Important Reason for Volunteering

“Helping Others/Making A Difference” Is Top Reason for

Volunteering

3%

4%

8%

18%

18%

28%

40%

Help others/make a difference

Contribute to cause I care about

Use my skills in productive way

Meet people, make friends

Be involved in my community

Develop new skills, experience

Community service requirement

Non-Volunteers 55+



11

23%

28%

32%

34%

34%

37%

35%

46%

38%

43%

56%

Very important (9-10*) Important (7-8*)

Cause I care about

Nearby/convenient

Interesting/challenging

Fits my schedule

Uses my skills/experience

Understand expectations

Intellectually stimulating

I can make a difference

Has orientation/training

Volunteer with friends

Matches my career skills

What Are Non-Volunteers Looking For?

81%

69%

70%

47%*Ratings on ten-point scale: 10 = essential factor, 1 = not at all important factor

Among Non-Volunteers 55+

70%

66%

63%

63%

63%

55%

53%


Factors that might contribute to a positive volunteer experience


12

Type of Volunteer Activity I Would Most Prefer

Non-Volunteers 55+ Report Being Most Interested in Learning New Skills and

Exploring New Interests

Non-Volunteers 55+

16%

21%

26%

32%

Activity that helps me learn new skills or explore new interests

Activity that most people can do, regardless of experience/interest

Activity that makes use of my job/career-related skills

Activity that makes use of my non-career related skills, talents, interests



13

Barriers To Volunteering

6%

8%

13%

17%

22%

27%

36%

39%

Besides not enough time, which of these is the most/ second-most important reason you don’t volunteer? Non-Volunteers 55+

very/fairly interested in volunteeringHaven’t found right

opportunity

Health/physical limitations

Haven’t found anything

well-suited to my skills

Prefer to give back in other ways

Can’t afford to volunteer

Don’t know where to begin

Previous volunteering experience not positive

Not interested

All Non-Volunteers

55+

24%

40%

23%

25%

17%

8%

8%

23%



14

Are Older Volunteers Different?VolunteerMatch User Research


15

Volunteering Attracts People of All ages

18-2926%

30-3920%

Under 1811%

55+15%

Prefer not to state1%

40-5427%

Source: Hart Survey of Volunteers (N=2,316)

All Users by Age


16

Gender Differences by Age


Users by Age and Gender

Under 18 18-29 30-39 40-54 55+

11%

89%

11%

89%

13%

87%

20%

80%

34%

66%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Men Women


17

Average Hours of Volunteering Per Year by Age Group

155

145

132

155

226

Under 18

18-29

30-39

40-54

55+


Among All Users

Older Volunteers Volunteer More

Average Hours of Volunteering


18

Volunteering Is About Identity

29%

2%19%

50%

Compared to other things you do in your life, how important to you is the volunteer work that you do?

One of the most

important things in my

life

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

69% highly

important



19

The Importance of Volunteering Increases with Age

Compared to other things you do in your life, how important to you is the volunteer work that you do?

Very ImportantOne of the Most Important Things


Under 18 18-29 30-39 40-54 55+

63%66%

69%73%

75%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%


20

1%

4%

7%

7%

8%

13%

14%

46%

Selected Most Important Reason for Volunteering

Help others/make a difference

Be involved in my community

Contribute to cause I care about

Use my skills in productive way

Develop new skills, experience

Give back to community

Meet people, make friends

Community service requirement

“Helping Others/Making A Difference” Is Top Reason For

Volunteering

All Users



21

Motivations Vary by AgeWhat is the most important reason you volunteer?


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Under 18 18-29 30-39 40-54 55-64 65+

Fulfill a servicerequirement

Develop skills

Use my skills

Meet people/ getinvolved in community

Make a difference/ helpothers/ contribute to acause/ give back

All Users

266 593 460 619 282 77


22

Older Volunteers Find Fewer Opportunities of Interest% saying they find a volunteer opportunity that

matches their interests at least half the time they visit VolunteerMatch

Volunteers under age 55

Volunteers age 55-

64

Volunteers age

65/older

Under 40 40-54 55-64 65+

61%55%

38%

21%



23

Important Factors in a Volunteer Experience

Volunteers 55+Volunteers Under 55

% users rating each as very important/important

0 20 40 60 80 100





Nearby/convenient


Fits my schedule




Cause I care about



24

Older Volunteers Are Looking for Interesting & Challenging Opportunities

Users 55+Users Under 55

% users “much less likely” to volunteer if factor is NOT met

0 20 40 60 80 100








Nearby/convenient


Fits my schedule

Cause I care about



25

Older Volunteers Would Prefer to Make Use of Their Skills

... which of the following statements best describes the kind of activity you prefer?


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Under18

18-29 30-39 40-54 55-64 65+

Learn new skills/explore newinterests

Can be done bymost people

Use non-careerskills

Use career skills

All Users


26

Men are Particularly Interested in Making Use of Their Skills

...which of the following statements best describes the kind of activity

you prefer?


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

WomenUnder 54

Women 55+ Men Under54

Men 55+

Learn new skills/ explorenew interests

Can be done by mostpeople

Use non-career skills

Use career skills

Users by Gender and Age


27

31%

16%13%

40%

19%

9%29%

43%

Skills Are A Sticking Point for Older Men

Strongly agree

“I can always find volunteer opportunities that match my personal and professional skills and abilities.”

All Users

Somewhat agreeSomewhat

disagree

Strongly disagree

Men Age 55+



28

Thinking ahead to the next few years, do you think

you will be volunteering...

More than now53%

Less than now9%

Same38%


Among Users 55+

Most Volunteers 55+ Expect to Volunteer More


29

The Nonprofit PerspectiveUser Research


30

30%

57%

60%

64%

65%

71%

Volunteers provide my organization with this to a great extent

Capability to provide services we otherwise

could not provide

Increase in quality of our services/programs

Cost savings to ourorganization

More detailed attentionto people we serve

Increase in public support for our

programsCapability to improve

management/operations of our organization

Volunteers Play An Important Role for Nonprofits

92% of nonprofit staff say that volunteers are very important to their organization.

Among Nonprofit Staff

Source: Hart Survey of non-profits 2006 (N=1024)


31

The More Volunteers, The More Important Their Role Is Seen

For each benefit, % of nonprofit staff saying volunteers provide this to their organization to a

great extent

Over 100

73%

71%

67%

64%

63%

26 to 100

75%

64%

65%

62%

58%

25/fewer

64%

56%

62%

54%

49%

Number of volunteers organization has

Capability to provide services we otherwise could not provide

Cost savings to our organization

Increase in quality of our services/programs

More detailed attentionto people we serve

Increase in public support for our programs



32

Nonprofits Are Looking for Volunteers Across All Age Groups

Note: 54% of respondents indicated no need for a particular age rangeSource: Hart Survey of non-profits 2006 (N=1024)

Does your organization have a particular need for volunteers in any of the following age ranges? Do you have difficulty recruiting

volunteers in any of the following age ranges?Need volunteers

Have difficulty finding volunteers

Aged 55 and older = 27%

34% 35%

28%26%

18%

10%10%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

13-17 18-29 30-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+

Age Groups


33

Most Nonprofits Are Already Engaging Older Volunteers

81%

62%

Age 55-64

Age 65-74

84%81%

62%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Age 45-54


Please indicate whether any of your organization’s volunteers fall into the following age ranges.


34

12%

22%

23%

23%

32%

46%

51%

53%

This has made it difficult for my organization to engage the volunteers we need

Finding volunteers; knowing where to look for

volunteersPeople are too busy

to volunteerDifficult to find people

interested in volunteeringCan’t find people with the right skills and experience

People have unrealistic expectations about the

workHard to find people

interested in our organization or missionDifficult to contact/get

in touch with volunteersDifficult to find people who

fit with our environment/culture

Top Challenges In Engaging Volunteers




35

26%

26%

29%

39%

48%

51%

57%

70%

My organization has this to a large degree

Regular supervision and communication with

volunteersRegular collection of info

on volunteers’ hours/numbers

Written policies/job descriptions for

volunteers

Procedures to match volunteers with fitting

jobs

Volunteer recognition activities, award

ceremonies

Measurements of volunteers’ impact

Training/professional development opportunities

Training for paid staff in working with volunteers

Managing VolunteersAmong Nonprofit Staff

Organization’sbudget size

$100K/less

65%

43%

42%

41%

26%

28%

25%

20%

Over$1 M

76%

67%

64%

57%

50%

27%

26%

30%



36

Commenting on Older Volunteers

“They have the maturity level and probably the commitment level and the responsibility level that would be perfect. I would like to tap into that market. . . . They've certainly got more time on their hands than the working mother who's frantic trying to take care of a houseful of kids and the household duties and everything else."“It's not so much skills that the older volunteers have. I think they have more of a sense of commitment: once they've started something, they really do see it through."

“Well, they usually have more time. That’s the biggest thing… I think they've dealt with a lot of different people and a lot of different situations, so I don't think they're as easily shaken up by things in general. Now on the negative side, some of them have a tendency to be set in their ways."



37

Older Volunteers are Different

When pressed, nonprofit staff cite a number of ways that older volunteers are different:Opportunities

More reliable and mature

Greater pride in their work

More flexible schedules

Better with people

Challenges

► Established behavior

► Opinionated

► Physical limitations



38

Tapping the Skills of Older Adults


39

17%18%

23%24%25%27%28%28%29%30%

34%40%

48%58%59%

Use volunteers/volunteers and staff for this activity

Event planningFundraising/development

Marketing/communications

Strategic planningOperations/project mgmt

Computer hardware/software

Staff mgmt/team leadership

Internet/e-commerceAccounting/finance

Information technologyLegal services

HR/recruitment & trainingGrant proposal writing

CounselingMedical/health services

Nonprofits Use Volunteers for Many “Skilled” Activities




40

80% of NPs Want More Info on Volunteers; 70% Want More Skilled

VolunteersTo what extent would each of the following factors be helpful in

supporting your volunteer programs?

Source: Volunteer Management Capacity in America's Charities and Congregations, Urban Institute 2004.

More information

about potential

volunteers

Funding to cover cost of volunteer involvement

Volunteer coordinator with stipend

Greater availability

of skilled volunteers

Training in working

with volunteers

Fewer regulatory, legal and liability

constraints

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%80%

76%72% 71%

66%

38%

Some Extent

Great Extent


41

Not Surprisingly Older Adults Are More Likely to Have a Variety of Professional Skills

Source: Hart Survey of Volunteers (N=2,316 total, 978 volunteers aged 40+)

Do you currently use or have you previously used any of the following skills in your professional career?

Volunteers aged 40+

All volunteers

51%48% 47%

43%

36%

32% 31% 30% 29%27%

15%13% 12%

25%

30%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Compu

ters

, h/w

and

s/w

Opera

tions

/ Pr

ojec

t Mgm

t

Med

ical o

r Hea

lth Ser

vice

s

Even

t Plann

ing

Mar

ketin

g & C

ommun

icat

ions

Acoo

untin

g/ Finan

ce

HR/ R

ecru

iting

and

Tra

ining

Coun

selin

g

Inte

rnet

/ E-

Comm

erce

Stra

tegic Plan

ning

Info

rmat

ion Te

chno

logy

Fund

raising/

Dev

elop

men

t

Gran

t Pro

posa

l Writ

ing

Lega

l Ser

vice

s

Staff

Mgm

t/ Lea

ders

hip


42

With Few Exceptions These Skills Are Underutilized

Source: Hart Survey of Volunteers (N=2,316 total, 978 volunteers aged 40+)

Do you currently use or have previously used any of the following skills in your professional career? Have you ever used any of the following skills

when volunteering in the past?

Used skill in job

Used skill volunteering51%

48% 47%

43%

36%

32% 31% 30% 30% 29%27%

25%

15%13% 12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%


43

Smaller NPs Tend to Make Use of a Greater Variety of

Volunteer Skills


Number of different volunteer skills used by organization budget

215 137 134 174 116 248

None

1-3

4-7

8 o

r m

ore

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Less than$50,000

$50,001to

$100,000

$100,001to

$200,000

$200,001to

$500,000

$500,001to $1

million

More than$1 million


44

Use of the Internet


45

Leveraging the Power of the Internet

Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

The Pew Internet & American Life Project reports the growing use of the Internet

among older adults• 78% of 41-50 year-olds are

online

• 72% of 51-59 year-olds are online


46

Non-Volunteers 55+ Internet Usage

16%

8%

51%

25%

Besides e-mail, how often do you use the Internet to visit Web sites?

At least once a

dayDon’t

use the Internet

Non-Volunteers 55+

41%

Visit Web sites at least once a week

Men

Women

46%

35%Few times a

week/once a week

Less than once a week/use

only for e-mail



47

The Internet is Making it Easier to Find Opportunities to Help

36%

37%

44%

50%

53%

55%

61%

66%

Which of these have become easier since you started using VolunteerMatch?

Among All UsersFinding organization

that needed helpFinding

opportunities that interest me

Getting specific info about opportunities

Finding a cause I care about

Finding opportunities

nearby/convenientFinding

opportunities that fit my schedule

Finding opportunities that

match my skillsFinding an

organization that is responsive

Users Age40+

61%

56%

53%

49%

47%

42%

35%

35%



48

From Online to Offline

29%61%

10%

Yes, have volunteered with an organization I

found on VolunteerMatch

Among Users 40+

No, but expect to within the

next 12 months

Have not/don’t expect to do so

in next 12 months


Have you ever volunteered with an organization you found on VolunteerMatch?


49

How satisfied have you been with your experiences volunteering with organizations you found through

VolunteerMatch?Users 55+

Very Dissatisfied

4%Dissatisfied 5%

Neutral 9%

Satisfied 43%

Very Satisfied

39%

Encouraging a Cycle of Satisfaction


47%

38%

10%

2%3%

All Users


50

Empowering Nonprofits

Provides valuable service to the organization

Helps reach out and recruit more volunteers

Makes it easier to find the right volunteers

Helps find volunteers who have the needed skills and

abilities

Allows the organization to free up valuable resources

Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree

23% 44%

30% 47%

42% 40%

53% 31%

54% 32%


Please rate how much you agree with each of the following statements.


51

Recruiting Skilled Volunteers

42% 40%

18%

48%

40%

12%

Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Dissatisfied

How satisfied have you been with VolunteerMatch in helping you find highly skilled and/or experienced

volunteers?

All nonprofit staff Staff at nonprofits (60%) that have used VM

volunteers for skilled activities



52

Connecting to Make a Difference

2%

3%

5%

6%

10%

13%

14%

68%

Which two or three of these Internet recruiting services have you found most useful?

All nonprofit staff

VolunteerMatch.org

Local volunteer center’s Web site

Craigslist.org

Idealist.org

1-800-Volunteer.org

VolunteerSolutions.org

HandsOn Network

ServeNet.org

33% of staff name only VolunteerMatch



53

Observations• The aging baby boomers represent an exceptional

opportunity for civil society

• Older volunteers are more likely to be interested in making use of their skills and experiences

• Nonprofits are not yet fully tapping the skills of their volunteers

• The Internet is making it easier for nonprofits and volunteers to connect

• Choice and information reinforces satisfaction and stimulates the virtuous cycle of civic engagement

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