Requests for grants are pouring in. Our due diligence includes reviewing the program design, goals, performance of past projects (outcomes), strength of the organization (financial statements, staff qualifications, board expertise), and diversification of sources of revenue including investment from community volunteers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reports that more than 61 million people or 26.4 percent of our population volunteered for an organization last year. While volunteerism is highest among those age 65 years and older, the largest change in hours volunteered was in the 20 to 24 year old group (one percent increase). The Independent Sector estimates the dollar value of volunteer time for 2008 was $20.25. (The Independent Sector is a forum of approximately 600 charitable and philanthropic leaders.)
Volunteer are important because foundations are becoming more selective about our grants. We want to support programs that are performance-based and organizations that people value. People will pay for the things they want, need and value. So we ask organizations, how much do they receive in monetary donations. Even if an organization serves the poor, it may still garner a great deal of community support beyond the population it serves, e.g., Second Harvest Food Bank and Harrison Cultural Community Centre.
Harrison Cultural Community Centre sits in an economically challenged neighborhood in Lorain. Some of you may remember it as Harrison Elementary School (1904 to 1972). Against all odds, a social worker and teacher purchased the abandoned building in 1992 without any funding from the foundations. They raised all the money from the community! A few years ago, we gave Harrison Cultural Community Centre a 1 to 1 challenge grant (up to $10,000). Biweekly, they held bake sales, car washes, fish fry and chicken dinners, and brought me their receipts in boxes. Everyone was pitching in. The only paid staff are the childcare staff (based on licensing requirements by Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services). The executive director is not paid; but she always conducts herself professionally. The children are always polite and happy to be there. Recently, I asked the director if she would cancel summer camp because government funding for the summer programs had been eliminated. She said volunteers will make sure the children have summer camp! Children will still have a safe place to learn and have fun this summer. The volunteers will make sure it happens.
