for Employe r - S u p ported Vo l u n t e e r i s m
Making a Business Case
Acknowledgements
Volunteer Canada gratefully acknowledges author
Linda Graff.
Volunteer Canada would also like to thank the following
individuals for their input and guidance:
Kristin Smith, Director, External Relations,
Volunteer Canada
Martha Parker, Executive Director, Volunteer Calgary
Nadine Maillot, Director Programs, Volunteer Calgary
This resource has been funded by the Government of
Canada through the Canada Volunteerism Initiative.
For more information on Employer-Supported
Volunteerism, please visit www.volunteer.ca, Canada’s site
for information on volunteering.
Author
Linda Graff is consultant, author and international trainer
whose consulting firm of LINDA GRAFF AND
ASSOCIATES INC., in Dundas, Ontario, specializes in
non-profit and volunteer program management. Linda is
one of Canada’s foremost authorities on volunteerism.
ISBN 0-9733191-6-X © 2004 Volunteer Canada
Version française également disponible.
Funded by the
Government
of Canada
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
What is Employer-Supported Volunteering? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Why is Employer-Supported Volunteering Important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
The Prevalence of Employer-Supported Volunteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Exploring the Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Return on Investment – The Business Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
References and Further Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
1
I
Volunteer
Introduction
A growing body of international research and business literature has been turning up direc