This data is powerful as one indicator of the community-support of our human-service programs and also as an indicator of social connectedness. 

United Way Worldwide explains the importance of this measure as follows:

Technical Definition

A volunteer is someone who gives time, effort, and talent to a need or cause without profiting monetarily. Examples of volunteer activities in the area of Education include: serving on a United Way community impact committee, serving as a volunteer reader at a summer food program, creating literacy kits, and stuffing backpacks with school supplies for a Stuff the Bus event. Examples of volunteer activities in the area of Financial Stability include:  providing financial coaching or tax preparation, job skills training, and facilitating community conversations about poverty. Finally, examples of volunteer activities in the area of Health include: offering transportation for the elderly to medical appointments; conducting home dental health visits among low-income first-time mothers; making/distributing meals at local day shelters.

Why Is This Indicator Important?

One of the key strategies related to effective community impact or collective impact efforts is community engagement. This involves engaging the community (parents, neighbors, community members) as volunteers to help. Volunteering is also a key component and measurement of community cohesion.

This number will also demonstrate to donors, companies, and other external partners the ability of United Way - and our partner agencies - to engage individuals in a community to support shared goals.