--- title: "Independent Sector: How Much Is Your Volunteering Time Worth?" id: "16703" type: "post" slug: "independent-sector-how-much-is-your-volunteering-time-worth" published_at: "2013-04-03T19:19:06+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T19:58:00+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/04/03/independent-sector-how-much-is-your-volunteering-time-worth/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/04/03/independent-sector-how-much-is-your-volunteering-time-worth.md" excerpt: "According to Independent Sector, an hour of volunteer time was worth $22.14 in 2012. Harder to quantify is the reason people decide to volunteer." taxonomy_category: - "Fundraising" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Fundraising" - "nonprofit" - "volunteering" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Independent Sector: How Much Is Your Volunteering Time Worth? Just in time for National Volunteer Week, April 21-27, [Independent Sector released (opens in a new tab)](http://www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time) its 2012 estimate of the value of volunteer time. > Volunteers continue to be vitally important to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in this country. Last year saw a 35-cent increase to $22.14 an hour compared to 2011. The estimate is based on yearly earnings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for all non-management, non-agricultural workers. Independent Sector, a coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate-giving programs, also estimated the value of volunteer time by state in 2011. Washington, DC, ranked highest at $34.04, followed by New York ($28.73), Connecticut ($28.26), and Massachusetts ($27.43). “Volunteers continue to be vitally important to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in this country,” Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector, said in a statement. “The value of volunteer time is a reminder of the immense contributions of volunteers to our organizations and our communities.” The dollar estimation of volunteer time is only one way to capture the value of volunteer time, Independent Sector acknowledged. And it’s a difficult concept to monetize because of the myriad ways volunteers contribute that are not always quantifiable. Also hard to calculate is why people decide to volunteer. In a 2008 survey of more than 26,000 individuals, [ASAE’s The Decision to Volunteer (opens in a new tab)](https://mystuff.asaecenter.org/ebusiness/publications/publicationproduct?id=104471&CSURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.asaecenter.org%2FSearch%2Fsearch.cfm%3FQuery%3Dthe%2Bdecision%2Bto%2Bvolunteer%26x%3D0%26y%3D0) found that “values drive volunteer choices.” This is also true for association volunteers, who are interested in volunteering “for reasons bigger than themselves, especially to build a stronger profession,” according to the study. Other significant findings from *The Decision to Volunteer*: - The best way to keep volunteers coming back was to provide them with a meaningful experience in which they feel effective in what they are doing for the organization. - The most influential recruitment method was the direct ask, so organizations should approach potential volunteers directly. - The number-one reason people gave for not volunteering was a lack of information about possible volunteer options, so communication about opportunities is critical. (iStockphoto/Thinkstock) [Katie Bascuas](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Katie Bascuas is a former associate editor at Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Fundraising](https://associationsnow.com/tag/fundraising/) [#nonprofit](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nonprofit/) [#volunteering](https://associationsnow.com/tag/volunteering/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: Florida Association of Free and Charitable ClinicsOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-florida-association-of-free-and-charitable-clinics/) - [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los AngelesOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-building-owners-and-managers-association-of-greater-los-angeles/) - [VideoA Donor First Look, “Unlocking Legacy: Estate Planning Essentials for Association ProfessionalsJanuary 7, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/01/07/a-donor-first-look-unlocking-legacy-estate-planning-essentials-for-association-professionals/) - [VideoWhy We Donate to ASAE Research FoundationNovember 30, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/11/30/why-we-donate-to-asae-research-foundation/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F04%2F03%2Findependent-sector-how-much-is-your-volunteering-time-worth%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !