Engaging Boomer and Senior Volunteers Presenter Deborah Pike

Engaging Boomer and Senior Volunteers Presenter: Deborah Pike

Contents Trends in Volunteer Engagement Characteristics of Boomers & Seniors Recruiting Strategies & Challenges Volunteer Recognition Recent Research Resources and Questions VOLUNTEER CANADA

About Volunteer Canada is the national voice for volunteerism in Canada. Since 1977, we have been committed to increasing and supporting volunteerism and civic participation. We collaborate closely with volunteer centres, local organizations and national corporations to promote and broaden volunteering. Our programs, research, training, tools, resources and national initiatives provide leadership on issues and trends in Canada’s volunteer landscape. Our Vision Involved Canadians build strong and connected communities to create a vibrant Canada Our Mission To provide national leadership and expertise on volunteerism to increase the participation, quality, and diversity of volunteer experiences VOLUNTEER CANADA

About Volunteer Canada 4 Strategic Priorities • Strengthen the relationships among local volunteer centres and between volunteer centres and Volunteer Canada. • Identify, generate, and mobilize knowledge about volunteer engagement. • Customize outreach and communications to the key players in volunteer engagement. • Elevate policy dialogue on volunteerism. VOLUNTEER CANADA

Trends in Volunteer Engagement 12. 7 million Canadians collectively volunteer more than 2 billion hours each year BUT… the results from the 2013 Canadian General Social Survey of Giving, Participating and Volunteering show a drop from the 13. 3 million volunteers in 2010 VOLUNTEER CANADA

Trends in Volunteer Engagement Volunteer rate, average annual volunteer hours, number of volunteers, donor rate, average annual amount per donor and total amount of donations, Canadian aged 15 and older, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013 1997 2000 2004 2007 2010 2013 Volunteer Rate (%) 31. 4 26. 7 45 46 47 44 Average annual volunteer hours (hours) 149 162 168 166 154 Number of volunteers (thousands) 7, 472 6, 513 11, 809 12, 478 13, 282 12, 716 Donor rate (%) 78 78 85 84 84 82 Average annual amount per donor ($) 239 259 400 457 446 531 Total amount of donations (thousands of $) 4, 435, 100 4, 938, 800 8, 882, 312 10, 429, 330 10, 609, 533 12, 763, 566 Sources: Statistics Canada, Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013 VOLUNTEER CANADA

Trends in Volunteer Engagement Key Highlights VOLUNTEER CANADA

Trends in Volunteer Engagement Volunteer Rates by Province Total 15 -24 25 -34 35 -44 45 -54 55 -64 65 -74 75+ NFLD PEI NS 46. 4% 66. 7% 41. 7% 49. 2% 51. 8% 39% 37% 22. 6% 50. 4% 55% 37. 5% 55. 6% 52. 2% 42. 9% 64. 3% 30% 50. 9% 72% 47. 8% 62. 1% 54. 8% 39. 6% 41. 2% 28. 4% NB 40. 6% 55. 6% 36. 7% 41. 9% 42. 2% 33. 6% 40. 8% 32. 1% 40. 1% 34. 4% 38. 7% 31. 3% 27. 1% 26. 3% 19. 8% 44. 3% 55. 9% 41. 4% 45. 5% 45. 9% 43. 6% 40. 1% 27. 1% 52% 61. 7% 52% 54. 7% 49. 4% 44. 4% 43. 6% 56. 2% 61. 6% 54. 4% 66. 2% 53. 7% 54. 8% 53. 7% 38. 6% 50. 1% 56. 3% 43% 56. 7% 58. 1% 46. 3% 42. 9% 31. 1% 49. 1% 53. 6% 50. 5% 53. 1% 52. 1% 48. 4% 45. 3% 30. 9% QC ON MB SK AB BC VOLUNTEER CANADA

Trends in Volunteer Engagement Bridging the Gap identified the following gaps: • Many people are looking for group activities but few organizations have the capacity to offer them; • many people come with professional skills but many professionals are looking for volunteer tasks that involve something different from their work life; VOLUNTEER CANADA

Trends in Volunteer Engagement Bridging the Gap identified the following gaps: • organizations expected to clearly define the roles and boundaries of volunteers but many volunteers want flexibility to create their own volunteer opportunity; • many organizations still want long-term commitment but many more volunteers are looking for shorter-term opportunities; and • many organizations focus on what they need but besides helping others, many volunteers come with their own goals to be met. For more on Bridging the Gap, see https: //volunteer. ca/content/bridging-gap-summary-report VOLUNTEER CANADA

Discussion Question • Which trends are you seeing in your organization? • How have you or could you adapt? VOLUNTEER CANADA

Canada has a wealth of boomers – foot soldiers of social change. They bring skill sets not being properly harvested; instead they are disappearing on golf courses. ” « Le Canada comprend un grand nombre de baby-boomers, véritables vecteurs de changement social. Ils possèdent des compétences dont on ne tire pas suffisamment parti et finissent par disparaître de l’espace public pour s’adonner au golf. » VOLUNTEER CANADA

Who are the Boomers • Boomers were born 1946 - 1964, and account for close to one-third of Canada’s population • During 1946 -1964, a total of 7, 735, 986 births in Canada • One baby born every 73 seconds during baby boom VOLUNTEER CANADA

Boomer Statistics • 62% of boomers have held down two jobs at same time • Majority of boomers are employees (76%) and work full time • 25% have one or more parents that need their assistance on a regular basis • 47% say their biggest problem is not having enough time VOLUNTEER CANADA

Boomer Statistics • 60% of boomers have gone to see a movie alone • Their number one “want” was ‘Freedom’ • 60% indicate they were financially self supporting by age 20 • 25% have considered running for political office • 80%+ use Internet, 88+% communicate through email VOLUNTEER CANADA

Boomer Characteristics • Culturally Diverse • Over Achievers • Technologically Confident • Consumers • Sandwich Generation • Selective about how time is spent VOLUNTEER CANADA

Motivations for older volunteers • Making a contribution to the community • Use skills/experience • Personally affected by cause • Friends volunteer • Make new people / network VOLUNTEER CANADA

Barriers for older volunteers • Not enough time • Inability to make a long-term commitment • No one asked me VOLUNTEER CANADA

Motivations for volunteering change with life circumstances WORK: link between age and retirement eroding, as majority of people in their late 50’s still working; phased-in retirement plans PARENTING: caring for aging parents while supporting children RELATIONSHIPS: Some boomers looking to volunteer with partner during retirement, others adjusting to recent divorce or loss and seeking opportunity to make social connections VOLUNTEER CANADA

Recruiting Boomer Volunteers What are your organization’s biggest challenges related to engaging this group? What has been a surprise about this group? VOLUNTEER CANADA

Recruiting Boomer Volunteers What are boomer volunteers’ comments/ challenges related to volunteering? VOLUNTEER CANADA

Recruiting Boomer Volunteers “I’ll do anything just don’t ask me to go to a meeting!” “ I know you need help with telephoning for the event, but I would rather help you update your website” “Will I receive training for my role? ” “But I’m an accountant all day…” “Did we really make that happen? ” VOLUNTEER CANADA

Considerations for Organizations • Target your recruitment strategies, inclusive and accessible • Use multi-channel promotion: use all networks (technology and people) • Be flexible: balance needs of org with those of volunteer • Develop flexible roles when possible (virtual, buddy system, short term, seasonal, group) • Get to know your volunteers: match volunteer skills and needs • Be clear and realistic • Be organized but not too bureaucratic • Demonstrate and share impact VOLUNTEER CANADA

Recruiting Boomer Volunteers Target your messaging: • Health and well being • A schedule that works for you • Commitment to a cause • Social networking • Making a difference • Applying skills and learning new ones VOLUNTEER CANADA

Volunteering as part of retirement planning • Identify how volunteering can fit into lifecycle transitions and retirement planning; • Explore the various types of volunteering available; and • Discover a volunteering opportunity that fits with your motivations and life circumstances. VOLUNTEER CANADA

Senior Volunteers • Today’s senior volunteers more hours per year than other age groups • Senior volunteers are loyal to the organizations and causes they believe in • Seniors’ primary reason for volunteering is to contribute to the community • The second motivator for volunteering is for social reasons VOLUNTEER CANADA

Senior Volunteering • Some seniors may have barriers to volunteering that need to be addressed including transportation, accessibility, costs, culture and language • Seniors are not a homogenous group and we cannot make assumptions VOLUNTEER CANADA

Senior Volunteering • Seniors have a lot to contribute to the community in terms of experience and skills and promoting this can contribute to positive images of aging • Volunteering promotes healthy aging • Volunteer-involving organizations are worried about succession planning and engaging the next generation of seniors VOLUNTEER CANADA

Summary Volunteering may be influenced by: • Personal circumstances • Family traditions • Historical context • Stage in life • Personality and personal values • Life experience, skills, and interests • What we care about VOLUNTEER CANADA

Volunteer Recognition 2013 Volunteer Recognition Study Top two ways volunteers want to be recognized • 80% would like to hear how their contribution has made a difference • Close to 70% would like to be thanked in person on an ongoing, informal basis Least preferred ways volunteers want to be recognized • Volunteers’ least preferred forms of recognition include banquets, formal gatherings, and public acknowledgment in newspapers, radio or television. Interestingly, these methods are common forms of recognition for many organizations, with 60% citing banquets and formal gatherings and 50% using public acknowledgement as part of their recognition strategies. VOLUNTEER CANADA “For me, an authentic personal thanks means more than anything else. ”

Volunteer Recognition ‘Recognizing’ Volunteering in 2017 Putting Values into Action Individual social responsibility: putting values into action, connecting and contributing to community, all forms of engagement for social good, ranging from formal volunteering through organizational structures to the new actions. VOLUNTEER CANADA

Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) Definition of volunteering is expanding around the globe to include informal volunteering and organic movements Researchers including informal volunteering in studies about volunteering (Statistics Canada plans to develop an informal volunteering module for the 2018 General Social Survey: Giving, Volunteering and Participating) Informal volunteering appears to be increasing and may partly explain why formal volunteering rates have dropped Canadians identify a wide range of activities and decisions to express their values and contribute to community which include formal volunteering, informal volunteering, and ISR VOLUNTEER CANADA

What could this mean for organizations? There may be Opportunities to provide tools and other support to promote informal volunteering and ISR. Broader volunteer recognition ought to include expressing appreciation and raising awareness about the contributions Canadians make through informal volunteering and ISR more broadly. VOLUNTEER CANADA

Spectrum of Volunteer Engagement VOLUNTEER CANADA

Discussion Question What are the implications for the future of volunteering / your organization if more people are engaging in their communities, outside of traditional structures of programs and organizations? VOLUNTEER CANADA

The Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement (CCVI) 2017 Update Elements: • The value of volunteer involvement; • guiding principles that frame the relationship between the volunteer and non-profit organization; and • standards of practice for volunteer involvement VOLUNTEER CANADA

Volunteer Management Handbook A Resource for Service-Providing Organizations Assisting Newcomers to Canada Purpose This handbook was developed by Volunteer • Provides a general overview of volunteer management Canada and the Volunteer Action Centre of process with focus on supporting newcomers Kitchener-Waterloo and Area for the Horizontal • Includes links to useful tools, resources and templates to Policy and Program Division within the Integrationhelp develop and implement these practices in your Foreign Credentials Referral Office (I-FCRO) at organization Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). • Can be used as a road map to create or update policies, procedures and practices to fit your organization. VOLUNTEER CANADA

The Canadian Code for Employer-Supported Volunteering Elements • The Value of ESV • Guiding Principles • Standards of Practice The Canadian Code for Employer-Supported Volunteering encourages organizations and businesses start meaningful conversations and relationships and helps build parallel capacity between them. For more information: https: //volunteer. ca/esv VOLUNTEER CANADA

For More Information… Online Resources: www. volunteer. ca www. benevoles. ca Contact: pspeevak@volunteer. ca Thank you! VOLUNTEER CANADA