Nearly 55,000 people volunteer each year in the Springfield area, producing an economic impact of $43.5 million, according to a study released this morning by Drury University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership.
That boils down to $185,000 in annual savings per organization with formal volunteers rather than paid staff for certain services, according to the 30-page report. The study, led by center Director Dan Prater, examined volunteer efforts in Greene and Christian counties.
While lofty, the first statistics of its kind also revealed shortcomings of volunteerism.
“We found out there is a critical shortage of volunteers in the Springfield area,” Prater said.
Representatives of organizations surveyed say unmet volunteer needs would require another 7,800 people actively giving their time and talents. The study also determined a low rate of volunteerism among minorities. Only 6 percent of volunteers surveyed identified as African American, Asian, Hispanic or other ethnicities.
“That’s troubling for a community that is trying to become diverse. Most of the opportunities are a square peg and the peg is Caucasian with education,” Prater said, making another correlation to higher education among typical volunteers.
The persona of the Springfield-area volunteer is a well-educated female over 40 years old with annual income above $50,000.
Other key findings on area volunteers:
• They perform 155,000 hours of service per month.
• Individuals serve 96 hours per year on average.
• Over 90 percent donated money to a charity within the past year.
• Over 37 percent of volunteers have a college degree.
Prater said the study cost $10,000 to produce. The work was underwritten by BKD LLP, Great Southern Bank, Community Foundation of the Ozarks, The UPS Store-Springfield and Ramada Plaza Hotel & Oasis Convention Center.
The volunteerism study is Drury center’s second in as many years. Two years ago, Prater led a comprehensive study to develop the
2014 Nonprofit Impact Report.
Springfield Business Journal published a series of stories unpacking the results. Read those below.
