Visit.org’s Impact Investment Value
How Visit.org calculates volunteer hour value, impact investment, and its methodology.
At Visit.org, we calculate the value of volunteer time using data from Independent Sector, a leading organization for nonprofits and their leaders. In partnership with the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute, Independent Sector has worked to quantify the value of volunteer resources by assigning a theoretical hourly wage to each volunteer hour.
According to Independent Sector’s 2024 Value of Volunteer Time report, the dollar value of a volunteer hour in the U.S. is estimated at $33.49, which marks a 5.3% increase from 2022 to 2023. These figures are updated annually to keep them current, and at Visit.org, we adjust our calculations based on the latest data.
How We Calculate Volunteer Investment
To calculate volunteer investment, Visit.org multiplies Independent Sector’s estimated hourly value by the total volunteer hours that are captured by our platform. This allows us to provide an accurate estimate of the impact your volunteers are having.
Independent Sector’s figures are based on the average hourly earnings of private sector workers (excluding those who work on farms or in managerial occupations). his data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through their Current Employment Statistics (CES) database.
To account for variations in cost of living and local labor conditions, Independent Sector multiplies the national value of volunteer time by a state-specific hourly earnings index. This can be found in their Methodology page.
The hourly volunteer rate also includes the “fringe-benefits” of volunteers by factoring in an additional 15.7%. This is because Independent Sector explains that volunteers“can increase the capacity and efficiency of service-providing organizations beyond the value of the work they do, which can help these organizations produce greater value to their communities”.
If you're curious about how we calculate impact investment or need help customizing your impact reports, feel free to reach out to us! You can always contact us at customersuccess@visit.org or connect with your dedicated Customer Success Manager.