Programs vs. Events
All philanthropy is worthwhile. But there are differences that should be understood when planning these for your team. Some of the more notable factors depend on whether the activity is a one-off or part of an ongoing program.
Programs vs. Events
All philanthropy is worthwhile. But there are differences that should be understood when planning these for your team. Some of the more notable factors depend on whether the activity is a one-off or part of an ongoing program.
TLDR; Summary
• Organizing volunteer programs with repeat activities can yield
a number of advantages
• Repeat events allow for
enriching relationships
to develop between volunteers and the charity
• Planning volunteer events take lots of time, programs
maximize the returns of that effort
• Ongoing support is much more likely to yield
genuine impact for the charity
• Extended commitments can motivate the charity to customize the activity for your team
TLDR; Summary
• Organizing volunteer programs with repeat activities can yield
a number of advantages
• Repeat events allow for
enriching relationships
to develop between volunteers and the charity
• Planning volunteer events take lots of time, programs maximize the returns of that effort
• Ongoing support is much more likely to yield genuine impact for the charity
• Extended commitments can motivate the charity to customize the activity for your team
Depth of Experience
With single events there is a limit to the depth of connection that results from the activity. This is not to say they are bad, just that there is an additional layer of fulfillment is available if the event is part of an ongoing program. This is a function not only of the increase in time, but also the more open attitude that people have when they know that they will be working together again in the future.
Efficiency & Value
Philanthropy events take a long time to plan, with many complex variables that need to be taken into account. Plus, the good opportunities are becoming more scarce with the recent trend towards CSR & ESG — making things even harder. And this time and effort only goes up with more specific objectives and standards.
From the company's perspective, the cost of this labor can add up over time. But with a volunteer program the ROI from this effort is much higher. Not only alleviate the continual search & planning cycle, but reducing the amount of training participants need for each event.
Impact
Impact is often gauged in hours. But for charities, the net impact must also factor in a number of other factors, including the concept development, search for volunteers, event logistics, volunteer training and supervision. Plus, there are opportunity costs related to the time spent. In many cases this trade off is a wash, or even a net negative. This is a large reason why volunteer opportunities are not as abundant as one would think (and why many charities charge volunteers to participate).
But when a group of volunteers takes on a given task consistently over time, even a small one, it allows the charity to receive the support with much less overhead. In addition to the direct support, this opens up new doors in terms of what additional things the charity can focus on.
Customization
With many one-off events, the activity is pre-planned and your team simply fills a slot. This is a logistical necessity seeing as higher levels of curation simply cannot be repeated for every group.
But with an ongoing program, it's different. Tailoring the event to the participants becomes a valid investment that can increase the quality, efficiency and longevity of the program. This in turn positively affects the overall outcomes.
Depth of Experience
With single events there is a limit to the depth of connection that results from the activity. This is not to say they are bad, just that there is an additional layer of fulfillment is available if the event is part of an ongoing program. This is a function not only of the increase in time, but also the more open attitude that people have when they know that they will be working together again in the future.
Efficiency & Value
Philanthropy events take a long time to plan, with many complex variables that need to be taken into account. Plus, the good opportunities are becoming more scarce with the recent trend towards CSR & ESG — making things even harder. And this time and effort only goes up with more specific objectives and standards.
From the company's perspective, the cost of this labor can add up over time. But with a volunteer program the ROI from this effort is much higher. Not only alleviate the continual search & planning cycle, but reducing the amount of training participants need for each event.
Impact
Impact is often gauged in hours. But for charities, the net impact must also factor in a number of other factors, including the concept development, search for volunteers, event logistics, volunteer training and supervision. Plus, there are opportunity costs related to the time spent. In many cases this trade off is a wash, or even a net negative. This is a large reason why volunteer opportunities are not as abundant as one would think (and why many charities charge volunteers to participate).
But when a group of volunteers takes on a given task consistently over time, even a small one, it allows the charity to receive the support with much less overhead. In addition to the direct support, this opens up new doors in terms of what additional things the charity can focus on.
Customization
With many one-off events, the activity is pre-planned and your team simply fills a slot. This is a logistical necessity seeing as higher levels of curation simply cannot be repeated for every group.
But with an ongoing program, it's different. Tailoring the event to the participants becomes a valid investment that can increase the quality, efficiency and longevity of the program. This in turn positively affects the overall outcomes.
