We are delighted to announce the partnership of Giving Ireland (our joint collaboration with Philanthropy Ireland) and TU Dublin. The outcome of this partnership is the creation of a PhD research programme investigating how nonprofits are impacted by the culture of giving and donating in Ireland. This programme, titled: “Sustaining the Nonprofit Economy: An Investigation into Giving Culture and Infrastructure for Charity and Philanthropy in Ireland”, will aim to inform nonprofits and government policy makers to aid decision making. 

“We are delighted to collaborate with TU Dublin on this innovative programme, bringing together the nonprofit sector and academia to identify and explore the most pertinent funding issues faced by the nonprofit sector. How to build resilience and growth in the social economy so it meets the needs of those it was setup to support. What does transformative scale look like and how can this be achieved? I’ll be very interested to read the findings the programme will produce”, said Dennis O’Connor, our CEO. 

 

About Giving Ireland 

Giving Ireland is a collaboration between 2into3 and Philanthropy Ireland. It seeks to provide a platform for the sector that will foster collaboration, provide insights and encourage collective action. The objective of Giving Ireland is to provide insights into charitable giving in Ireland and support informed decision-making.  

 

Outcome of Giving Ireland and TU Dublin Partnership 

As Ireland experiences significant societal change and the operational environment of nonprofits is increasingly complex, the programme combines industry with academia to address several of the nonprofit sector’s pressing issues, namely, how to scale giving to be transformative, how to move into a future/digital society sustainably/supported by giving, and how to harness policy as a tool to enable giving in a way that bests support a resilient/sustainable social economy and meet the needs of its people. 

 Its aim is to empower nonprofits to improve decision making and to invest in giving and fundraising strategies that gain support from key stakeholders (public, colleagues, boards, regulators, politicians and media), and to reduce barriers to scale charitable and philanthropic giving.  

 

Giving Ireland Report 

A key output from this programme will be the publication of the annual ‘Giving Ireland’ report that aims to narrow the gap in knowledge on the sector by providing an analysis of its composition, funding and benchmarked performance. This report delves into the funding of the sector, looking at State, Earned, Investment and Fundraised income and exploring the implications of these trends.  

The insights and data published in the Giving Ireland report will further inform the leadership of the nonprofit sector. In the summer of 2022, TU Dublin started the research for Giving Ireland 2022 report, previous Giving Ireland reports were researched and published as part of a collaboration between 2into3 and Philanthropy Ireland. Both 2into3 and Philanthropy Ireland will continue with their support of the Giving Ireland report publication and distribution. 

 

The Research Partnership 

Dr. Etain Kidney, Head of School, Marketing and Entrepreneurship at TU Dublin said, “This collaboration reflects our commitment in TU Dublin to creating a better future together with our partners. We want to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues, using research and education to drive of social change. Our partnership with 2into3 and Philanthropy Ireland will uncover truths about the unique giving culture here in Ireland and offer insight into how this can be mobilised to benefit those in need”. 

 Éilis Murray, Philanthropy Ireland, Chief Executive Officer said, “We at Philanthropy Ireland are delighted to be involved in this exciting research initiative and we look forward to the insights the findings will bring.  Philanthropy can be a transformative complementary, component of the funding mix, offering the nonprofit sector opportunities for scaling, partnership, and innovation. Data is needed to inform philanthropy, for both funders and grantees. This research initiative is an excellent step in supporting philanthropic activity in Ireland.  

 

Contact Us 

For more information on Giving Ireland or TU Dublin, visit their website.  If you have particular research questions, please contact Dennis O’Connor. 

On the 1st September, we hosted a breakfast event, “Recruitment & Retention Challenges in Nonprofits: Is it just about pay?” which was a fascinating discussion about how nonprofits can ensure that they attract and keep talent.  There’s another interesting element to this discussion, which probably deserves its own event: How to Inspire your Volunteers with your Nonprofit’s Purpose. While interventions in pay and benefits are not relevant to volunteer recruitment and management, its striking how many similarities there are between the demands of today’s paid and unpaid talent.  

 

Volunteering today: still essential, yet evolving 

All of Ireland’s 34,000 nonprofits* rely on volunteers to some degree. All will have Governors, Trustees or Directors that give their time on a sustained basis, over several years, to oversee their organisation and to provide strategic direction. 

For many other organisations, the contribution of volunteers is essential for delivering specific services, or running games, events, fundraisers, shops and even the organisation itself. Ireland’s nonprofit sector is dominated by small organisations: in 2019, 48% reported having fewer than five staff, and 20% have no staff*. For these, volunteers are the organisation’s talent.  

Given the importance of volunteers for effectiveness of the nonprofit sector, its vital that all organisations remain alive to the changes that have occurred over the last decades in volunteer rates and expectations. The implications could be wide ranging and, for some, existential.  

 

1. Purpose and Impact 

 One of the most significant shifts in volunteering in Ireland is related to motivation. Up until the mid-90s, ‘wanting to help’ was the number one driving factor. However, since the late 1990s, that has been vastly overtaken by ‘belief in cause’*. Research during COVID-19, found that the key benefits, felt by the majority of volunteers, were a sense of purpose, belonging and impact. 

 

This shift from altruistic-led to purpose-led volunteering is significant, as it implies that today’s volunteers need to understand how their efforts contribute to positive change. It also implies that without that regular affirmation, the motivation and commitment of your volunteers may be jeopardised. Interestingly, at yesterday’s event we also heard about the importance of purpose, impact and culture to today’s talent – especially graduates. 

Having current and inspiring Mission, Vision and Values statements, and a Strategic Plan to deliver on those, is crucial as they enable all people at all levels of your organisation to understand what change their contribution is helping to deliver.  Make those connections explicit in your volunteer recruitment and support practices. Define your volunteer roles in terms of outcomes, not just tasks.  

If you need to refresh your Mission statement or your Strategic Plan, involve your staff and volunteers; make them feel like they have a genuine stake in the future of your organisation. And as you make progress through your Plan, communicate and recognise the impact that has been made with their support.  

 

2. Flexibility and Capacity 

 ‘A lack of time’ has always been the main barrier cited by those not involved in volunteering*. More recently, this has evolved into volunteers wanting greater flexibility in how they give their time.  

Volunteers increasing want short-term experiences that fit around their lives, as opposed to long-term commitments on a fixed schedule. We’ve even seen the rise of ‘micro-volunteering’ – bite-size, task-based volunteering with minimal commitment and formality – a format most favoured by younger cohorts, and often carried out entirely online*. 

While not all volunteering tasks can be adapted to micro-volunteering, nonprofits do need to find ways to respond to the pull towards flexibilization in order to attract and retain volunteers. Take time to strategically review the services and workstreams that rely on volunteer support, and find opportunities to innovate how they are structured without negatively impacting your service users. How can you build in flexibility into your volunteer programmes?  

And also consider the organisational implications for how you manage a more complex constellation of volunteer relationships – on your team, your service users, and the structures, training and technology that support them. Changes at this scale can take years and significant investment to implement, but may be essential to future-proof your organisation. 

 

3. Diversity and Inclusion 

 Volunteering has long been associated with older and wealthier demographics*. In addition to the points above regarding purpose-driven volunteering and greater flexibility, youth-centred approaches to attracting younger volunteers should seek to address potential obstacles faced by some young people, for instance concerns around transport and expenses*.  

Moreover, younger people don’t represent the only demographic in which there are higher barriers to volunteer participation. Like your workforce, organisations should aim for their volunteers to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.  

Being more inclusive takes thought and investment – but it’s worth it. Consider how and where you advertise volunteer opportunities. If you are looking to target a specific demography, take time to understand them, what motivates them, and to build relationships. Tailor your volunteer programmes and communications, and consider how to use peer-to-peer or buddy systems to support inclusion*.  

If you are looking to diversify your Board room, do not take for granted what additional supports might need to be put in place to ensure meaningful participation. For instance, first-time Trustees and Directors; people with employment, caring or academic responsibilities; or those with special access needs might require training, mentoring, logistical support, or time accommodations. Equally, be mindful that the culture and practices of your Board or wider organisation might need to adapt in order to be actively inclusive. Token representation serves nobody.  

 

Conclusion 

The We Act campaign (coordinated by The Wheel) is a brilliant illustration of the power of people in contributing to a better society. Whether paid or unpaid, everyone involved in nonprofits plays an important role. However, the way people work and volunteer their time has changed, and all organisations should be thinking strategically about how to recruit, retain and recognise the impact of all talent – including volunteers.   

If you would like to discuss any of topics mentioned in this article, please feel free to contact Luna Atkins, our Head of the Strategy Advisory Practice on (021) 237 9838.

Considering relooking at your Strategic Plan or Mission, Vision & Values? Here is more info on our Strategy Advisory Practice.

 

 

Footnotes

1 https://benefactslegacy.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/benefacts-nonprofit-sector-analysis-2021.pdf  

2 https://givingireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Giving-Ireland-2021-Report.pdf     

3 https://assets.gov.ie/5587/150119115733-35c3c63a13d248ada01a713955efae4e.pdf  

4 https://assets.gov.ie/5587/150119115733-35c3c63a13d248ada01a713955efae4e.pdf  

5 https://blogs.ncvo.org.uk/2015/09/28/micro-volunteering-might-be-small-but-its-got-big-potential/  

6 https://assets.gov.ie/5587/150119115733-35c3c63a13d248ada01a713955efae4e.pdf  

7 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1094203/Volunteering_Journeys_-_accessible.pdf  

8 https://www.volunteer.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/InclusiveVolunteeringFinalFeb2022.pdf 

We are delighted to announce that we are supporting The Wheel’s Annual Summit as Lead Partner for the next three years. The Wheel’s Summit is this year’s largest gathering for charities, community organisations and social enterprises. 

We are particularly looking forward to reconnecting with the wider nonprofit sector after the past two years. With the opportunity of an in-person event, we can share our learnings and look forward to a brighter future within the nonprofit sector. 

Our CEO, Dennis O’Connor, said: “We are delighted to partner with The Wheel for the next three Summit annual events. By bringing together the sector to discuss key topics and facilitating solution-based discussions, The Wheel’s Summit is critical in shaping the future of the sector. Here at 2into3, we understand how important a strong third sector is for society in Ireland. We work with our clients to build the capacity of their organisations so that they can have a transformative social impact.” 

Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel added: “2into3’s deep knowledge of the sector and extensive experience will further enhance The Summit. We look forward to working with them to develop the Summit as a world-class event”. 

 

About The Wheel’s Summit 

The Wheel’s 2022 Summit is taking place in Croke Park on 1st June 2022 with: 

• 15 top speakers,  
• Debates and in-depth discussions 
• Practical training sessions in Governance, HR, Funding and EU partnerships 
• Over 30 exhibitors 
• Invaluable networking opportunities 
• A celebration of our sector’s impact 
• A special address by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. 

 

Dennis will be speaking at the plenary session – ‘Reflections on leadership challenges facing the sector’. Patricia Keenan – Head of Grants Advisory Practice, Rob Foley – Head of Fundraising Advisory Practice, will join the panel on ‘Future Funding: The Opportunities and Challenges Ahead.’ Luna Atkins – Head of Strategy Advisory Practice, will be a panellist on ‘Boards Behaving Badly’ session. 

Further information on the programme of events 

 

More information 

Register to The Wheel’s Summit on Wednesday 1st June 2022. For full programme and breakdown of speakers, visit here.