Why the Value of Volunteer Time Matters to Nonprofits

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The value of volunteer time helps nonprofits communicate an important part of their impact that can be difficult to see.

Volunteers make programs possible and help organizations extend their reach. Yet nonprofit leaders do not always have a clear way to explain the significance of that support to donors, funders or board members.

Independent Sector’s 2026 Value of Volunteer Time Report offers a useful benchmark.

The report estimates that each volunteer hour contributed in the United States during 2025 was worth $36.14. In Florida, the estimated value was $34.88 per hour. The figures are based on preliminary wage data and may be updated after final federal data become available.

Value of Volunteer Time: Giving Volunteer Hours More Context

Volunteer hours can feel abstract when they are reported only as a number.

Applying the national or state estimate gives nonprofits another way to show the scale of that contribution. An organization can pair the estimated value with information about what volunteers helped accomplish, such as expanding a program or serving more people.

This context can strengthen an annual report or grant proposal. It can also help organizational leaders explain how volunteer service extends the nonprofit’s capacity beyond what its operating budget might suggest.

Supporting Fundraising and Grant Communications

Funders want to understand how a nonprofit uses the resources available to it.

The estimated value of volunteer time can show that an organization has meaningful community support and is able to engage people in advancing its mission. Independent Sector notes that nonprofits frequently use the estimate to demonstrate the return on investment associated with volunteer engagement.

The figure should not stand alone. Its value comes from connecting volunteer contributions to a clear outcome.

For example, a nonprofit might explain that volunteer support allowed staff to expand services without adding the equivalent cost of paid labor. That gives funders a fuller view of the organization’s reach and resourcefulness.

Recognizing the People Behind the Hours

The report also gives nonprofits another way to recognize volunteers.

An appreciation message can share the number of hours contributed and explain what those hours made possible. Including the estimated financial value can further demonstrate the significance of that commitment.

Of course, a dollar figure cannot fully capture a volunteer’s time or personal connection to a mission. Independent Sector describes the estimate as one way to acknowledge volunteer contributions rather than a complete measure of their worth.

Using the Estimate Responsibly

The national and state estimates represent the general value of an hour of volunteer service. They are not designed to calculate the exact market rate of specialized professional work.

Independent Sector bases the estimate on average private-sector earnings and includes an adjustment for applicable fringe benefits. Its Value of Volunteer Time methodology explains how the national and state figures are calculated.

Nonprofits should describe the figure as the estimated value of contributed volunteer time, not as revenue received by the organization.

There are also separate accounting requirements for including contributed services in financial statements. Organizations considering that use should consult an accounting professional.

Turning Data Into a Stronger Nonprofit Story

Reports like this are valuable because they help nonprofits communicate a more complete picture of their work.

The number itself is not the full story. Strong communications connect volunteer hours to the people served or the work completed because volunteers were involved.

At Madeira Public Relations, we help nonprofit clients identify credible research and determine how it can support their communications goals. We also help organizations turn data into clear messages that show why their work matters.

Used thoughtfully, the Value of Volunteer Time Report can help nonprofits recognize their volunteers while giving supporters a better understanding of what their service makes possible.