Innovative Services and Voluntary Organizations Laura Ryser and Greg Halseth Rural and Small Town Studies University of Northern British Columbia April 2004

Impacts of Changes to Services Global economic restructuring Global economic restructuring  Single-sector dependency  Economic vulnerability Population change Population change Displaced workers Displaced workers  Demand for social and health services, education, and retraining During restructuring, services are being withdrawn During restructuring, services are being withdrawn

Role of Innovative Services & Voluntary Organizations I Social cohesion: Social cohesion:  Opportunities for social interaction  Volunteer fire department, recreational groups, post offices.  Residents use ‘well-worn’ pathways  Trust & confidence is built with local groups and leaders

Role of Innovative Services & Voluntary Organizations II Social Capital: Social Capital:  Trust & relationships mobilized into action:  Localized capital:  Constrained by place  Examples: recreation leagues & social clubs  Bridged capital:  Not constrained by place  Networks of support, information, & resources  Examples: international services clubs

Methodology I Innovative and Voluntary Sector Survey 2003: Innovative and Voluntary Sector Survey 2003:  4 NRE Sites:  Mackenzie, BC  Wood River, SK  Tweed, ON  Springhill, NS  41 interviews

Methodology II Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey - background information - structure - org. demographics - targeted clientele - logistical operations - changes to services - networks & relationships- community action - funding - organizational profile - use of technology - interviewee information Stage 1 - Characterize organizations & stresses

Classification of Services & Voluntary Groups Strictly voluntary: Strictly voluntary:  no paid staff, office space, or gov’t funding, limited resources Mixed voluntary & paid: Mixed voluntary & paid:  Vol. & part-time staff, gov’t funding, and part- time office space Strictly paid: Strictly paid:  Full-time staff & office space, voluntary board of directors Non-voluntary: Non-voluntary:  all other organizations (Sullivan and Halseth 2004)

Structure I Table 1: Org. Characteristics - % Response MackWRTwdSpr.Total Strictly Vol Mix Vol. & Pd Strictly Paid Not Voluntary n=11n=10 n=10n=10n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Structure II Table 2: Sources of Funding - % ResponseStrictlyMixed Strictly NotTotal Vol.Vol & Pd Paid Vol. Voluntary Private donations Corp. donations Federal grants Prov. grants Municipal grants Membership fees Revenue - service Comm. fundraising n=18n=7 n=7 n=9n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Services Provided Table 3: Does Your Organization Offer / Deliver Services to People - % Resp. MackWRTwd SprgTotal Yes No n=11n=10n=10 n=10n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Geographical Reach Table 4: Geographical Reach of Services - % Response MackWRTwdSprgTotal Site only Immediate surrounding Widely beyond Other n=11n=9 n=10n=10n=40 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003

Contribution to Well-Being Table 5: Contribution to Well Being - % ResponseMack WR Twd SprgTotal None Below Average Above Major n=11 n=10 n=10 n=10 n=41 n=11 n=10 n=10 n=10 n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Challenges: Support Table 6: Supportive challenges facing your organization? - % ResponseStrictlyMix Vol. StrictNon Total Vol.& Paid PaidVol. No funding Gov’t Cutbacks Bldg deterioration Lack meeting space Lack of local support Few partners / outside networks networks Communication problem n=11-18n=4-7n=6-7n=4-9n=25-41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Organizational Challenges Table 7: What are the org. challenges facing your organization? - % ResponseStrictlyMix VolStrictlyNon Total Vol.& PaidPaidVol. Lack of members Little participation by members by members Declining enrolments Difficulty getting staff Ambitious objectives Lack of new leadership Need to revisit objectives Psychological burnout Volunteer burnout Out-migration n=11-18n=4-7n=6-7n=4-9n=25-41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Partnerships Table 8: Partnerships with volunteer groups, businesses, institutions, government orgs? - % ResponseStrictly Mix Vol. StrictlyNon Total Vol. & Paid PaidVol. Outside site Within site n=18 n=7 n=7n=8n=40 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003

Communications & Technology I Table 9: How does your organization communicate with clients? % ResponseStrictlyMixed Vol. StrictlyNon Total Vol.& Paid PaidVol. Newsletter Website Word of mouth Personal contact Posting notices Brochures Reports Stories in media Advertise-media Telephone n=18n=7 n=7n=9n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Communications & Technology II Table 10: How does your organization communicate with funders? % ResponseStrictlyMixed Vol. StrictlyNon Total Vol.& Paid PaidVol. Newsletter Website Word of mouth Personal contact Posting notices Brochures Reports Stories in media Advertise-media Telephone n=18n=7 n=7n=9n=41 n=18n=7 n=7n=9n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

Adopting New Technology Table 11: Importance on Adopting New Technologies? % ResponseStrict Mix Vol. StrictNon- Total Vol. & Paid PaidVol. Develop products & services & services Use new equipment Meet client needs Recruit staff & vol Develop expertise Develop training n=6-10 n=6-7 n=4-6n=4-9n=24-32 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey Rank: 1=Very Important - 5=Not Very Important

The Internet Table 12: Has the Internet been important to improve access to the following? % ResponseStrictMixStrictNon- Total Vol.Vol.PaidVol. & Pd. Information (gen.) Government info Relations in town Relations outside town n=8-11n=4-6n=6n=5-7n=23-30 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey Rank: 1=Very Important - 5=Not Very Important

Discussion I Challenges for innovative & voluntary organizations: Challenges for innovative & voluntary organizations:  Government cutbacks  limited funding  limited members  burnout

Discussion II Strictly voluntary: Strictly voluntary:  Limited sources of funding  Simplified forms of communication tools  Less emphasis on new technology Mixed voluntary & paid: Mixed voluntary & paid:  Widest range of funding sources  Partnerships outside of the sites  Widest range of communication tools

Discussion III Strictly Paid: Strictly Paid:  Corporate, private, and community funds  Key challenges: gov’t cutbacks and limited partnerships  Highest use of websites & Non-Voluntary: Non-Voluntary:  Revenue from services / products  Simple communication tools for members & funders  Websites used to communicate with clients  Adopting new technology important

Next Steps Monitoring Change Monitoring Change Links to Social Capital & Social Cohesion Links to Social Capital & Social Cohesion