Volunteer Program Evaluation

Tip Sheet
Why It's Necessary
Evaluating the Volunteer programming at YouthBuild helps ensure its sustainability. This can be done by
measuring impact, tracking recruitment,and assessing the eectiveness of volunteer training. The information
and feedback taken from volunteer evaluations, ultimately helps YouthBuild serve the community more efficiently
and effectively.

How It's Done

Depending on the department or project,
you can effectively evaluate volunteer
programming in the following ways:

For example, assess how you train volunteers

and examine your recruitment process. Postservice questionnaires for the volunteers are a
great way to get feedback for this type of
evaluation.

1. Process-Based
The Goals-Based method assesses volunteer
programming through the completion of
predetermined goals. The actual results of the
program/project are compared to these goals to
determine successes and areas for growth and
improvement.

2.Goals-Based

3.Outcomes-Based

Outcome-Based Evaluation is data driven.

Tracking systems, such as databases, can be
used to collect data such as recruitment
numbers, volunteer retention, and project
breakdowns.

VISTA Stories of Service

Jordan Hensley
(continued...)

During his service, Jordan

developed a department specific
tracking system that identified
existing and interested
volunteers. This system was able
to provide some valuable
information and feedback around
retention, recruitment and
programmatic need that helped
to sustain volunteer-based
programming at Portland
Youthbuilders.

Helpful Resources
Evaluating your Program (VISTA Campus)http://www.vistacampus.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/44/Evaluating/
TypesofEvaluation.pdf

Soliciting Volunteer Feedbackhttp://www.vistacampus.gov/resources/additional-resources-links-2?id=1987