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

2. 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workers  Demand for social and health services, education, and retraining During restructuring, services are being withdrawn During restructuring, services are being withdrawn

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. Structure I Table 1: Org. Characteristics - % Response MackWRTwdSpr.Total Strictly Vol. 18.250.040.070.043.9 Mix Vol. & Pd 9.10.050.010.017.1 Strictly Paid 36.410.00.020.017.1 Not Voluntary36.440.010.00.022.0 n=11n=10 n=10n=10n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

9. Structure II Table 2: Sources of Funding - % ResponseStrictlyMixed Strictly NotTotal Vol.Vol & Pd Paid Vol. Voluntary Private donations50.085.7 40.0 33.352.8 Corp. donations16.757.1 40.0 16.727.8 Federal grants5.671.4 40.0 0.022.9 Prov. grants17.657.1 25.0 16.726.5 Municipal grants11.133.3 20.0 0.014.7 Membership fees55.642.9 33.3 14.342.1 Revenue - service27.871.4 0.0 71.439.5 Comm. fundraising61.171.4 60.0 33.358.3 n=18n=7 n=7 n=9n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

10. Services Provided Table 3: Does Your Organization Offer / Deliver Services to People - % Resp. MackWRTwd SprgTotal Yes 90.970.0100 10090.2 No 10.130.00.0 0.09.8 n=11n=10n=10 n=10n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

11. Geographical Reach Table 4: Geographical Reach of Services - % Response MackWRTwdSprgTotal Site only27.3 22.210.020.020.0 Immediate 54.5 22.230.060.042.5 surrounding Widely 18.2 44.440.020.030.0 beyond Other0.011.120.00.07.5 n=11n=9 n=10n=10n=40 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003

12. Contribution to Well-Being Table 5: Contribution to Well Being - % ResponseMack WR Twd SprgTotal None 0.0 20.0 0.0 0.04.9 Below 9.1 0.0 0.0 0.02.4 Average 27.3 20.0 30.0 0.019.5 Above18.2 10.0 30.0 50.026.8 Major 45.5 50.0 40.0 50.046.3 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.

13. Challenges: Support Table 6: Supportive challenges facing your organization? - % ResponseStrictlyMix Vol. StrictNon Total Vol.& Paid PaidVol. No funding38.942.9 28.622.234.1 Gov’t Cutbacks36.450.0 66.750.048.0 Bldg deterioration0.00.0 16.750.011.5 Lack meeting space5.60.0 14.322.29.8 Lack of local support22.228.6 14.30.017.1 Few partners / outside22.228.6 42.911.124.4 networks networks Communication problem5.614.3 28.622.214.6 n=11-18n=4-7n=6-7n=4-9n=25-41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

14. Organizational Challenges Table 7: What are the org. challenges facing your organization? - % ResponseStrictlyMix VolStrictlyNon Total Vol.& PaidPaidVol. Lack of members76.542.928.622.250.0 Little participation27.80.028.622.222.0 by members by members Declining enrolments18.220.016.725.019.2 Difficulty getting staff0.020.016.750.015.4 Ambitious objectives 5.60.042.933.317.1 Lack of new leadership27.80.00.011.114.6 Need to revisit objectives0.028.628.622.214.6 Psychological burnout38.957.142.933.341.5 Volunteer burnout38.942.942.911.134.1 Out-migration18.220.033.375.030.8 n=11-18n=4-7n=6-7n=4-9n=25-41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

15. Partnerships Table 8: Partnerships with volunteer groups, businesses, institutions, government orgs? - % ResponseStrictly Mix Vol. StrictlyNon Total Vol. & Paid PaidVol. Outside site66.7 100 57.150.067.5 Within site78.6 85.7 83.340.075.0 n=18 n=7 n=7n=8n=40 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003

16. Communications & Technology I Table 9: How does your organization communicate with clients? % ResponseStrictlyMixed Vol. StrictlyNon Total Vol.& Paid PaidVol. Newsletter0.042.9 14.322.214.6 Website11.142.9 57.155.634.1 E-mail11.157.1 57.133.331.7 Word of mouth50.085.7 71.455.661.0 Personal contact44.485.7 85.755.661.0 Posting notices27.871.4 57.144.443.9 Brochures27.871.4 57.155.646.3 Reports11.114.3 14.322.214.6 Stories in media33.385.7 71.444.451.2 Advertise-media27.885.7 71.433.346.3 Telephone0.042.9 42.911.117.1 n=18n=7 n=7n=9n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

17. Communications & Technology II Table 10: How does your organization communicate with funders? % ResponseStrictlyMixed Vol. StrictlyNon Total Vol.& Paid PaidVol. Newsletter5.642.9 0.022.214.6 Website5.642.9 42.922.222.0 E-mail16.757.1 57.122.231.7 Word of mouth33.371.4 57.122.241.5 Personal contact33.371.4 57.122.241.5 Posting notices22.242.9 42.922.229.3 Brochures16.757.1 57.122.231.7 Reports5.642.9 28.622.219.5 Stories in media27.842.9 42.933.334.1 Advertise-media16.742.9 57.111.126.8 Telephone0.028.6 28.611.112.2 n=18n=7 n=7n=9n=41 n=18n=7 n=7n=9n=41 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003.

18. Adopting New Technology Table 11: Importance on Adopting New Technologies? % ResponseStrict Mix Vol. StrictNon- Total Vol. & Paid PaidVol. Develop products & services2.57 2.0 1.51.832.04 & services2.57 2.0 1.51.832.04 Use new equipment2.33 2.0 1.61.431.84 Meet client needs2.4 1.86 1.51.781.94 Recruit staff & vol.3.75 3.29 1.752.253.0 Develop expertise2.25 1.67 1.832.52.11 Develop training2.67 2.33 1.252.432.26 n=6-10 n=6-7 n=4-6n=4-9n=24-32 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003. Rank: 1=Very Important - 5=Not Very Important

19. The Internet Table 12: Has the Internet been important to improve access to the following? % ResponseStrictMixStrictNon- Total Vol.Vol.PaidVol. & Pd. Information (gen.)2.362.171.831.572.03 Government info2.752.41.831.42.17 Relations in town3.632.753.03.03.17 Relations outside town2.891.82.52.02.48 n=8-11n=4-6n=6n=5-7n=23-30 Source: Innovative Services and Voluntary Survey 2003. Rank: 1=Very Important - 5=Not Very Important

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

21. 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

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

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