Why Do We Record Volunteer Hours?

1. Volunteer hours can be reported in the narrative portion of the IRS 990 report card and can also be placed on the local PTA’s financial statements.  From information provided by nonprofit charitable organizations, the IRS publishes a figure, adjusted annually, that attributes a dollar value to volunteer hours donated.  This enables PTAs to publish an annual tabulation of the collective value of volunteer hours, which have been returned as a donation to local communities/school districts. 

2. Advertising the value of volunteer hours expended by PTA can be a valuable marketing and publicity tool and raises the public’s awareness of the organization.  Frequently, foundation grantors request the number of volunteer hours an organization expends annually when considering apportionment of grant funds.  The volunteer value helps a foundation understand the extent of a group’s parent involvement, support and commitment to their own purposes, which aids the grantors in determining the amount of assistance to award. 

3. At the secondary level, PTAs provide a service by compiling hours from ALL volunteers, whether they are for PTA, school organizations or booster clubs. 

4. Volunteer hours submitted by local PTAs to the RISD Council of PTAs are available to RISD and the Board of Trustees on behalf of all organizations and booster clubs as evidence of parent and community engagement in our schools.