Pay to volunteer ??????????

[jlder72]

I would like to volunteer at the humane society but they require a $20 fee to submit application. Is this usual for volunteer positions?

 

[WDSearcher]

Many places are starting to ask for an upfront "donation" to help offset the costs of volunteer training and other materials (t-shirts, name badges, etc) that you may be issued. It's also a way for groups to seperate the people who REALLY want to volunteer from the people who sign up, go through training, get their t-shirt, and then never show up to volunteer. Non-profits get a lot of people who go through training and then are never available to actually work a shift. Plus ... a lot of schools require that students do volunteer work as a requirement for classes or extracurricular points, and it could be that this particular group has had a lot of kids go through the program to get their volunteer card signed, but then they never return.

But it's not unusual -- not where I'm from, anyway.

 

[kwelch10377]

I have never heard of it, but I am not surprised. If you are willing to pay the fee then there is a much better chance of you being serious about it and committed to it.

 

[jlder72]

Many places are starting to ask for an upfront "donation" to help offset the costs of volunteer training and other materials (t-shirts, name badges, etc) that you may be issued. It's also a way for groups to seperate the people who REALLY want to volunteer from the people who sign up, go through training, get their t-shirt, and then never show up to volunteer. Non-profits get a lot of people who go through training and then are never available to actually work a shift. Plus ... a lot of schools require that students do volunteer work as a requirement for classes or extracurricular points, and it could be that this particular group has had a lot of kids go through the program to get their volunteer card signed, but then they never return.

But it's not unusual -- not where I'm from, anyway.

Thanks. Never thought of that.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

It could also be the cost of some kind of background check. Most schools, youth sports organizations, churches, etc do that.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I know to be a girl scout troop leader I have always had to register. It stung a bit this year because we are not military so whereas the other girls and moms paid $12 we had to pay $67 being Girl Scouts overseas. I have NO issue paying more for my DD to participate; but they could not get enough leaders without me and i still have to pay that much to help out? That kind of irked me (not enough to complain to them or not do it--but enough to give me pause).

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Is it normal? Yes and no. I'm a volunteer coordinator for a non-profit hospital. It has become more common for different organizations to charge a fee, whether they state it is to defray the cost of uniforms or supplies. Several agencies in a regional organization I belong to require their volunteers to purchase a uniform. Some require their volunteers to join an organization with a minimal fee in order to participate. Our group is still resisting on that. We have an option to join our "Auxiliary" for $5, but I have long-standing volunteers that refuse to join, stating that they don't want to pay to volunteer. It's more common in big cities, but I'm still in a small town and we're about 10 years behind everyone else!

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem paying a fee, as long as it was clearly stated what the fee was going toward.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

It could also be the cost of some kind of background check. Most schools, youth sports organizations, churches, etc do that.

Yes. I forgot to add this to my reply. Many places do run the background check and charge you for it. I get to run checks under our hospital's Human Resources department, so I'm actually exempt from this. Most free-standing organizations have to pay out of pocket, and those amounts can add up. We have close to 200 volunteers!

 

[LisaNJ25]

I know to be a girl scout troop leader I have always had to register. It stung a bit this year because we are not military so whereas the other girls and moms paid $12 we had to pay $67 being Girl Scouts overseas. I have NO issue paying more for my DD to participate; but they could not get enough leaders without me and i still have to pay that much to help out? That kind of irked me (not enough to complain to them or not do it--but enough to give me pause).

Wow that is a lot. My cousin was a GSUSA in France. Do you do product sales like we do here? I would cover half the cost next year if you do it again. I cover leaders annual dues out of troop funds.

 

[NHdisneylover]

DD just joined in February--as the cookie sale was winding down (it took us a while here to find the US connections--she was looking, she loves scouts). I do not know if they sell other products in the fall or not. I do not think the troops here used any money towards reregistration. They spend a lot on trips so the girls can see a lot of the area and the rest of Europe while they are here.

 

[clh2]

I also volunteer for Girl Scouts - and a particular function that I work at involves $$, so I also have to register and pay the $12 a year.

When my DD was in a troop, I was either the cookie mom or the leader, so needed to pay the $12 a year then too. This is now going on for the 10th year...but next will be my last year...then I am done...

A 1-time fee of $20 is a bargain IMO.

 

[Art 1]

Yes.

 

[C.Ann]

Many places are starting to ask for an upfront "donation" to help offset the costs of volunteer training and other materials (t-shirts, name badges, etc) that you may be issued. It's also a way for groups to seperate the people who REALLY want to volunteer from the people who sign up, go through training, get their t-shirt, and then never show up to volunteer. Non-profits get a lot of people who go through training and then are never available to actually work a shift. Plus ... a lot of schools require that students do volunteer work as a requirement for classes or extracurricular points, and it could be that this particular group has had a lot of kids go through the program to get their volunteer card signed, but then they never return.

But it's not unusual -- not where I'm from, anyway.

I've personally never heard of this around here, but this sounds like a very logical explanation..

 

[simba928]

Many places are starting to ask for an upfront "donation" to help offset the costs of volunteer training and other materials (t-shirts, name badges, etc) that you may be issued. It's also a way for groups to seperate the people who REALLY want to volunteer from the people who sign up, go through training, get their t-shirt, and then never show up to volunteer. Non-profits get a lot of people who go through training and then are never available to actually work a shift. Plus ... a lot of schools require that students do volunteer work as a requirement for classes or extracurricular points, and it could be that this particular group has had a lot of kids go through the program to get their volunteer card signed, but then they never return.

But it's not unusual -- not where I'm from, anyway.

I work at a humane society (started as a volunteer and was eventually offered a job). We do not charge a fee to apply, but I can see why that may be a good idea. The PP is right in that we get A LOT of volunteers that we spend time training (I've spent the past 2 days training volunteers) and then they never show up. We have some that will schedule the hours and then just not show up (which really throws us off because we only have a limited number of slots for people to sign up per day and if someone signs up with no intention of showing up, that means someone else who wants to be there can't). We have some that think they will be playing with puppies all day (there are a million and one other things that need done and while it's great that you want to shower all my dogs with love and attention, there are dishes that need done, floors mopped, kennels cleaned, dog and cat food put away, newspaper to open and/or shred, laundry to be folded and put away, etc.) A lot of student project volunteers only put the required number of hours in (totally understandable as I started as a student project volunteer, but it still stinks finding a really good volunteer that wants to come every day, all day for a week to get all their hours in and then never show up again). Making you pay to do something creates an incentive to actually do it. You wouldn't pay to go to Disney, but never show up at the airport to board the flight to MCO, would you?

But I know the employees at the shelter (and all the dogs and cats) will definitely appreciate you helping! Volunteering there was one of the best things I've ever done and I absolutely love my jobs. There are some rough days, but I can honestly say that I have never gone home and not wanted to go back to work the next day. Can't really say that about the other jobs I've had.