Here are the five most important things you need to know right now:

1. The digital revolution for volunteer connections has not fully arrived
   • The data is clear that existing platforms (national and community-based) are not making the majority of the connections that lead to engaged volunteers
   • Community sites are far better within their communities than national platforms
   • Use by people with “service requirements” masks how ineffective platforms are for those without a requirement
2. “Word of Mouth” continues to provide the vast majority of connections that lead to engaged volunteers
   • Nonprofits prefer volunteers who have been recommended to them
   • Prospective volunteers prefer to contact nonprofits that have been recommended to them as well
   • We are facing a potential downward spiral as less volunteers leads to less “word of mouth” recommendations
3. Philanthropy, companies, and communities are spending $8M to $12M or more annually for national and community sites
   • The majority of the money goes to two organizations: VolunteerMatch and Galaxy Digital
   • We need to ensure these funds are being used to produce the maximum benefit to communities and the nation
4. United Ways provide the majority of community sites
   • They provide them mainly as a community service and largely on a self-service (by each individual nonprofit) basis
   • Most invest little beyond providing the platform to the community
5. There are three essential ingredients required for success and few sites have all of them
   • Success requires driving the right people at the right time to the site, providing an efficient and effective user experience, and following up on interest when it is expressed.