The Challenge
Hope Women's Center (HWC) was grappling with several issues that impeded their efficiency. Manual data entry consumed a significant amount of time, and the onboarding process was cumbersome, leading to limited volunteer engagement. Additionally, outdated technologies made it difficult to manage and report on volunteer activities effectively. According to Cecilia Voron, Apache Junction Center Manager and Executive Administrator, 'As our organization grew, we needed to find new ways for volunteers to enter their hours while streamlining our onboarding process to be online. There was too much manual entry, and we needed a new software.'
The Solution
HWC embarked on a comprehensive evaluation of various Volunteer Management Systems (VMS). After considering multiple options, they decided on Volunteer Impact due to its customizability, intuitive interface, and robust features such as a volunteer portal accessible from any device, eLearning modules for onboarding, and the ability to link multiple centers. Cecilia Voron stated, 'After looking over numerous VMS solutions, we selected Volunteer Impact because it was customizable for the creation of our volunteer applications, more intuitive, had a volunteer portal via any device for logging hours, eLearning modules to facilitate the onboarding process, was able to have multiple centers linked, and was well rated.' The implementation process was supported by Better Impact's team, providing step-by-step help articles and online chat support, making it easier for HWC to transition smoothly.
The Results
Since adopting Volunteer Impact, HWC has seen remarkable improvements in their operations. The new system has streamlined volunteer management processes, allowing the team to save an estimated 240 hours per year. This time saving equates to a value of $5,192 in staff time saved, yielding a return on investment of 419%. Volunteer engagement has also significantly improved due to the ease of accessing the volunteer portal and the efficiency of the eLearning modules. Cecilia Voron highlighted the importance of support during the transition, stating, 'Change is always hard and there is a learning curve when moving to a new system. This is why great support is a must when finding a new system. Thankfully, the Better Impact team is always there to help! They are available with their online chat button and step-by-step help articles, which is very convenient.' Overall, the transition to Volunteer Impact has greatly enhanced HWC's operational efficiency and volunteer engagement.
