The Salvation Army's Transformation: A Journey to Efficient Volunteer Management

The Challenge

The Salvation Army Central Territory, operating across 11 Midwestern states, faced significant challenges in managing their volunteer program. The use of paper, Excel spreadsheets, and a bespoke database resulted in inefficiencies, poor reporting, and security vulnerabilities. Processing volunteer applications was slow, and staff spent excessive time on repetitive administrative tasks. The need for a more efficient, secure, and user-friendly system was clear.

The Solution

In search of a better solution, The Salvation Army Central Territory explored various volunteer management systems and ultimately chose Better Impact for its comprehensive features and ease of use. 'There was a realization across all levels of the organization that technology was needed to improve efficiency and accuracy of information as well as improve the experience for volunteers,' said Robert Bonesteel, Director of Volunteer Services. The implementation of Better Impact allowed the organization to centralize and automate administrative tasks, improving both efficiency and data security.

The Results

With Better Impact, The Salvation Army Central Territory saw remarkable results. The administrative workload was significantly reduced, saving approximately 11,620 hours annually. This translated to a time-saving value of $254,187 and an impressive ROI of 8,372%. The centralized system improved data accuracy, reporting capabilities, and overall volunteer experience. 'Having the right tool for the right job simply improves everything. Having a modern volunteer engagement system is no different. It saves time, money, and unnecessary work, making an organization more effective and robust,' noted Robert Bonesteel. Volunteer satisfaction and engagement levels also improved dramatically, showcasing the effectiveness of Better Impact.