The report was completed in partnership with the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities
The RMA has heard from several members that in recent years, levels of volunteerism have declined among rural residents. When voluntary organizations struggle to recruit volunteers, all aspects of their operations are compromised, including service delivery, fundraising, administrative functions, and others.
The RMA partnered with the University of Alberta’s Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (ACSRC) to develop a report on the declining rates of volunteerism in Alberta and the associated threat to rural communities. The report focuses on volunteerism trends, including driving factors and community impacts. The report also includes recommendations for addressing declining rates of volunteerism for different stakeholders, including:
- Rural volunteer organizations
- Increase flexibility and embrace the ideas and capabilities of younger volunteers
- Rethinking the role of “micro-volunteering”
- Embrace strategic planning
- Rural municipalities
- Facilitating coordination between volunteer groups in your community
- Engaging local volunteer organizations in both facility and organizational viability assessments
- Government of Alberta
- Promoting volunteerism across Alberta: incentives, promotional campaigns, and youth education
- Reducing the burden on rural volunteer organizations: granting, toolkits, and website support
- Adequately fund municipalities to account for the rising costs associated with declining volunteerism
The full report supports the concerns that RMA members have regarding the declining rates of volunteerism in their communities and points to actions that can be taken to reduce these burdens. The RMA plans to use the report to advocate to the Government of Alberta and work with members and other stakeholder organizations to support rural volunteerism.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
855.319.2245
kallie@RMAlberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com