Importance of Recording Volunteer Hours

A year ago, we first reported that we were now tracking volunteer hours by all the dedicated volunteers at EAA during AirVenture and throughout the year.  During EAA’s Fiscal Year 2014, which ended Feb. 28, 2014, we reported over 169,090 volunteer hours. For our first year recording hours, we were pretty impressed!

So, we kept going and more chairmen and staff began tracking volunteer hours more closely. And that meant … (If you are not already sitting down, you may want to before you read on)  … When we talk about the impact volunteers have at EAA, wait until you learn the Fiscal Year 2015 numbers.  Remember, this is just in Oshkosh and doesn’t  include the countless other hours devoted by EAA members in local chapters and elsewhere.  Are you ready……?

• 265,950 volunteer hours were logged in Oshkosh from March 1, 2014 through Feb. 28, 2015
• 87.5 percent of those reported volunteer hours occurred during AirVenture Oshkosh, a total of 232,700 hours
• In addition, we added just under 12,500 volunteer hours for our B-17 tour that is led  and operated by EAA volunteers

Collecting volunteer hours is key insight into the needs of our community.  Volunteer hours quantify the success of our programs, provides a “snapshot” of what is being accomplished, and provides us the opportunity to obtain critical funding through grants, sponsorships, and donations.  These hours are valuable in detailing and highlighting how volunteers impact EAA, what they accomplish, and how critical they are to EAA’s success.

According to the Independent Sectors value of volunteer time for the State of Wisconsin, EAA’s volunteer hours are estimated at about $5,792,467.  To us, though it’s priceless!  Thank you for all you do to support EAA.