Kansas State University

Please Promote the North Central Region 4-H Volunteer Impact Study to the Volunteers Who Support the 4-H Program in Your Communities

Submitted by Sarah E. Maass

We are excited about the opportunity to conduct a 4-H Volunteer Impact Study of volunteers in the North Central Region(NCR).

This survey is being conducted by the NCR Volunteer Specialists as a part of a multi-state effort to document the impact of volunteering. A previous survey conducted fall of 2018 clearly demonstrated the impacts volunteering with the 4-H program has on communities, youth, and volunteers. 

Since 2018, the 4-H volunteer impacts documented in the first study have been shared with decision makers, constituents, volunteers, and Extension professionals across the country. Like any good evaluation, after five years, it is important to identify new impacts. Examples of these impacts include:

86% Reported gaining skills to use in other volunteering.
96% Reported helping make youth ready for future careers.
92% Reported volunteering with 4-H makes communities stronger.

The purpose of the study is to quantify the personal, organizational, and public impacts of volunteers involved with the 4-H Youth Development Programs in the twelve state region. The goals are to:  

• Document what individuals feel they gain from their experiences as a 4-H volunteer.

• Investigate the organizational benefits our program receives from volunteers.

• Assess volunteers’ beliefs about the public value of volunteering with the 4-H program. 

This 12 state study of volunteers in the 4-H program will be conducted through an electronic survey disseminated by University of Minnesota evaluators. There will be a random sample of 1000 volunteers from our state that will be selected to participate.

The survey will be distributed on January 15 and close on February 15. Each state will receive state specific data. We will be sharing more information with you later this winter and next spring.