How Theaters Can Grow Volunteer Grant Revenue
Theaters are essential cultural hubs that enrich communities through diverse experiences, educational initiatives, and entertainment. Volunteers are the backbone of these institutions, assisting with tasks ranging from ushering and ticket sales to set construction and educational outreach. While the value of volunteer time is immeasurable, theaters can significantly enhance their impact by leveraging volunteer grants.
Volunteer grants are a form of corporate philanthropy where companies donate to nonprofits in recognition of their employees’ volunteer hours. For theaters, this represents a valuable funding stream that doesn’t require additional donations from individual supporters. By understanding and utilizing volunteer grants, theaters can boost their revenue and strengthen community ties.
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What are volunteer grants?
Volunteer grants are financial donations made by a volunteer’s employer to a nonprofit organization as recognition of the time their employee spends volunteering. These grants are typically part of a company’s corporate giving or employee engagement programs, designed to encourage community involvement and support causes important to their workforce.
Companies usually set specific criteria for volunteer grants, such as a minimum number of volunteer hours before a grant is awarded. For instance, an employer might offer $10 to $25 for every hour an employee volunteers, with a minimum threshold of 10 or 20 hours. This means a single volunteer’s commitment can translate into a substantial financial gift for the nonprofit they support.
Despite their potential, volunteer grants remain underutilized—even among eligible volunteers. Many nonprofits miss out on this funding because they don’t educate their volunteers about the opportunity or lack systems to track and submit grant requests. For theaters, this is an untapped revenue source that can significantly enhance the value of volunteer efforts.
By understanding the basics of volunteer grants, theaters can see how these programs complement traditional fundraising and sustain their mission. Volunteer grants not only reward volunteers but also secure additional funding that supports theater operations, programming, and community outreach.
Why do volunteer grants matter for theaters?
Volunteer grants provide theaters with a unique and effective way to increase funding without asking for more money from individual donors. Since theaters often rely on volunteers for essential functions, these grants can convert volunteer hours into tangible financial support, offering a high return on investment.
For example, consider a theater with 10 volunteers each contributing 20 hours over a season. If their employers offer volunteer grants at $10 per hour, this could result in $2,000 in additional funding. This money can enhance productions, improve facilities, or expand educational programs, all without increasing fundraising costs.
Theaters face challenges such as fluctuating ticket sales, seasonal programming, and the need to maintain costly technical equipment and sets. Volunteer grants can bridge funding gaps by providing a steady stream of support tied directly to community engagement, aligning perfectly with the theater’s mission to foster arts appreciation and cultural participation.
Moreover, volunteer grants encourage deeper volunteer involvement. When volunteers know their time can generate financial support for the theater, they may be more motivated to contribute additional hours or recruit others to volunteer. This creates a virtuous cycle of engagement and funding that benefits the entire organization.
How to identify volunteer grant opportunities for theaters
Identifying volunteer grant opportunities begins with knowing which volunteers work for companies offering these programs. Since volunteer grants are employer-specific, theaters need to gather information about their volunteers’ workplaces to unlock potential funding.
One practical step is to ask volunteers about their employers during onboarding or through engagement surveys. This simple question can reveal which companies to target for volunteer grant outreach. Encouraging volunteers to check with their HR departments or corporate intranets can also help them discover available programs.
Specialized databases and tools, such as Double the Donation, list companies with volunteer grant programs. Theaters can use these resources to cross-reference volunteer employer data and identify companies with active programs that could benefit their organization.
Analyzing existing volunteer data can uncover trends or clusters of volunteers from companies known to support volunteer grants. Segmenting communications by employer allows theaters to personalize outreach and provide tailored instructions on how to apply for grants.
For theaters, it’s helpful to consider local businesses and large employers in the community, as well as national corporations with a presence in the area. For example, volunteers working at CVS Health, ExxonMobil, Bank of America, Walmart, or Sam’s Club may have access to volunteer grant programs that theaters can tap into. By focusing on these companies, theaters can maximize their chances of securing additional funding.
Companies that offer volunteer grants for theaters
Many large employers across various industries offer volunteer grant programs, including companies. These organizations often have well-established corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that encourage employees to engage with their communities through volunteering.
CVS Health, for example, supports health and community programs, and their volunteer grant program rewards employees who contribute time to nonprofits, including arts and cultural organizations.
ExxonMobil has a history of supporting education and community development, aligning well with theaters offering educational outreach or youth programs.
Bank of America actively promotes employee volunteerism and provides grants to nonprofits where employees volunteer, often focusing on community development and arts initiatives.
Walmart and Sam’s Club, with their extensive retail footprint, encourage employees to volunteer locally and offer grants that can benefit theaters serving their communities.
These companies share common traits: they are large employers with diverse workforces, have formal volunteer grant policies, and prioritize community involvement as part of their corporate values. Theaters should explore the employment affiliations of their volunteers to identify potential matches and leverage these programs effectively.
Recognizing that many supporters may already be connected to companies with volunteer grant programs is the first step toward unlocking this valuable funding source. By building relationships with these companies and educating volunteers about available grants, theaters can significantly boost their financial resources.
How to promote volunteer grants to theater supporters
Promoting volunteer grants effectively requires clear, consistent communication to ensure volunteers are aware of the opportunity and understand how to participate. Many volunteers simply don’t know that their employers offer these programs, so raising awareness is critical.
Start by including information about volunteer grants in onboarding materials for new volunteers. This can be a simple flyer, a section in the volunteer handbook, or a dedicated email explaining what volunteer grants are and how to request them. Thank-you emails after volunteer shifts are another excellent touchpoint to remind volunteers about the opportunity.
Adding a dedicated page or FAQ section on the theater’s website can serve as a central resource for volunteers seeking more information. This page can include step-by-step instructions, links to company programs, and downloadable templates for grant requests.
Newsletters, social media posts, and event signage are additional channels to highlight volunteer grants. Featuring success stories or testimonials from volunteers who have secured grants can motivate others to participate. Training staff and volunteer coordinators to mention volunteer grants during interactions with supporters ensures the message is reinforced consistently.
Making the process as simple and accessible as possible is key. Providing clear instructions, offering to assist with paperwork, or designating a point of contact for questions can remove barriers and increase participation. The more volunteers understand how their time can translate into financial support, the more likely they are to engage with volunteer grant programs.
Effective promotion not only increases the number of grant submissions but also helps theaters turn volunteer hours into additional funding, amplifying the impact of their mission and strengthening community ties.
Volunteer grant FAQ for theaters
How do volunteers apply for a volunteer grant?
Typically, volunteers need to submit a volunteer grant request form provided by their employer or the company’s volunteer grant program. This often requires documenting the number of hours volunteered and providing information about the nonprofit organization. The theater can assist by providing verification letters or tracking volunteer hours to support the application.
Are volunteer grants available for all types of volunteer work at theaters?
Most volunteer grant programs accept a wide range of volunteer activities, including ushering, administrative support, set building, and educational outreach. However, it’s important to check specific employer guidelines, as some companies may have restrictions on eligible activities or organizations.
Can volunteers combine their hours to increase the grant amount?
Volunteer grants are usually awarded based on individual employee volunteer hours, so combining hours from multiple volunteers is generally not allowed. However, having multiple volunteers from the same company participate can increase the total grant amount the theater receives.
Is there a limit to how much funding a theater can receive from volunteer grants?
Many companies set annual limits on the total amount of volunteer grant funding an employee can request, often ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The theater itself may not have a limit, but the total funding depends on the number of volunteers and their individual grant caps.
How can theaters track volunteer hours to support grant applications?
Theaters should implement reliable volunteer management systems or use sign-in sheets and timesheets to accurately record volunteer hours. Clear documentation is essential for verifying hours when submitting volunteer grant requests and helps ensure the process runs smoothly for both volunteers and the organization.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Volunteer grants present a remarkable opportunity for theaters to enhance their funding without additional financial burdens on individual donors. By understanding and promoting these programs, theaters can transform volunteer hours into significant financial support, thereby sustaining their mission and expanding their impact. The key is to educate volunteers, streamline the application process, and build relationships with companies offering these grants.
Next steps for theaters include implementing systems to track volunteer hours, creating educational materials for volunteers, and reaching out to companies with active volunteer grant programs. By taking these actions, theaters can unlock new funding streams and deepen their community engagement.
Get Started with Double the Donation Volunteering
Ready to boost your theater’s funding through volunteer grants? Double the Donation offers tools and resources to help you identify and secure volunteer grants effectively. By partnering with Double the Donation, theaters can streamline the grant application process, educate volunteers, and maximize their financial support. Start today and see the difference volunteer grants can make for your theater! Request a demo to get started.
