2011

The unqiue value of volunteers within the pedagogical civil society (In cooperation with ZonMw)

Why are certain activities within the pedagogical civil society performed by volunteers and not by paid employees? This study aims to answer this very question. The way involved parties appreciate and view volunteering and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of volunteers are taken into account.

This study provides insight into the unique added value of volunteering in relation to the development and education of children and young adults. The results will add to the academic body of knowledge on the possible uses and limitations of the pedagogical civil society. In practice this study will provide (professional) organizations the opportunity to make grounded decisions on whether to make use of paid employees or volunteers  when it comes to certain tasks and activities which go beyond the financial arguments for working with volunteers. This  might enable the pedagogical civil society to perform better and improve the effectiveness of interventions. 

For more information about this project please contact Lonneke Roza via LRoza@rsm.nl.

The research team exists of: Prof. Dr. Lucas Meijs, Dr. Judith Metz, Niek Hoogervorst MSc, Lonneke Roza MSc and Eva van Baren MSc.

Paper februari 2012, "Wat maakt het uit voor jouw kind? Vrijwilligers over de waarde van vrijwilligerswerk ten opzichte van beroepsmatig werk".

News letter December 2011 (in Dutch).

Paper December 2011, "Hoe derde partijen, zoals overheden, bedrijven en fondsen, hedendaags‘vrijwilligerswerk’, ‘vrijwilligersmanagement’ en de civil society kunnen bevorderen".

Denktank beroepskrachten & vrijwilligers over de waarde van vrijwilligerswerk 22 november 2011, verslag.

Media Analyse: "Vrijwilligerswerk in de media: termen in de Nederlandse samenleving".

Article "Over hedendaagse 'vrijwillige inzet' en 'vrijwilligersmanagement' als bouwstenen voor de pedagogische civil society".

Presentatie onderzoek op internationale conferentie ARNOVA 17 - 19 november in Toronto Canada.

Denktank vrijwillige inzet 21 oktober 2011, Zuidas Amsterdam, verslag.

Press release 1 September 2011: Book Judith Metz, "Kleine stappen, grote overwinningen".

News letter August 2011 (in Dutch).

Press release 26 July 2011: Book Judith Metz, "Welzijn in de 21ste eeuw".

Rapport: "De unieke waarde van vrijwilligers in de PCS: een verkenning in de praktijk".

Denktankcompetitie: Een spannend en uiterst geslaagd experiment. Klik voor verslagen op de volgende websites: Vrijwilligerswerk.nl en Vrijwillige-inzet.nl.

Website ZonMW: www.zonmw.nl.

Financing solutions for small and local NPO’s (In cooperation with de Start Foundation)

This research focuses on different financing solutions and the interaction between those financing solutions for local and smaller NPO’s. NPO’s use different sources to finance their activities: donations, sponsoring, funds, subsidies, events and their own income. Multiple sources are often used at the same time. The different nature of these sources may create tension. This study describes those tensions and their causes. It furthermore prescribes optimal combinations of different financing sources.    

For more information about this project please contact Lonneke Roza via LRoza@rsm.nl.

The research team exists of: Prof. Dr. Lucas Meijs and Lonneke Roza MSc

Website Start Foundation: www.startfoundation.nl

The social Effects of NL Doet (in cooperation with the Oranje Fonds)

NL DOET is one of the biggest episodic volunteering initiatives in the Netherlands. Through NL DOET the Dutch Orange Foundation, or ‘Oranje Fonds’  aims to address the importance of active citizens and as well as contributing to a better image of volunteering.

This research aims to map out the effects of NL DOET over a period of 5 consecutive years. The effects are measured in relation to the organizations that ask for but also offer  one-day activities or ‘jobs’ for which volunteers can register and offer a helping hand, the participants (volunteers) and the effects on overall social cohesion and participation in society.

The results of this study will help make better decisions on the further development and future of NL DOET. Furthermore it will provide a valuable insight into the positive and negative effects of flexible episodic volunteers. This knowledge is relevant to the Oranje Fonds as well as other organizations engaging in episodic volunteering and volunteering in general. 

For more information about this project please contact Eva van Baren via ebaren@rsm.nl

The research team exists of: Prof. Dr. Lucas Meijs, Eva van Baren MSc and Lonneke Roza MSc

Uitnodiging voor 10 januari 2012 van 12:00 - 14:00 uur
Deze focusgroep wordt gehouden voor degene die binnen uw organisatie verantwoordelijk is/was voor de organisatie en coördinatie van de klus en vrijwilligers tijdens NL DOET 2011.

Uitnodiging voor 19 januari 2012 van 12:00 - 14:00 uur
Deze focusgroep speciaal voor intermediairs wordt gehouden voor degene die binnen uw organisatie verantwoordelijk is/was voor de bemiddeling van een of meerdere klussen en/of vrijwilligers (klussers) voorafgaand aan NL DOET.

Website Oranje Fonds: www.oranjefonds.nl/oranjefonds
Website NL Doet: www.nldoet.nl/nldoetnu

Good practices in recruiting, valuing and retaining volunteers (In cooperation with the Gemeente Amsterdam (Amsterdam Local Government))

The local government of Amsterdam is implementing a program to enhance volunteering and civil society participation (Uitvoeringsprogramma Vrijwillige Inzet). This research is a part of that program. The ECSP identifies good practices regarding volunteer management and gives insight into the factors that make those practices successful. Through that process knowledge will be made transferable as well as  applicable in various organizations. This study provides organizations ways in which to be more effective, reach new sources of volunteers, enable volunteers to reach new beneficiaries, resolve social challenges more effectively and improve social cohesion and the relation between civilians and the city.           

The research team exists of: Prof. Dr. Lucas Meijs, Dr. Linda Bridges Karr and Eva van Baren MSc

For more information about this project please contact please contact Eva van Baren via ebaren@rsm.nl.

Website Gemeente Amsterdam: www.amsterdam.nl

Impact of the International Award

The International Award is a self-development program available to all 14 to 25 year olds around the world. Over 7 million young people worldwide have taken up the Award challenge. The Award is currently present in more than 130 countries and is about individual challenge as opposed to reaching specific standards set by others.

The ECSP will measure the impact of the Award on the lives of former participants based on multiple methods. At the International Gold Event (IGE) in Nairobi in 2011, 100 Gold Award holders from 30-40 different countries will be interviewed for 30 minutes. Second, all sections of the Award will take part in an (online) questionnaire. Ultimately, the impact on their lives is estimated.

For more information about this project please contact please contact Lonneke Roza via LRoza@rsm.nl.

The research team exists of: Prof. Dr. Lucas Meijs, Lonneke Roza MSc and Eva van Baren MSc.

Website: www.intaward.org

2010

Non-profit Social Impact Measurement: An ex-ante method to predict the social impact of all organisations in the Dutch non-profit sector

In this project the ECSP undertakes in cooperation with the independent ‘Centraal Informatiepunt voor Goede Doelen’ (CIGD) which is a foundation functioning as a central point to collect information about nonprofit organisations in the Netherlands. Even though the CIGD collects a large body of information on a wide range of indicators, most indicators do not provide information for donors that can help them assess the quality of NPOs. There is no information regarding the efficiency of their operations and the effectiveness of their activities in achieving their missions, and thus the likelihood of achieving positive social impact. Building upon a wide range of existing methods and theories from academia and practice, a set of criteria is developed that provides insight into the chance that a nonprofit has a large positive impact. The method does not focus on the efficiency of the organisation, like many existing certifications (e.g. CBF) are attempting to do, but it seeks to develop indicators that asses the likelihood of effective activities undertaken by the organisation in the quest of achieving its mission. As a part of this, the organisations are evaluated on their accountability and transparency. This method will be made available for the public through a free online website ( 1 November 2010), and will be brought under the attention of (potential) donors through popular media (e.g. Trouw). Moreover, it gives non-profit organisations a clear overview of criteria that they can implement to increase their impact. 

This webtool provides the ECSP with the ability to collect data on the behaviour of donors at an extraordinary large scale resulting in the possibility for unique research about donor preferences. It will be possible to analyze each donor's (anonymous) visit on the website and their interest (through documenting the indicators he/she opens, and the time he/she spends on each of them) between the pilars of organisation, transparancy and activities, and each individual indicator. As the sample of donors visiting the website might be biased, due to the possibility that these donors have an above average interest in NPOs a supplementary study is undertaking using techniques from experimental economics. A random group of graduate students will be selected and asked to contribute a certain amount of (provided) money to a nonprofit of their choice after using the online method.

The results of the first pilot group will go live on the cigd website (via independer.nl -> charities) on the 1st of November. Consequently, all Dutch charities will be invited to add their details/join the database.

The research team exists of: Kelie Liket and Karen Maas.

For any more information on the set of criteria that make up the method or the webtool, please contact Kellie Liket on liket@ese.eur.nl

Venture Philanthropy Social Impact Measurement: the development of a social fact sheet to conceptualize and visualize the SROI of ESG investments

Together with a large investor the ECSP is developing a social fact sheet that enables to both conceptualize and visualize the social return on ESG (Environment, Society, Governance) investments (e.g. CleanTech, Renewable Energy, Microfinance etc.). As a result of the increased attention of investors for opportunities with both financial and social returns, this project responds to a call to ‘grasp’ the social returns in a practical manner.

The format of the social fact sheet has recently been developed. Currently, pilots are being run with both infrastructure and microfinance investments.

The research team exists of: Karen Maas, Kellie Liket and Misagh Akhondzad.

For more information about venture philanthropy, ESG investments or social return on investments projects in general please contact Kellie Liket via liket@ese.eur.nl.

For more information about this specific project please contact Karen Maas via maas@ese.eur.nl

Non-Profit Social Impact Measurement: a mixed design evaluative measurement of the social impact of the Dutch non-profit sector

Non-Profit Social impact measurement: a mixed design evaluative measurement of the social impact of the Dutch non-profit sector

This project is undertaken with the ‘Vereniging voor Fondsenwervende Instellingen’(VFI), which is an association of more than 130 of the largest Dutch charitable organisations. With this project, an attempt is made to develop a social impact measurement method aiming to increase the insight into the social impact of the charitable sector. This four-year project focuses on a yearly theme, starting with the social impact of the Dutch charities on Dutch youth. The project consists of both a macro and a micro study. Whereas on the macro level both desk research and consultation with relevant stakeholders are the research methods used to analyze the impact the Dutch charitable sector has on Dutch youth, the micro level research makes use of two specially designed randomised controlled trials. These are conducted with two different VFI members who specifically target youth, the Johan Cruyff Foundation and Stichting Kinderpostzegels.

The macro study is being conducted over the summer and fall of 2010. The randomised controlled trials that form the backbone of the micro study have been designed in spring 2010 and the first measurement takes place in September 2010. The subsequent measurements will take place anywhere between.

The research team exists of: Karen Maas, Kellie Liket, Dinand Webbink and Lara Hemmes.

For more information about the micro study based on the randomised controlled trials please contact Dinand Webbink via webbink@ese.eur.nl

For more information about the macro study please contact Kellie Liket via liket@ese.eur.nl

CSR and Corporate Philanthropy Social Impact Measurement: measuring the social impact of the efforts of KPN

The ECSP leads a social impact measurement project for the KPN its ‘Mooiste Contact Fonds’ (direct translation: Beautiful Contact Fund). This fund is an integral part of KPN its CSR by which it engages in partnerships with various non-profit organizations to tackle social isolation of vulnerable groups in the Netherlands. The aim is to establish a flexible research design that is useful for all engaged non-profit to measure the reduction in social isolation of their beneficiaries as a consequence of their activities in a meaningful manner.

The research design has been established. Currently, consultations with the non-profits are taking place in order to operationalize the research in a practical and meaningful manner.

The research team exists of: Karen Maas and Kellie Liket.

For more information about CSR in general please contact Karen Maas via maas@ese.eur.nl.

For more information about this specific project or similar social impact measurement or corporate philanthropy projects please contact either Karen Maas or Kellie liket via maas@ese.eur.nl or liket@ese.eur.nl

Non-profit Social Impact Measurement: a measurement of the impact of research on society

ECSP will help the Nederlandse Brandwonden Stichting to determine the social impact of the research they have funded. This aims directly at the social impact for the community and society, and excludes the scientific impact of the funded research.

The research team exists of: Karen Maas and Charles Erkelens.

For more information about this project please contact Karen Maas via maas@ese.eur.nl

Netherlands Heart Foudation

ECSP accepted to help the Netherlands Heart Foundation to do research to determine whether their strategy of the last three years was well implemented.

At this moment we are discussing strategic output and planning with the Netherlands Heart Foundation and we are writing a report.

The research team exists of: Lucas Meijs and Karen Maas.

For more information about this project please contact Karen Maas via maas@ese.eur.nl

How do CEO, board and Advisory Committee cooperate for governance, tansparancy and accountability?

Setting up and commencing research on the legitimacy of grant making foundations: How do CEO, Board and Advisory Committee cooperate for governance, transparency and accountability? In this research the focus is on how grant making foundations use their structures (board, CEO, advisory committee) to perform the three legitimizing functions. It deals with the division of obligations, responsibilities and tasks between CEO, Board and advisory committee with respect thereto, the selection and functioning of board members, the relation to the donors and beneficiaries and the legal status of the organization The general idea is that different types of grant making organizations (endowed with active donor, endowed with passive donor, operating, and corporate) face different challenges and need different structures.

This research is started by a broad study of the available research on these subjects. It will function as the basis of the PhD research committed over the next four years by Pushpika Vishwanathan under supervision of Lucas Meijs.

For more information about this project please contact Pushpika Vishwanathan by pvishwanathan@rsm.nl