Benefits of Hosting an Amate House Volunteer

Cost Effectiveness

Amate House Sites have the opportunity to utilize a motivated, service-oriented, recent college graduate for full time employment from August through June for a low cost contribution of $14,000. Amate House covers the health insurance, living expenses, transportation to & from work, and provides a monthly living allowance for the Volunteer. Please note: Sites with Volunteers with advanced applicable degrees (such as Law School Graduates, Registered Nurses or Physical Therapists) will be asked to contribute $17,000.

 

Estimated “Public Value” of each full-time Amate House Volunteer:   $15,000-$45,000

According to a survey of service sites, each of the full-time Amate House Volunteers generates a minimum of $15,000 in “public value” through the particular agency/community where he/she works.  This calculation is based on the work performed for 10 months without salary/benefits, the time/money saved in recruitment and retention of quality ‘employees’, and the new programs offered as a result of the work of Amate House Volunteers.  Therefore the “public value” that all Amate House Volunteers are contributing this year through their direct service work is over $435,000. The Independent Sector, a national organization committed to strengthening, empowering, and partnering with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, estimated the value of the volunteer service hour in Illinois at $25.22-$28.52/hour in 2009.  This figure is a state-wide average: factoring work performed and cost savings, including reduction in benefits costs, etc.

Quality Employees

Amate House Volunteers complete an extensive application process with the Amate House staff before committing to a year of full time service.  Amate House Volunteers choose our program because they desire a year of intentional service, leadership & professional development and formation.  Our Volunteers add an immeasurable quality to our partnering sites. All sites will get the opportunity to review the Volunteer’s resume and interview the potential employee to ensure that the match is appropriate.

 

Amate House Volunteers are also well supported by the Amate House staff.  Throughout the course of the year, our staff maintains a close relationship with each Volunteer and regularly checks in with site supervisors to make sure that the experience is a quality one for all parties.  Because of this support, Amate House has had a nearly 100% retention rate of Volunteers, over the course of the year, for the past 10 years.

Some Types of Work Performed by Amate House Volunteers include:  public health education; legal aid case management; emergency food assistance; teaching & assisting in classrooms, after school programming; social work and counseling; case management; volunteer coordinating; housing support services, etc.

 

Some colleges and universities represented among the full-time Amate House Volunteers include: University of Notre Dame, College of St. Benedict, St. John’s University, Catholic University, Loyola Marymount University, Stout University, Benedictine University, University of Virginia, Baldwin Wallace, Arizona State, the University of Chicago, Marquette University, the College of the Holy Cross, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and the University of St. Thomas.