Legislation and Government Guidelines on Volunteering

Articles on this topic:

• A Nation of Doers Needs to Do More , editorial by Robert Putnam and John Bridgeland (2004)
• Citizen Involvement in Boulder County Government, Colorado
• "Employee" or "Volunteer?" U.S. Department of Labor Provides Guidance by Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP  (explaining a government ruling, 2005)

• Empowering citizens for change: Volunteers build stronger communities in Albania from UN Volunteers, 2004

• Executive Order from Governor Schwarzenegger declaring a cabinet-level position for service and volunteering, 2008
• Executive Order on National and Community Service Programs, 2/27/04.
    Also see related Hot Topic and responses.

• …General Assembly Encourages All People To Become More Engaged In Voluntary Activities from the United Nations, 2001

• Government of the Northwest Territories Volunteer Support Initiative, 2005-2008 Plan (Australia)

• Government-Volunteer Partnerships:Background Discussion Paper, from the Volunteering Secretariat, Western Australia (2006)

• “Government Policy on Volunteering” (NZ, 2002)

• In Tandem Volunteers Can Do More by John Bridgeland and Michelle Nunn (2004)

• Lifting Someone Else: Government Encouragement of Volunteer Efforts, by

  Michael Jay Friedman for eJournalUSA (May, 2006), U.S. Department of State

• Priorities and Prospects for a Lifelong Learning Society: Promoting Volunteer Activities by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (1996)

• State Liability Laws for Charitable Organizations and Volunteers - Published in 2001, Updated in August 2005) - free PDF from the Nonprofit Risk Management Center

• Taxation of Benefits for Volunteers, by Denise Y. Bowen, for the Federal, State and Local Governments Newsletter of the IRS (july 2004, PDF)

• Volunteer Activity in Elections - description of volunteer work permitted or limited in federal elections (US, 2004)
  

Web sites with information on this topic:

Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement
http://www.volunteer.ca/en/can-code
Provides voluntary and not-for-profit organizations in Canada with a philosophical framework for involving volunteers at the governance, leadership and direct service levels. The Code outlines the values, principles, and standards for effective volunteer practices within organizations. It also includes the Organization Standards Checklist.

Community Builders NSW

http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/builder/volunteering/agenciesvol.html

Comprehensive information about volunteer programs and activities within New South Wales Government (Australia) agencies. Includes many practical support materials, such as “Working with People” tips.

eLaws:  Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/docs/volunteers.asp

The US Department of Labor's explanation of the FLSA as it applies to volunteers, including employees as volunteers.

European Commission Youth Programme

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm

Non-formal education programme targeting young people aged between 15 and 25 years in 31 European countries. The YOUTH programme offers possibilities to young people in the form of both group exchanges and individual voluntary work, as well as support activities.

Policy and Support for Volunteers (New Zealand)
http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/work-programme/volunteering-policy.html
Site includes a wide range of volunteer management materials as well as government information, including studies of Maori volunteering.

South Australia's "Advancing the Community Together"

http://www.ofv.sa.gov.au/pdfs

A document outlining a "Partnership between the Volunteer Sector and the South Australian Government."

"Tax Deductions for Volunteers"
http://www.tgci.com/magazine/02spring/tax.asp
Excellent summary article from by Conrad Teitell, LL.B., LL.M., provided by the Grantsmanship Center.

Volunteering Code of Good Practice
http://www.thecompact.org.uk/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=100349

The Volunteering Code of Good Practice sets out an agenda of undertakings for both the government and the voluntary and community sector in England. This site explains the Code. Download a PDF of the Code itself here.

 

Relevant Hot Topic essays:

• Shaping Public Opinion: Volunteering, Government, and News Reports - May '04
• Making Volunteer Management Happen: A Proposal for AmeriCorps - April '04
• A Great New Report to Praise, Criticize, and Use - March '04
• Government, Politicians, and the Use of the Word "Volunteer" - February '04

• Mixed Messages from Government: Lessons from Minnesota - Feb '02

 

For information on this topic specifically relating to the Australasian region please visit our friends at OzVPM:

http://www.ozvpm.com/resourcebank/resource_govtpolicy.htm

and http://www.ozvpm.com/resourcebank/resource_govtinvolvement.htm

3/14/08

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