Standard E4 Explained

Why is it important for organizations to involve a diverse volunteer base? Community organizations serve diverse communities. A 2012 Statistics Canada study, Giving and Volunteering Among Canada’s Immigrants, reports that almost 1 in 5 Canadians is an immigrant.¹ For many new Canadians, volunteering is a primary venue for integrating socially and economically into their communities.¹

Volunteer Canada’s Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement states that a “healthy organization” will seek to involve volunteers who reflect the diversity of the community.² Cultivating a diverse volunteer base will improve your organization’s ability to effectively serve its community by increasing access to the skills and knowledge needed to design programs, develop policies, and make connections in your community.³

From "Accreditation Preparation Workbook Section E: Volunteer Involvement,"  Katharine Zywert, Social Prosperity Wood Buffalo at the University of Waterloo, 2013.

1. 28 “Giving and Volunteering Among Canada’s Immigrants,” Derrick Thomas, Statistics Canada, May 17th 2012.
2. 30 “The Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement: Values, Guiding Principles, and Standards of Practice,” Volunteer Canada, 2012.
3. “A Guide for Cultural Competency Application of the Canadian Code,” Ontario Volunteer Center Network, July 2009.