Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion
Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion (ADEVI) is a multi-faceted investigation of the diversity of volunteer administrators and the equity journey of organizations they work in. The project's guiding principle is that organizations that are attuned to inclusiveness will be able to engage a more diverse cross-section of their communities. The initiative is a partnership between Arizona State University (ASU) and the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA). The project is funded by AmeriCorps, a federal agency in the United States.
In its first year, ADEVI focused on collecting information on the field of volunteer administration. This included a SURVEY and FOCUS GROUPS.
Now, in its second year, ADEVI is focused on research to action with the development of a FIELD-BUILDING TOOLKIT. It is scheduled for release in September 2024.
THE TEAM is lead by Mark Hager (ASU) and Faiza Venzant (CCVA).
ADEVI SURVEY
Spring 2023 brought the ADEVI survey. All individuals with an active Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA) were invited to share information on their personal identities and the orientation of their organizations toward equity work. Three out of every five CVAs participated in the survey, providing a strong basis for an accurate snapshot of the state of the profession.
Click on the image below for an infographic on the personal identities of CVAs.
PODCAST, October 2023: From the Suggestion Box: IS DEAI Still Even Relevant? ADEVI Research Reveals Fascinating Results
Methodological Report for ADEVI Survey 2023 by Teresa Oswald
ADEVI FOCUS GROUPS
During the summer of 2023, we hosted online focus groups with CVAs. These structured, online sessions gathered stories about their attitudes and experiences regarding equity and inclusion. We held 21 focus groups with 105 CVAs participating. Five CVAs also volunteered as moderators. The research team observed 10 themes and we shared our observations from July to September:
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall - The Role of Self-Awareness in Equity Work by Faiza Venzant
To Track or Not to Track - That is the Diversity Question by Kelly Rutt
Inequitable: Do We All Have the Same Opportunity to Volunteer by Suzette Major
Building Volunteer Diversity: Intentions ≠ Actions by Teresa Oswald
Other Rows to Hoe: Resource and Mission Limitations on Recruiting Diverse Volunteers by Mark Hager
Do Not Pass Go: Strategic Plans That Don't Move Us Forward by Faiza Venzant
Do We Do Volunteering Differently? Community Engagement Varies By Culture by Kelly Rutt
The Different Lenses of Diversity in Volunteerism by Suzette Major
Broadening the Diversity of Volunteers - out with the Old, in with the New? by Teresa Oswald
Toward Volunteer Diversity: The Need for Training by Mark Hager
Click on the image below for the ADEVI focus group report, which further summarizes and discusses the content of the focus groups.
Be on the lookout for a forthcoming Engage article summarizing this public report.
Methodological Report for ADEVI Focus Groups (2023) by Kelly Rutt
ADEVI TOOLKIT
In the second year of ADEVI, we'll be focused on a research-to-action process that will culminate in an online Toolkit of information on best practices in promoting equity in volunteerism and volunteer administration. This work will build from the Year 1 data, but constitutes a third effort to solicit information from the field on how best to advance inclusion. The Toolkit will support leaders of volunteers in developing practices that aim to increase access to volunteerism. Updates will be posted here.
ADEVI TEAM
Principal Investigators
Mark Hager, Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University
Faiza Venzant, Executive Director, Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration
2023 Research Assistants
Teresa Oswald, Graduate Student, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Arizona State University
Kelly Rutt, Ph.D. Candidate, Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University
Suzette Major, Graduate Student, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Arizona State University
2024 Research Assistants
Teresa Oswald, Graduate Student, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Arizona State University
Me'Shellia Allums Davis, Graduate Student, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Arizona State University