Volunteer Time Valuation: From Optional Extra to Strategic Necessity

Published:9 September 2025

For years, volunteer time has been treated as an optional extra in charity finance — something to mention in passing, perhaps in a trustee report, but rarely seen as a strategic asset. That era is ending.

With the Charity SORP 2026 approaching, the sector is moving towards a more transparent and accountable approach. For Tier 3 charities, properly capturing and valuing volunteer time is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s becoming central to strategy, funding, and compliance.

Why Valuing Volunteer Time Matters

Clarity of Impact – Volunteers are a core part of your mission delivery. Recording their contribution highlights the true scale of your organisation’s work.
Funding Leverage – Funders increasingly want to see the full picture of resources deployed, including donated time. Strong volunteer data strengthens bids and negotiations.
Compliance & Governance – With changes ahead in the SORP, accurately valuing volunteer input helps keep reports consistent, transparent, and regulator-ready.
Strategic Decision-Making – If you can measure it, you can manage it. Understanding where volunteer time is most effectively deployed helps boards and leadership allocate resources more intelligently.

Moving from Guesswork to Governance

The days of relying on informal estimates are numbered. Charities will need proportionate, consistent methods for recording, valuing, and reporting volunteer contributions. This isn’t about bureaucracy — it’s about demonstrating stewardship and strengthening your case for support.

How Aedon.Accounting Helps

Aedon.Accounting’s sector-specific tools make it easier to:

Capture volunteer hours in real time
Assign fair value consistently
Integrate this data directly into management accounts, funding reports, and trustee dashboards

Volunteer time is no longer a footnote — it’s a financial reality. We’ll help you treat it like one.

Ready to take control of your volunteer valuation strategy? Visit Aedon.Charities or book a demo to see how Aedon.Accounting can help.