Once a volunteer task is completed, it is important to record the who, what, when and how much was done. How much includes:
Houston Grand Opera Guild uses the web application Track-It-Forward to record volunteer hours and expenses. Each active volunteer is given a userid and password for access to Track-It-Forward so they may make their own entries. To enter data, follow this link to the Track-It-Forward website: Record Volunteer Efforts Here
For the Guild, this allows us to identify and recognize outstanding volunteers and identify individuals for future leadership roles.
For Houston Grand Opera, the yearly totals are important when applying for grants from foundations and government agencies. The contributions of time and expenses by Guild volunteers are used as evidence of community support for Houston Grand Opera.
For volunteers, this is a convenient way to record efforts without having to keep personal records. Entries are time-stamped as to date volunteered and date entered. For those who itemize income tax deductions, reports may be generated that show the miles driven and expenses incurred for the tax year. (As always, consult your tax advisor for how this applies to your situation.)