Turn volunteer hours into documented, fundable in-kind match value.
Independent Sector values volunteer time at $34.79 per hour in 2025. VolunteerBadge tracks every hour with timestamps, program attribution, and a verified audit trail — the exact format grant funders require. Included free with every account.
Why it matters
The case for Volunteer Hour Tracking
Log hours for one volunteer in under 30 seconds
Admin-entered hours require name, date, hours, and program. That's it. The immutable timestamp is set automatically. No spreadsheets, no paper sign-in sheets.
Bulk entry for group volunteer days
Had 12 volunteers at a single event? Record all 12 against the event in one action. Each volunteer gets their own timestamped entry — no manual duplication.
Self-reported hours with an admin approval gate
Let volunteers log their own hours via a lightweight link. Self-reported hours show as "pending" until an admin approves them. Only verified hours count toward grant-ready totals.
Full audit trail on every edit
No logged hour can be edited without a permanent record of who changed it, when, and what it was before. Grant auditors love this. Your board will too.
Hours sliced by program, date range, and volunteer
Every hour is attributed to a program or event so you can filter by exactly what a grant report requires. A funder asking for hours in your youth mentorship program gets exactly those numbers.
How it works
Three steps. Start to result.
Set Up a Program
Define the program or event, choose a date, and flip on hour tracking — all in one form.
- Name, type, and date in a single screen
- Toggle hour-tracking per program
- Saved programs appear instantly in the log-hours flow
FAQ
Common questions about Volunteer Hour Tracking.
What is in-kind match value and why does it matter for grants?
Many grants require a "match" — the organization contributing something proportional to the grant amount. Documented volunteer hours count as in-kind match at the Independent Sector's national volunteer value rate ($34.79/hr in 2025). Undocumented hours cannot be claimed.
Can volunteers log their own hours?
Yes — VolunteerBadge includes a self-reporting workflow. Volunteers receive a link, log their hours, and an admin approves before the hours count as verified in reports.
Can hours be edited or deleted?
Hours can be corrected, but every change creates an immutable audit log entry. This protects you in grant audits and insurance inquiries.
How is the in-kind rate updated?
The rate is stored as a configurable constant in your org settings. When Independent Sector publishes a new annual rate, you update one field and all reports recalculate.
Volunteer Hour Tracking is a free perk in VolunteerBadge.
Included free with every account, for unlimited admin users — alongside five other free perks and the core screening platform. You only ever pay $5 per background check.