For years, efforts to capture volunteerism have focused on scale, how many people volunteer, how many hours they contribute, and what the economic replacement value might be. What is not measured remains largely invisible in policy and decision-making processes. This reflects a broader shift, from viewing volunteerism as a peripheral or “sideline” activity to recognizing it as a system that underpins community functioning and requires structured policy attention. Those working closely with volunteers understand that volunteering extends far beyond measurable outputs. Volunteering often functions as the invisible layer that holds communities together, particularly where formal systems are under pressure. It is built on relationships, trust, and a shared sense of responsibility, elements widely recognized in research on social capital, yet still insufficiently integrated into mainstream measurement approaches. These dimensions are essential for building resilient and inclusive societies.
This reality is especially visible in grassroots sport and diaspora communities, including those in the Western Balkans. In these contexts, volunteerism is not a supplementary activity; it is the foundation on which systems operate. Evidence from sport-based Erasmus+ projects and volunteer management initiatives across Europe consistently shows that local sport organizations depend on volunteers not only for delivery, but for governance, coordination, and long-term sustainability.
Diaspora networks mobilize volunteer engagement to maintain cultural connections, support integration, and respond to emerging social and economic needs across borders.
The 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report reinforces this perspective by highlighting the prevalence of informal or “direct” volunteering, which is more than twice as common globally as formal, organization-based engagement. In both sport and diaspora contexts, this form of volunteering is rooted in mutual support and social cohesion, often operating through horizontal, peer-to-peer relationships rather than formal institutional structures. This aligns with broader findings in volunteerism research, which emphasize the importance of informal engagement in sustaining community-based systems.
Yet precisely because these contributions are relational, adaptive, and embedded in everyday practice, they are rarely captured in conventional measurement frameworks. As a result, they remain underrepresented in the data that informs policy, funding, and long-term planning.
From a sports perspective, this is a critical gap. Drawing from my work in sport volunteer management across Europe, including within structured capacity-building and research initiatives, I find that this gap is not theoretical; it is reflected in how volunteer-driven systems operate daily without the visibility or support they require.
Volunteers are not simply supporting activities; they are shaping systems. They ensure access to participation, create continuity, and often carry responsibility for inclusion, development, and community engagement at the grassroots level.
The shift outlined in the 2026 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report is therefore significant. Moving beyond counting hours towards understanding the broader value of volunteerism opens the possibility of making these systems visible. It aligns with emerging approaches in policy and research that seek to capture not only economic value but also individual well-being, community resilience, and the enabling environments that support volunteer engagement.
In the sports sector, this shift has direct implications. Without meaningful and multidimensional data, volunteer management often remains reactive and undervalued. With improved measurement approaches, it becomes possible to plan more strategically, strengthen governance structures, and position sport more effectively within wider policy agendas such as health, education, social inclusion, and community development.
At the same time, the objective should not be to over-formalize what already works. The effectiveness of both grassroots sport and diaspora networks lies in their flexibility, trust-based relationships, and strong sense of community ownership. Measurement approaches need to reflect this complexity, rather than reduce it to simplified indicators.
The experience from the Western Balkans is not unique. It reflects a broader pattern observed across many regions where volunteerism is deeply embedded in practice but insufficiently recognized in policy frameworks. This is why improving how volunteerism is measured is not only a regional priority but a global one.
Moving volunteerism from the sidelines into systems requires a deliberate shift in how it is understood, measured, and embedded within policy frameworks. It means recognizing volunteerism not as an auxiliary component, but as a core part of social infrastructure. It requires aligning what is already visible in practice with what is captured in data and reflected in policy.
The systems already exist. The task now is to ensure they are understood, measured meaningfully, and supported in ways that reflect their true contribution to society.
Nada Rochevska is a sports volunteer management expert, working across Europe on developing sustainable volunteer systems in sport. She is actively involved in Erasmus+ initiatives and contributes to research, policy development, and capacity building in the field of sport volunteering.