Investment Appraisal of Upskilling Employees in the Nonprofit Sector

This landmark study by Indecon, for The Wheel, quantifies training and upskilling in the nonprofit sector—both paid and unpaid.

Overview

Indecon carried out new research among a diverse group of CEOs, staff, and volunteers in nonprofit organisations, collecting nearly 700 survey responses. The strong engagement shows that organisations recognise the value of workforce skills in meeting community needs.

The authors also conducted a cost-benefit analysis of investing in these workers’ upskilling. With input from various stakeholders, including charities and social enterprises, the study highlights the need for skills development in the sector.

The report pinpoints areas needing investment to close current and future skills gaps in the Irish nonprofit sector. It also highlights sectors requiring more training due to expected growth, such as IT, marketing, project management, and human resource management.

The report reveals that training investment in Ireland’s nonprofit workforce is low compared to other sectors and similar nonprofits abroad. It identifies barriers to investment, like training costs and the lack of time for workers to engage in training, while suggesting solutions to these challenges.

The research includes a cost-benefit analysis showing a clear net benefit to investing in nonprofit workforce development. On average, for every €1 invested, there is a return of €2.86 in quality and impact. This demonstrates the positive outcomes of increased investment in training, including improved innovation, productivity, and lower operating costs.

The Wheel acknowledges the support of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for funding this research.

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