2. AGENDA
Personal Connection!
Stages of Volunteer Coordination
Recruitment
Orientation
Engagement
Retention
Things to Consider
Useful Resources
3. PERSONAL CONNECTION!
Be responsive
Prompt answers & guidance
Solicit feedback
Enlist the help of seasoned volunteers
Buddy system
Mentoring
Liaisons
Matchmakers
Create a community
Teams
Facebook
Events
Set realistic expectations
5. RECRUITMENT: VOLUNTEER ROLES
Identify key areas of need and schedules
Write position descriptions
Describe essential duties
Include skills and experience needed
Describe the physical conditions
Who will coordinate volunteers?
Dedicated volunteer coordination (VC) committee
Invest time/resources
6. RECRUITMENT: POLICIES
Create Volunteer Handbook
Set expectations
Minimum time commitment
Age guidelines
Shelter environment
Dealing with animals
Outline do‟s and don‟ts
Search online for samples
7. RECRUITMENT: STRATEGIES
Overall organizational marketing is key
APA! does little recruitment
Strong brand awareness = more volunteers
Leverage existing staff & volunteers
Leverage the community
Online recruitment
VolunteerMatch, Craigslist, Facebook
8. ORIENTATION: APPLICATION AND
REGISTRATION
Applications are a necessity
Liability and release
Capture key information
Search online for sample applications
APA! uses Zoho (free)
Application auto-response
To register or not to register?
10. ORIENTATION: PRESENTATION
Content
Follow Volunteer Handbook
History and mission of organization
Specific volunteer duties and teams
Necessary training and safety info
Set expectations – The 3 P‟s
Clear next steps
Choice Sheet
11. ENGAGEMENT: ORIENTATION FOLLOW-UP
Be Responsive
Prompt follow up
Add to email list
APA! uses Yahoo Groups
Send welcome letter
Establish personal connection
Connect volunteers with team leaders/liaisons
Matchmakers
VC team
Share “insider” info
Wiki page, Facebook groups, etc.
12. ENGAGEMENT: DEPLOYMENT
Volunteer shifts
Encourage accountability
Provide direction for new volunteers
Buddy system or mentors
Pair new volunteers up with veterans
Liaisons
Link between ops team and VC team
Provide training
Volunteers know what to do and how to do it
Check in/retrain
15. RETENTION: PERSONAL
CONNECTION/COMMUNITY!
Be responsive
Enlist the help of seasoned volunteers
Create a community
„Uniform‟
Teams
Facebook
Events
Set realistic expectations
16. RETENTION: APPRECIATION/RECOGNITION
Appreciation
Parties or gatherings
“Thank you” and a positive attitude
Recognition
Volunteer of the Month
Veteran volunteers
Meaningful items as reward
i.e. Volunteer t-shirt instead of a plaque
Organization-wide and team-specific
17. THINGS TO CONSIDER
Tracking hours – APA now
Unique cases
Walk-In Volunteers
Group volunteers?
Pro: Good for large projects
Con: Require more management, short-term
Under 18?
Pro: Recruit and retain parents
Con: Safety concerns, management
Community service
Pro: Increases number of helping hands!
Con: Less invested in the organization, more oversight
18. USEFUL RESOURCES
Your organization‟s website
Other organizations‟ manuals, articles, how-to‟s
Zoho
Volunteer response templates (canned responses)
Google docs & forms
Yahoo or Google groups
www.idealist.org
RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program)
HSUS‟s Volunteer Management Discussion Group
Local Volunteer Management Groups
Notes de l'éditeur
Establish and maintain a personal connection
Establish and maintain a personal connectionFeedback – personal & anonymous
Describe the essential duties for each positionInvest time/resources up front to maximize success
Search online for samples to get ideasTeen foster program
Leverage existing staff & volunteers - Ask employees and current volunteers to refer their friends, family members and co-workersLeverage the community - Advertise at businesses or post notices at libraries, schools and other places with community boards
Capture key info: Capture contact info, work/volunteer experience and education
Choice sheets - Allows volunteers to indicate area of interest