This document summarizes a 3-year research project on volunteerism for rural watershed groups. It surveyed volunteers from 16 organizations to learn about their characteristics and motivations. It identified 25 successful volunteer management practices used by other groups. These practices were tested by having organizations adopt new strategies. The project aims to develop tools and resources to help rural community groups better manage and engage volunteers. A toolkit and website were created to share the research findings and provide worksheets and checklists to support volunteer management.

1. The OSM/VISTA Teams
Appalachian Coal Country Team
www.CoalCountryTeam.org
Western Hardrock Watershed Team
www.HardrockTeam.org

2. Appalachian Coal Country Team
ACCT
PA, OH, MD, WV, VA, KY, TN, AL
Western Hardrock Watershed Team
WHWT
CO and NM

4. “Volunteers for Rural Watersheds”
Research Project
o 3-year research project
o Seek to develop tools and resources to make volunteerism
work better for rural community/watershed groups
o Started in Summer 2008
o Funding from EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and
Watersheds (OWOW) to explore:
o Who are volunteers and what services do they provide?
o What are the most effective ways to manage volunteers?
o Why and where are these strategies successful?
o How can we get these findings and
effective strategies into the hands of
as many people as possible?
Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org

5. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org
Project Overview
• Phase 1: Collected and analyzed
survey data from volunteer base of
16 organizations
• Phase 2: Identified 25 volunteer
management practices being done
successfully by rural groups;
transplanted and documented trial
practices for one year
• Phase 3: Outreach and
dissemination of information
through workshops, workbook,
website, webinars, etc.

6. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
Phase 1: Volunteer Surveys
Survey asked:
• How did these rural watershed volunteers
get involved with their organizations?
• What are some of their personal
characteristics?
• What capacity do they serve for their
respective organizations and
communities?
• How might they be further engaged in
volunteer activities in the future?
• Practical issues such as volunteer
availability and provision for follow-up
interviews.
www.RuralVolunteer.org

7. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org
What we learned:
A "typical” volunteer for a rural
watershed group:
– Adult (average 50 years old)
– Married (65%) with children (63%)
– Employed full-time (49%)
– Has bachelor’s degree (39%)
– Making between $20,000 and
$39,000 per year
– Residing within the watershed
(area served by organization)

8. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org
What we learned:
• 70% of volunteers had friends who were part of the
organization prior to participation
• Became involved in organization through a friend
involved with the watershed group (36%) or through
a family member involved with the watershed group
(18%).

9. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org
What we learned:
– Are highly involved in local organizations, most
commonly: a conservation organization (48%); a
church-affiliated group (46%); a civic or political
organization (44%).
– Report high civic engagement:
• 90% voted in the 2008 presidential election
• 82% voted in a local election in 2006 or 2007
• 79% voted in the primary election
• 63% contacted a member of Congress
or state legislature for any reason
• 51% contacted a local government
official about a policy issue

10. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org
Phase 2: Testing Volunteer Management Practices
• Designed to identify successful
volunteer management practices
then monitor application by other
organizations
– Found practices or strategies
being used with success by other
organizations within the
ACCT/WHWT
– Transplanted 25 successful
practices to the participating
organizations that need them
– Documented successes and
challenges for 1 year

11. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org
25 Volunteer Management Practices
• Skills/needs spreadsheet for board
recruitment
• Partnership with ATV groups
• Church partnerships
• Business partnerships
• Mandatory service volunteers
• Community service volunteers
• Student athlete volunteers
• Bi-monthly outreach meetings
• One-hour board meetings
• Volunteer contributions to newsletter
• Development of youth advisory board
• Formation of youth helper organization
• Wild and Scenic Film Festival
• Service learning projects
• Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
• Providing transportation
• Water monitoring through partnerships
• Water monitoring with individuals
• Volunteer appreciation picnic
• Constructing a rain garden
• Constructing wetlands
• Duck race
• 5k race
• Adopt-a-stream
• Fish fry

12. 5k Race
The Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team (ACCWT)
An OSM/VISTA Initiative
www.accwt.org

13. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org
Phase 3: Create and share rural volunteer management resources
– Distillation of all research into
Toolkit workbook and website
– Not just research but worksheets,
checklists, etc for overall volunteer
management process
– Share on local, state, regional, and
national level
– Create and conduct training
around Toolkit

14. Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers
www.RuralVolunteer.org

15. Website
www.ruralvolunteer.org
Amber Hendrickson
fellow@ruralvolunteer.org
(304)252-4848 x 310