Lots of reasons people volunteer. Basic Rules to keep in mind: People volunteer for people – (write that down) Typically have a connection to the person asking them They felt known by the ask – the person pointed out… I know you like, are good at…. Think that ___ is important… so I wanted to ask you… You can know all the pychology in the world about what makes people volunteer, you can have a great facility for them to volunteer in, you can have great communication tools … but if your oranization lacks a genuine care and concern for the volunteer, you will not keep them. 1 corinthians 13 – The Staff who interface with your volunteers have to genuinely have a love and a care for people. On the place where I serve – thanked every time I participate , stories of success are shared. Welcomed, calls returned. Culture of careing and appreciateion.
Your most active volunteers are sold out to your mission. So be bold. Your cause is noble and just and worthwhile and you are looking for link minded people. You are not asking for help, you are inviting people into opportunities - to grow your reach, your impact, your presence. For them to help you make a difference in something that really matters. Basic rule number two (write this down) You don’t ask – you don’t get (write that down) Keep it positive, keep it mission focused. Girl Scout Story Invite, invite , invite
People volunter for the emotional satisfaction – Seeking meaning and signifigance… stay at home moms with young children often are looking for a way that they can make a difference – but in a way that is flexible enough for them to be able to do at home - projects they can do during naps that give them a sense of accomplishment unemployed individuals may be starting to loose hope that their skills are good enough or useful to others. Restore hope People want their lives to count for something.
Sometimes we can be under the impression that people are supposed to be all selfless when they volunteer Its not such a bad thing, and can actually work to your benefit in an age of 7% unemployment – skill building. As you talk with people and get to know them uncover the areas where they want to grow. What skills to they already have. What do they want to learn Create win-win opportunities Example of creating a video – I needed a video made…. met someone with video skills – student in need of a portfolio Combed the internet..didn’t know the actors but chances good that they needed a portfolio Non-profit 101 – you don’t ask, you don’t get.
We live in a highly connected, relationally disconnected world. A lot of people are in isolation looking for companionship Seniors and be one of your most powerful resources for Busy Hands Give them a jazzy name and a regular meeting time and you will begin packaging an “outing” they can look forward to. essential – welcoming greater, refreshments –coffee & cookies, pleasant work space Families are looking for ways to serve intergeneraionally - can you give them an inexpensive values driven way to have fun and serve together? Service Groups - Many times girl scouts, boy scouts, youth groups, school service groups, are looking for ready make projects ideas that can help others. (success of FMSC, books for africa) can you package service group events.
Essential for volunteer retention Do you know your best volunteer recruiter? A happy current volunteer How are you using that evaluation form that you have volunteers fill out at the end of a fist time event? Will you be able to send them a thank you? Do you now have them in your database? Thank with focus on Mission … .What you did is bringing …hope…feeding… Tell stories of organzaitonal success. Angel (Tracy) Story Share a side bar….. People’s attention span’s are short. Use grapics that display feeling and short stories to illustrate - pictures are everything Numbers lead to overwhelming people. It is the personal story!
A Healthy volunteer organization strategically identifies the volunteers needed. Board Members Committee Chairpersons Committee Members Coordinators “ Creative Contractors” “ Worker Bees”
A strong board is needed for a strong organiztion Strategic in membership HR, Mtkg, Financial, Legal, connection to donors, connection to agencies If this is your emphais right now….What materials do you have in place – Vision for your board make up Be up front with commitment – the worst thing you can imply is that it is not going to take time. One meeting a month – how many hours. Board orientaiton? job description of a board member -Strategic Plan for the organization. The professionalism you use to attract board members is the professionalizm you will get.
Let’s face it these can be hard to find This is a personal ask – the person you know can do the job.. We all know… its ideal to committee in with a Vice-chair.. Establishing a path for grooming a replacement Having difficulty getting Chairpersons? Try Team Lead - team implies working together , action, working toward Try Co-chairpersons – work to develop Verify they will be supported. Sometimes you have to just get going assembling the committee first, if a chair does not emerge (only after you decided the committee is absolutely - essential) Example of my taking on the 6 th grade send off… Elementary School Volunteer coordinator Christine good job….
The more expertise you get in Team memebers on the committee, the easire it will be to find a team lead (coordinators – creative contractors) Said she’d take on the publicity/ take care of posters Said he’d help organize the set up crew/ work on set up Is a whiz at games. Keep copies of all the files and notes onsite – not at volunteers homes – people are more likely to take the job if equipped. There is no way to ignore the value of group process and group discussion in creating memorable programs and events. Arm every one with clarity around roles and responsibilities and goals and ojbecitves of the committee.
Talk about trends because it relates to committee chairs and committees. For the most part, People associate committee and committee chair with negative – sitting – endless meeting. Try Teams, Work Teams, Project Teams, Team lead – it implies a time boxes, goal driven activity. Communication With advent of technology people expect short concisie targeted information. They are not going to read through a lot of mail. You have a matter of seconds to get attention and to make your point electronically. Yet it is the perfect way to minimize meeting time and issue reminders. People expect reminders. Many smaller meetings can be avoided by the use of e-mail
Volunteering trends are moving away from comittees and toward coordinators. Managible and specific duty that fits into a person’s busy life. Volunteer management is highly relational… Find out as much as you can what resonates with a person. What do they love to do, what are their strenghts? (Pam, this takes too much time) creating things: organizeing things: talking to people: working with their intellect, working with their hands. Figure out if they are a solo person or like social formats Design a position description based on their imput. creating things: thank you notes, item assembly for special events organizeing things: closets, office files set up for events Talking to people: follow up calls, Direct care: drivers,
People who have a skill to share can often gain more joy in participting in the activity than being driven by the missio of the organization. Decorators - Graphic Designers Computer people Video people They are going to want high ownership of the creative process so be clear in what the project is you are asking them to do, financial expenditures, roles and responsibilities. Claudia
Every volunteer based organization needs communication tools to equip the staff, volunteers to recruit more volunteers.
Where is home base for your volunteer information. Where do you sent people to obtain written information on the opportunities availble. Ways to volunteer as individuals Groups Families Areas of expertise that are needed IT skills, office skills, relational skills, coordination skills, connections… Participation in Direct Service to Clients Ways to help with events. There are some great sites out there - Habitat does a bang up job!
I’m a proponent of Reuse Brochures can be printed and also made into PDFs and uploaded to websites. Consider a general volunteer brochure highlighting the ways to get involved. Go Deeper to develop position descriptions for needed roles.
Existing print pieces. Add a volunteer informaton contact at minimum – noting how the organization benefits from the skills of many talented volunteers Better yet more concise listing. As much as possible
Recognition – This could get sticky… you’ll want to set up criteria for how and when you recognize people Suggestion – always tie the recoginition into a story of how the mission of the organizaiton was realized through this person…. keeps the reminder to all we are mission driven It is possible to create monsters.
Note on ads for your newsletters or bullitens ets.. Take the perspective of the potential volunteer with regard to their needs. Read.
There was a lot of data covered. So a question for you is who is responsible in your organization for moving the process of volunteer recruitment, training and retention forward. Who is responsible teaching people to really listening what people are and are not saying? Many of you may not be in the financial posiiton to be able to employ a paid volunteer coordinator. Consider a partnering of a staff person for direction and oversight and a volunteer – volunteer coordinator Some people have the gift. The like to talk and connect and listen to people… example of “lucy” … know over time of short visits that she’s open to interesting and new experiences, likes drama, and has a daughter that could use a “boost”
