Growing Your Organization’s Volunteer Program

1. Growing Your Organization’s Volunteer Program

2. Goals • Provide information and evidence demonstrating the importance of a volunteer program. • Identify steps and a process to be used in the review or development of a volunteer program.

3. Volunteers Represent An Investment

4. Benefits Effective Programs Bring Returns

5. Reimagining Service 50 or more volunteers = Increased capacity

6. The Service Enterprise “. . . fundamentally leverages volunteers and their skills to successfully deliver on the social mission of the organization”

7. Path To Becoming A Service Enterprise

8. “Service Enterprises are able to get as much as three to six times the value out of volunteers as the cost to manage them” What Is Reimaging Service? http://reimaginingservice.org/pdfs/PDF03.pdf

9. BENEFITS • Input & feedback • Additional human resources • Additional expertise • Contacts and outreach • Act as connectors to other groups • Provide community monitoring • Provide financial support

10. Costs & Challenges • Programming • Travel, food • Materials • Recruitment • Recognition • Space • Computer access, desk • Tools & materials • Staff time & commitment • Planning, preparation, review, revision • Volunteer Management • Training

11. The Cost of A Volunteer, The Grantmaker Forum on Community and National Service Because of changing demographics and expectations among those who volunteer, organizations are compelled to invest more time and money in the recruitment, training and retention of 21st volunteers. . .”

12. Making The InvestmentSteps to A To-Notch Volunteer Program • Revisit your organization’s mission. • Gather Ideas—Conduct a Needs Assessment • Develop a case statement • Get buy-in • Do initial program design • Develop the resources • Capitalize on trends and community resources. • Determine the structure • Address risk management issues • Determine if there are legal issues to address • Develop effective volunteer management policies and procedures. • Start small—pilot, reevaluate

13. Before conducting a needs assessment: I. Review your organizational vision and mission. • What are you trying to accomplish in your community? • How do volunteers fit into the program’s mission, strategies, and goals? • How could volunteers best meet the program’s needs to serve more people and make a greater difference to the community? • How can volunteers help meet program goals?

14. Develop a purpose statement (case statement) • A written statement that explains the object for which anything exists or is done or is made. • “A Case Statement is a living document that you must have on file at all times. It is important for your Board of Directors and your Donor Development Department to understand, who you are and what you intend to do to make a difference in your community. A case statement is essential to the future success of the organization in raising major funds. This document is crucial for any other proposals that might be written in the future, such as grants to Foundations or proposals to churches or corporation” http://www.rescuemissionfoundation.org/rmf/howto-casestatement.htm

15. The Case Statement Demonstrates the value of the program Provides structure and focus for activities Used in outreach activities—letterhead, recruitment, etc. Examples Those who care for seriously ill children often suffer from the fall out--divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression. Volunteers who serve with our organization help strengthen and extend our ability to support and strengthen families with children suffering from a variety of illnesses and injuries. The ___ mobilizes volunteers to collect and distribute food to those in need as well as to provide effective education and support to promote healthy eating.

16. Conduct a Needs Assessment • Identify where volunteers should be placed • Identify where volunteers are no longer needed • Identify ways volunteers can increase staff efficiency • Create staff buy-in

17. How is a needs assessment done? Choose the one that best fits your organization

18. Who participates?

19. DISCUSSION Pause the webinar presentation at this time How has or will your organization assess your needs? How did or will your organization obtain buy-in for the volunteer program and/or potential changes?

20. Volunteer positions should not: • Require extensive training • Involve significant risk to the individual or the organization • Include duties that are repetitive and on-going in nature • Replace staff

21. Develop the resources • Develop a Budget line item • Volunteer recruitment materials • Project materials • Staff training • Identify staff responsibilities • Incorporate volunteer management responsibilities into staff position descriptions • Allocate space (if necessary)

22. Identifying Resources How can you advocate within your organization to get the resources you need to be successful? • Create a volunteer advisory council chaired by a current board member. • Host a focus group of volunteers and staff and present report or recommendations to supervisor or board. • Prepare a quarterly report to the board on the value of the volunteer program. • Other.

23. Five Elements of Volunteer Management NEXT STEPS. . . Determine the structure Develop policies and procedures Put them in writing Volunteer Handbook Volunteer Orientation

24. Discussion What is your organization’s next step? What can you do to facilitate the process?

25. Summary—Questions/Feedback Please complete and return your evaluation form. Your input is appreciated. Thank you for your time and willingness to participate in this training.