How To Create A Volunteer Friendly Organization

1. How To Create A Volunteer Friendly Organization Trainer: Betty Stallings www.bettystallings.com bettystall@aol.com

2. Agenda • Introductory comments/participant activity • Elements of a Volunteer Friendly Organization • Philosophy of Volunteer Engagement • Understanding Today’s Volunteers and designing effective outreach and internal support to enhance volunteer satisfaction • Creative and Effective Use of Technology in Volunteer Friendly Organizations

3. Volunteer and Staff Friendly Volunteer Programs • For volunteers - • What creates the atmosphere and experience that keep volunteers satisfied and wanting to continue to support the organization’s mission – in some capacity? • For Staff - • What creates a staff-friendly volunteer program? (Resistance will occur if these issues are not addressed)

4. Group feedback…… • What creates a volunteer friendly program? • What creates a staff friendly program?

5. Real Success involves the TEAM Approach • Volunteers (Program/service) • Staff who utilize volunteers • Executive management/Board All must be satisfied to build a solid successful program!

6. Elements of a Volunteer Friendly Program • The Organization’s Philosophy of Volunteer EngagementPossible components…. • Partnership concept • Volunteers to be engaged in all aspects and at all levels of the organization • Volunteers are essential to the mission • Staff are expected, prepared and rewarded for effectively involving volunteers in their work • Volunteer Manager is on the Management Team • Volunteer Program is a TEAM effort • Executive Management gives leadership and support • Volunteer input is encouraged. • Volunteers receive meaningful appreciation

7. Elements of a Volunteer Friendly Program 2. Understanding Today’s Volunteers and Designing effective outreach and internal support to enhance volunteer satisfaction. • Creation of a variety of ways for volunteers to give time • Targeting recruitment strategy and message • Smooth, efficient system to connect and be placed • Interviews that uncover the volunteer’s motivation to serve • Clarity of commitment and scheduling of mutual re-commitment discussions • Staff who are trained and rewarded for effective partnering with volunteers • Efficient but sufficient orientation/training for the position • Excellent staff delegation skills for work performed by volunteers • Mutual on-going recognition • Keeping volunteer connected when not active

8. Elements of a Volunteer Friendly Program 3. Use of Technology to streamline: • Recruitment and Placement (website – online inquiries and applications) • Communication between staff and volunteers and volunteers to other volunteers and to staff and executives and board • Record keeping and internal systems • Volunteering virtually

9. How Can you make your organization more volunteer friendly? • Organization’s philosophy about engaging volunteers • Understanding Today’s Volunteers and Designing effective outreach and internal support to increase volunteer satisfaction • Enhanced technology