Volunteer Management Blog
The Power of Collaboration
By utilising the power of collaboration, organizations can increase their impact exponentially while conserving resources. Here’s how.
Getting Feedback from Volunteers
Knowing what volunteers think and feel about your program is vital to its growth. Here are a few ways you can gather that important information.
Creating a Culture of Problem Solving
Building a culture of problem solving within your volunteer program can save you time, increase your organization’s impact, and satisfy & motivate volunteers.
The Case for Selfish Volunteers
I believe there is a strong case for recruiting selfish volunteers. Self-interest can drive positive social change!
Getting Club Members to Volunteer
It can be hard to get club members (or their parents!) to volunteer to do the tasks that keep the club running. Here are 5 ways to make it easier.
Include Volunteer Professionals on Your Board of Directors
Having a volunteer engagement professional on your board of directors can benefit the volunteers, yourself and the organization as a whole. Here’s how.
When Volunteers Quit
It can be frustrating when volunteers quit, but it can also be a valuable learning opportunity. Here’s how to find that silver lining.
Turn Staff into Volunteer Lovers
Your organization’s mission is negatively impacted when staff don’t fully engage with volunteers. Here are five tips to turn staff into volunteer lovers.
Funding for Volunteers and Volunteer Programs
Investing in volunteers is vital. Here are some tips you can use to induce donors to provide funding for volunteers and your volunteer program.
When Clients Have Complex Needs
“Levels of volunteering go down when clients have complex needs.” Which means that the most vulnerable among us have less help. Here’s why, and what to do about it.
Conflict Resolution in Volunteering
Conflict resolution is a key part of leading a team of volunteers. Few of us are trained mediators, so here are some tips to make it easier.
Effective Onboarding of Volunteers
Having an effective onboarding process for your volunteers can improve your retention and increase your organization’s impact in your community. Here’s a template to help.
Succession Planning for Volunteer Boards
Many social impact organizations have difficulty building succession planning into their board’s culture. Here are a few tips to help you.
The Benefits of Public Acknowledgement
Public acknowledgement of volunteers is an important tool in your appreciation toolkit. Here’s why, and how you can do it well.
Volunteers and the Dead Horse Theory
Have you ever heard of the “Dead Horse Theory”? It’s a concept, unfortunately, that is prevalent in many social impact organizations and volunteer programs. Here’s how you can get a handle on it – without buying a bigger whip!
Volunteer Passports
Volunteer passports are a new idea that might just save leaders of volunteers a ton of time, AND make it easier to recruit.
How to Be a Hero
Most of us want to be a hero. Someone who goes out and saves lives. Few of us, though, think that we have the skills or capacity. You might be surprised!
A Volunteer’s Buffet
Volunteers are drawn to organizations that offer more flexibility and choice in what they do. Try setting up a volunteer’s buffet for them.
Risk Management in Volunteering
Risk management is vital when running volunteer programs. Here are three areas where you can “hope for the best, but plan for the worst”.
Instructional Design for Volunteer Training
Instructional design can be a great way to not only improve your training but also help you see untapped potential in volunteers. I broke one method down for you.
Should You Hire Volunteers?
Some organizations hesitate to hire volunteers for staff positions. Or it doesn’t even occur to them! Here’s why I think you should at least have a second look at this pool of potential staff.
Strategic Planning for Volunteer Programs
Strategic planning may seem to be a complicated process to do for your volunteer program, but it keeps you focused and moving forward. Here’s what you need to know.
Embracing the Micro-Volunteering Trend
Micro-volunteering is here to stay. Here’s what it is, and how to position yourself to take advantage of the trend.
Recruit Volunteers who DON’T Fit the Culture
It is standard practice to recruit volunteers, staff and Board members who “fit the culture” of an organization. Unfortunately, we do so at the expense of diversity.
Directors vs Trustees
The titles we give people have a vast influence over how they are viewed by the general public. Take, for instance, the difference between “Directors” and “Trustees”.