Mobilizing and Managing Mobilizing and Managing Virtual VolunteersVirtual Volunteers

What is volunteering really about?What is volunteering really about?

Working on behalf of others or a Working on behalf of others or a cause without payment for time and cause without payment for time and servicesservices

Can be altruistic and/or self-servingCan be altruistic and/or self-serving

Types of VolunteeringTypes of Volunteering

VirtualVirtual School/EducationSchool/Education Corporate/EmployeeCorporate/Employee CommunityCommunity Faith based--Still largest volunteer sector Faith based--Still largest volunteer sector

(35.6% of volunteering 07-09)(35.6% of volunteering 07-09) Issue basedIssue based Skills basedSkills based InternationalInternational Local/RegularLocal/Regular Short TermShort Term

Value of VolunteersValue of Volunteers

The estimated dollar value of The estimated dollar value of volunteer time for 2009 is $20.85 per volunteer time for 2009 is $20.85 per hour.hour.

U.S. Volunteering in 2009U.S. Volunteering in 2009

Volunteering rate increased .4% from Volunteering rate increased .4% from previous year to 26.8% previous year to 26.8%

Total of 63.4 million volunteers Total of 63.4 million volunteers contributed 8.1 billion hours of contributed 8.1 billion hours of serviceservice

This service was worth $169 billionThis service was worth $169 billion

Where do I recruit volunteers?Where do I recruit volunteers?

When Recruiting Be Clear AboutWhen Recruiting Be Clear About

DutiesDuties Skills/RequirementsSkills/Requirements ExpectationsExpectations Importance of TaskImportance of Task

12 Basic Needs of Every Volunteer12 Basic Needs of Every Volunteer

Specific manageable task with beginning Specific manageable task with beginning and endand end

Task that matches interests and Task that matches interests and motivationmotivation

A good reason for doing the taskA good reason for doing the task Written instructionsWritten instructions Reasonable deadlineReasonable deadline Convenience to complete task when and Convenience to complete task when and

where it’s most convenient for volunteerwhere it’s most convenient for volunteer

Everything necessary to complete Everything necessary to complete the task without interruptionthe task without interruption

Adequate trainingAdequate training Safe, comfortable, and friendly Safe, comfortable, and friendly

working environmentworking environment Follow-up to see task to completionFollow-up to see task to completion Opportunity to provide feedback Opportunity to provide feedback

when task is finishedwhen task is finished Appreciation and recognitionAppreciation and recognition

Virtual VolunteeringVirtual Volunteering

Virtual volunteering is a term Virtual volunteering is a term describing a volunteer who describing a volunteer who completes tasks, in whole or in part, completes tasks, in whole or in part, offsite from the organization using offsite from the organization using the Internet.the Internet.

Many organizations find a Many organizations find a combination of onsite and online combination of onsite and online tasks for volunteers works best for tasks for volunteers works best for everyone involved (volunteers, staff, everyone involved (volunteers, staff, clients). Assignments can have clients). Assignments can have different levels of virtuality. different levels of virtuality.

Nothing virtual about commitment, Nothing virtual about commitment, tasks, deadlinestasks, deadlines

Advantages of Virtual VolunteeringAdvantages of Virtual Volunteering

ComfortComfort No Commute No Commute Larger pool of volunteersLarger pool of volunteers More accessible (people with More accessible (people with

disabilities)disabilities) Breaks down geographic boundariesBreaks down geographic boundaries Easier to work around schedulesEasier to work around schedules

Virtual Volunteers may have skills Virtual Volunteers may have skills organization needs or does not haveorganization needs or does not have

Stretch organizations’ resourcesStretch organizations’ resources

The Contact FactorThe Contact Factor

Miss face-to face contact which can Miss face-to face contact which can limit networking opportunitieslimit networking opportunities

Can miss sense of community Can miss sense of community Can miss non-profits larger missionCan miss non-profits larger mission

Types of TasksTypes of Tasks

FundraisingFundraising Web Design/MaintenanceWeb Design/Maintenance Data EntryData Entry Writing/EditingWriting/Editing Film/Other MediaFilm/Other Media ResearchResearch ConsultingConsulting TranslationTranslation Online MentoringOnline Mentoring

Establishing Virtual Volunteering Establishing Virtual Volunteering ProgramProgram

Post Opportunity/Actively search for Post Opportunity/Actively search for volunteersvolunteers

After they show interest send initial contact email ask for phone number

Phone CallPhone Call

Second level email asks them to Second level email asks them to create Gmail account for sharing create Gmail account for sharing Google Docs Google Docs

Send email with links which explain Send email with links which explain tasks – detailed documentation link, tasks – detailed documentation link, video linkvideo link

Give permissionsGive permissions

Monitor WorkMonitor Work

Give feedback

Communicate/Follow up

Track Progress/Completion

Recognition

Virtual Volunteering is about real Virtual Volunteering is about real people making real impact in real people making real impact in real time. Virtual volunteers are real time. Virtual volunteers are real people who need real management people who need real management and support. Nothing virtual about and support. Nothing virtual about them.them.

SourcesSources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteeringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteering http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/

assets/resources/FactSheetFinal.pdfassets/resources/FactSheetFinal.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Virtual_volunteeringVirtual_volunteering http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/

serviceleader/virtual/serviceleader/virtual/ http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/

expert-cravens-online-volexpert-cravens-online-vol

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