Managing Volunteers & Expectations: A Win - Win
Phyllis Lasky September 8, 2010
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Today’s Speaker
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Phyllis Lasky Phyllis Lasky Consulting
A Win – Win
Phyllis Lasky Consulting
Nonprofit Webinar
September 8, 2010
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Began with Ben Franklin ◦ Volunteer fire departments
◦ Lending libraries
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A movement that is in high gear ◦ Children and young people looking to
―make a difference‖
◦ Retirees wanting to keep busy and to give back
◦ Retirees who are not ready to retire
A very special group that needs focused attention
◦ All ages in between — particularly those who are working!
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We love ‗em and have always had them
They perform specific jobs ◦ Often clerical, e.g., mailings
◦ Phone duties
◦ Filing
They save staff time
They save agency money
It‘s potentially good public relations
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Fundraising events
Thank you events
Bylaws
Investment
Other, specific to your nonprofit
AND THEN THERE‘S THE BOARD…
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It‘s about all the organization and ―me‖
Let‘s look at this paradigm another way…
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Is your organizational culture ready and able to do what it takes to make the volunteer experience a win – win?
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Are volunteers included in your strategic plan?
Do you consider your board to be volunteers?
Are there resources for volunteer management?
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Target the volunteers that you want ◦ Be clear about what the volunteers will do
◦ Describe background and interests needed to be successful
◦ Provide a job description for each position
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◦ Is the organizational culture a fit with the need?
Is a structure in place to support the volunteers and the staff?
Is an open exchange of information encouraged?
Do you listen to your volunteers?
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Individuals who volunteer want to meet an immediate personal need: ◦ Are you ready?
◦ Remember to listen
◦ Be responsive
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Should you ―make these days work?‖
Think creatively about who is coming ◦ Opportunities abound
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Ambassadors
Donors
Other
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Consider: ◦ Your needs and theirs
◦ Is there a consistent need over the course of a year
◦ Attrition
◦ Refreshing your volunteer pool
Setting goals
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Invested volunteers provide good value:
Manage their needs and yours
◦ Growth
◦ Ownership
◦ Continuity
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Culture and finesse
Good luck!
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Meal de rigueur
Naming the volunteer position adds to the incentive
Awards
Warning:
◦ Use care with $$ value!
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Aren‘t your volunteers donors-- and vice versa? ◦ Define a donor for your organization
Find ways to integrate all donors into your organization‘s culture…
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Your strategic approach to volunteers will pay off…
And remember to…
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Phyllis Lasky Consulting Communications
Training
Development
Interim management
57 Park Avenue Extension Arlington, MA 02474 website: www.laskyconsulting.com email: [email protected] tel: 781.646.7176 mobile: 617.710.3967
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