Volunteers

Volunteerism is vulnerable to cultural shifts, and there have been plenty lately. An expert in the field outlines two trends that are affecting volunteer programs right now.

There is a revived spirit of volunteerism in the U.S. Whether you have one hour a week or one day a year to give, there is a place where you can give back.

Volunteerism is changing. Trends that affect us across society are evolving the expectations of volunteers and the types of people who show up to volunteer. Are you ready?

Volunteers fall into certain personality clusters. Understanding what those are will help you fit the right volunteer to the right job.

Does your organization treat its volunteers like a cherished customer? Take a hint from the best customer relationship management techniques of the businesses that we always go back to.

Serving on the board of a nonprofit is not something to be taken lightly. Board members need to be prepared to pay attention and willing to make hard decisions.

You may be very anxious to get started on recruiting volunteers for your organization, but some preliminary work needs to be done first.

Nonprofit organizations really do need to be careful about who is volunteering for them. An adequate volunteer application form is essential.

A written job description is as necessary for volunteers as it is for paid positions.

Ordinarily, volunteers are essential to nonprofits. During a recession they may be even more so, helping us get work done that we otherwise simply could not afford to do.

It is very tempting in a recession to change formerly staff-held jobs into volunteer ones. But is it right? Does it work? What are the pitfalls or the benefits?

My favorite volunteer experience was when I...

Deloitte encourages nonprofits to think of this kind of skilled help from corporations as a form of currency, helping to fill the financial gap in the face of lower corporate giving and the increased demand for nonprofit services.

Looking for budget friendly voluntourism opportunities? Here are several to consider for you travel plans.

The micro-volunteering movement is being led by an organization called The Extraordinaries.

With travel and volunteerism going hand in hand in recent years, it is understandable if there is confusion among terms.

Volunteerism in the U.S. is strong and growing. Here are tips for both nonprofits who recruit volunteers and for people who want to volunteer

It has never been easier to volunteer. Just let your fingers do the searching at your computer keyboard with these volunteer matching services.

Here is a tip for making your volunteer recognition event something that people look forward to...not dread.

One chapter of the book details Wilson's theories about how to place the right people in the right jobs so they will be fully motivated to fulfill your goals.

It is unfortunate that volunteerism has retreated recently. Perhaps the tough economy has distracted potential volunteers, or the rise in gas prices has made it cost prohibitive to get to volunteer jobs. Whatever the reason, now is a good time to take a look at your volunteer program and spiff it up so that your volunteers will want to come...

Baby Boomers are too valuable to pass up. But recruiting them as volunteers and retaining them may be a bit more complicated than we at first thought. It is clear, however, that smart analysis and strategic implementation will put your nonprofit ahead in the competition for boomer volunteers.

Actually, it is common to pay to volunteer abroad. But just think of the great experience you'll gain as well as helping out your favorite cause.

Serving on the board of a nonprofit is not something to be taken lightly. Board members need to be prepared to pay attention and willing to make hard decisions. But what should someone who is approached to serve on a nonprofit board think about? What should he/she look for before making a decision that will affect them in terms of money,...

There are numerous methods you can use to recruit volunteers. However, not all of them will be appropriate for your organization or your specific needs.

You may be very anxious to get started on recruiting volunteers for your organization, but some preliminary work needs to be done first.

An incredibly useful tool, the volunteer position description creates the basis for your volunteer recruitment efforts. It explains the assignment, skills, abilities and interests necessary to perform the volunteer task successfully. Position descriptions can and should be written for both individuals and volunteer committees.

This short book is packed with suggestions and real life experience. It begins with a discussion of "What is Supervision?" thus swinging attention away from the volunteer to a consideration of what you, the supervisor, should understand about supervising volunteers.

Family Volunteer programs are more than a trend these days. Busy families welcome the opportunity to do something together. Setting up a family volunteer program could be a great plus for your organization.

Young people actually volunteer at a much greater rate than adults. How can you take advantage of this youthful drive to do good?

Recruiting youth volunteers requires the ability to put yourself in their shoes. Here are some tips for recruiting and engaging them.

Baby Boomers are 77 million strong and present a tremendous opportunity for social engagement. A major campaign is being waged to recruit them. Learn facts about boomers and read tips on how to recruit them as volunteers.

Baby boomers are not their parents and working with them as volunteers will be different. Here are some tips on recruiting and managing them.

I know that in-kind donations can be included in the P&L as long as they are off-set as both income and expense. But can the same be done for volunteer hours?

How do you use young volunteers? One nonprofit involves them in a youth media agency to fill the community’s need for social marketing while providing the teenagers with a positive experience that builds career and personal skills.

Do you frequently have 15 minutes or so to spare? Do you sometimes have a free hour or two on the weekends? Would you like to make a positive impact on the environment? Then get ready to be a flexible volunteer for the planet.

Despite the busy lifestyles of most Americans, they are volunteering at a greater rate than just a few years ago. That is good news for nonprofit organizations who need the people-power.

Women learn many business skills as volunteers that translate into career success.

Energize Inc. is an online source of information for volunteer managers. The site is bright and full of ideas, articles, essays by experts, and resources.

CharityChannel.com requires a subscription (moderately priced) but provides some excellent resources. There are discussion lists, email newsletters, nonprofit news, book reviews, and excellent articles by the members and users of CharityChannel.com. Volunteer management is one of the major categories for this excellent online resource.