ihs annual conference 2011: managing and maximizing your volunteers

Community Focus Statewide Impact National Network

Presented byAndrew Marietta, Regional Manager, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc.

www.nycon.org | 800.515.5012 ext 141 | amarietta@nycon.org

Managing and Maximizing Your Volunteers

2011 Annual IHS ConferenceVolunteer Management Workshop: Risk Assessment, Reduction & Good Management

Community Focus Statewide Impact National Network

What is the definition of a volunteer?A: Federal law, under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, (FLSA) defines individuals that provide services without any expectation of compensation, and without any coercion or intimidation, as “volunteers” (non-employees).

An Introduction

Community Focus Statewide Impact National Network

•Many volunteers receive indirect compensation that the government doesn’t count as “compensation,” such as free parking. Discounts at the cafeteria would also fall into the category of compensation that is provided more for the convenience of the nonprofit (to encourage volunteers to volunteer) than as “compensation” for the volunteer.

•However, other types of indirect compensation—such as a free membership to a YMCA’s fitness center provided to volunteer instructors—has a real dollar value and may be established by the nonprofit as a “quid pro quo” for volunteering, and thus can be considered compensation.

Volunteer vs Employee

Community Focus Statewide Impact National Network

Some factors that may tip the balance between volunteer and employee include:

•Is the worker motivated by a personal civic, humanitarian, charitable, religious or public-service motive?

•Are the services performed typically associated with volunteer work?

•Are the services provided different from those typically performed by paid workers and are the hours of service less than full time?

•How much control does the nonprofit exert over the volunteer while she or he is performing services?

•Does the volunteer typically arrange his or her own schedule to provide services when it is convenient for the volunteer?

Volunteer vs Employee

Why Reinvent the Wheel?• Volunteer resources and articles– http://managementhelp.org/staffing/outsrcng/volnteer/

volnteer.htm#anchor1270094

– http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/serviceleader/downloads/Guidefordownload.pdf

– http://www.energizeinc.com/art.html

Managing Volunteers

Management resources

• http://www.evergreen.ca/en/resources/schools/volunteer-management.sn

• http://www.energizeinc.com/art/subj/super.html\

• Volunteer manual example

Managing Volunteers

Introduction: Online Volunteer Management Tools

• Social Good podcast: Communicating with Volunteers Online

• Using Real-Time Communications (VoIP, Chat, Instant Messaging, Etc.) With Volunteers

Communication

• http://www.surveymonkey.com/

• Gather input

• http://pbworks.com/

• Document sharing and editing

• http://www.slideshare.net/

• Training and orientation

• http://www.skype.com

• Communication

• http://www.facebook.com/

• Networking, recruitment and communication

• http://www.ning.com/

• Networking and communication

• http://www.google.com/nonprofits/

• Calendar and document sharing and editing

Tools for You and Your Volunteers

• http://www.eventbrite.com

• Event registration and management

• http://www.flickr.com

• Photo sharing

• http://www.meetingwizard.com

• Meeting set up

• http://www.groupsite.com/

• Group management with blog, calendar and file sharing

• http://www.facebook.com/

• Networking, recruitment and communication

• http://www.blogger.com or http://www.wordpress.com

• Blogging set up

Tools for You and Your Volunteers Continued

Defining Virtual Volunteering• Online

• At home or work

• Similar to telecommuting

• Collaborative

New Trends

Why?• New expanded pool of volunteers

• Don’t want to or not easy to leave their home

• Trial run before committing in person

• Flexible schedule

• Accessibility

• Environmentally Friendly

Virtual Volunteering

What Can A Virtual Volunteer Do?• Conducting online research

• Consulting expertise

• Write Proposals

• Create Curriculum and Training

• Marketing and Advocacy• Captioning / Translation• Design, Editing, Copywriting, and Proofreading• Web Development• Evaluations• Client Contact

Virtual Volunteering

Support Technology• Collaborative Document Editing• Online Project Management• Online Messaging / Talking• Captioning Service• File Transfer• Social Bookmarking / Tagging• Social Media Tools

Virtual Volunteering

Resource• http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk/serviceleader/virtual/

Example• http://app.beextra.org/home/

Virtual Volunteering

What should I do now?• Document and understand your volunteer needs

• Decide how to respond

• Set up volunteer expectations and orientation tools

• Develop volunteer manual/guidelines

• Set up communication and sign up tools

• Put out the word and recruit your volunteers

Next Steps

Added Ideas, Comments, Questions???Added Ideas, Comments, Questions???