ihs annual conference 2011: managing and maximizing your volunteers
TRANSCRIPT
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 | [email protected]
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???