USING SKILLS-BASED VOLUNTEERS

Nancy Long 501 Commons

Consulting services, cohort programs including the Volunteer Impact Program for UWKC, Information and Referral Services and the Statewide Nonprofit Resource Directory

Visit at www.501commons.org Executive Service Corps of WA

26 ESC in US375 members in WA State All ages and backgrounds Both nonprofit and business expertiseWork with 100+ organizations each year

Purpose Provide tools and resources that help you successfully tap into the professional skills of volunteers

What is different about working with skilled volunteers?

How do I find skills-based volunteers?

How can I match the right person to the role?

How can I successfully direct a volunteer?

Is my organization prepared to use skilled volunteers successfully?

By the end of the session

Skilled Volunteers

All volunteers have skills. What distinguishes skills-based volunteerism is that the volunteer is using specific skills, credentials, and experience that is not available in the general population.

What’s different?

“You don’t need to know where you are going. Just keep walking.”

What’s Different? Individually based (not a program) oProject-based—Driven by scope of work

o Like an unpaid staff or consultantVolunteer participants in designing the

roleoAgency describes the outcome oVolunteer contributes to how the outcome is reached

Enhanced experience if:oPaired with learning oDiverse/Intergenerational

What are some possible benefits of using skilled

volunteers?

What are some possible benefits of using skilled

volunteers?

BenefitsSkills you cannot afford to pay forComplete work that is on the back-burner

Can teach staff new skills May bring a new perspective to the organization

May become a donor May bring in new donors May become a high value board member

Bookkeeping

What professional skills might be useful to your organization?

Database

Research

Training

Photography

Human Resources

Where do you find those skills?

Step #1 Finding skilled volunteers Be clear about the work that needs to be

done Define the skills you need Write a position descriptions that focus

on skills needed and describes the impact of this work on the people you serve

Post it on listings sites with the skill in the position title

Send it to professionals who have the skill for might know someone who does.

Step #2: Matching Volunteers

Square peg in a round hole?

Determining a good “fit”

A good fitSet up a discussion with the potential volunteer

There are 3 positive outcomes The person is a good fit for this role

The person is not a good fit for this role

Agree to do some more work to determine if it would be a good fit.

What makes a good fit?

Matching Volunteer Requirements with Organizational Needs

Volunteer Organization

Volunteer’s values about who they want to help

Focus/mission; staff/board diversity; who is served

Volunteer’s values about workplace culture

Organizational culture

Volunteer’s preferences about using/developing their skills

Organizational needs (what needs to be done; what expertise is needed)

Volunteer’s preferences about the structure and benefits of a volunteer opportunity

Structure and benefits of the volunteer opportunity

Challenge: Cross walking skills

From the corporate to… the nonprofit sector

Competencies Mapwww.taprootfoundation.org/leadprobono /state/competencies_map

Taprootfoundation.org>lead probono>Resources>competencies map

Lists 75+ opportunities and the occupations that can have the needed competencies

Select By project By occupation

Exercise Choose a partner One plays the role of the volunteerOne plays the role of the organization

Read the description of the nonprofit’s project and the profile of the volunteer and attempt to determine if there is a good match

Matching Volunteer Requirements with Organizational Needs

Volunteer Organization

Volunteer’s values about who they want to help

Focus/mission; staff/board diversity; who is served

Volunteer’s values about workplace culture

Organizational culture

Volunteer’s preferences about using/developing their skills

Organizational needs (what needs to be done; what expertise is needed)

Volunteer’s preferences about the structure and benefits of a volunteer opportunity

Structure and benefits of the volunteer opportunity

Step #3: Developing an agreement with your volunteer

Defining the projectScope of Work (what, how, to what end?)

Deliverables (products/outcomes)TimelineResources needed Accountability/Evaluation process

Things to watch for

Time sensitivity risk : Do they have the time to do the project when needed?

Scope creep risk - can you keep the work within a clearly defined scope?

Sector knowledge risk - does the volunteer have the sector knowledge needed for this role?

Developing a written agreement Scope of work: oProblem to be solvedoWhat will be done/ by whenoGenerally how it will be doneoWhere will the resources come from

Deliverables oProducts of the work, incl. interim productsoOutcomes

Accountability/Evaluation

Agreement ExerciseScope of work

Problem to be solved What will be done Generally how it will be doneWhere will the resources come from

Deliverables Products Outcomes

Assessing Readiness

We insure that specialized volunteers are given the staff support and resources needed to accomplish their projects.

We have developed long-term goals for engaging skilled volunteers.

Be aware of generational differences

Volunteers in 20/30sVolunteers 50+

Working with SBV in their 20s/30sGive optionsBe flexible but clear about expectations

Engage in smaller projects to build commitment

Be open to how the work gets done

Appreciate their technology knowledge and experience

Working with skilled volunteers over 5010,000 people turn 60 each day;

Approximately 25% of the population are boomers

Highly educatedPrefer project work Want to know expectations Want to see the impact

Are you more prepared?

What is your biggest barrier?

Using Skilled Volunteers Nancy Long, Executive Director, 501

Commons nancy@501commons.org 206.682.6704

Visit www.501commons.org for copies of this presentation and resources on volunteer management

Search for “skills-based volunteering” and “volunteer management resource”