Volunteer tax credits: Do or die

Let's say your organization is experiencing a decline in volunteerism and no matter what you try, you can't seem to stem the tide. Meanwhile, thanks to the economic downturn, your expenses are escalating, making the lack of volunteers an even...

Fourteen steps to developing a top-notch volunteer program

It's an exhilarating experience to start a volunteer program from scratch. From big ideas and goodwill comes human power channeled to bring results. Some volunteer programs start from a group of people getting together to solve a problem. Others start...

The evolving role of a volunteer resources specialist

Over the past few years, the need for a more structured volunteer environment appears evident. Charitable organizations are taking a much more business-like approach toward their volunteers in order to employ their skills as effectively as possible. Therefore, many organizations...

A resource to capitalize on during tight financial times

When cash resources are tight, the value of volunteer resources assumes additional importance to nonprofits and governmental organizations. Every volunteer hour is value added to the organization. In Minnesota, the value of the volunteer time is an estimated economic contribution...

Governance Q&A: Reimbursing volunteer expenses

The charity volunteering I do involves a lot of driving. The organization can afford to pay for gas, but the volunteer coordinator refuses to accept claims. Should they reimburse us? Or should we have a stipend from which to pay...

How to manage volunteers in difficult economic times

A US study conducted by The Independent Sector, a US-based not-for-profit organization, confirms that when people are worried about their personal economic situation, overall giving and volunteering drops. Their facts suggest that giving drops by more than 50% and volunteering...

Volunteers and risk management for Canadian nonprofits and charities

Volunteers are one of the most important assets of nonprofit and charitable organizations in Canada. They bring time, enthusiasm, and skills to the organization or to a program. They can also make the delivery of programs far more cost-effective. Many...

Volunteer and staff roles and responsibilities

Did you know that the word volunteer comes from Latin, and can be translated as "will" (as in doing something out of one’s own free will)? In not-for-profit organizations, volunteer leaders are the proverbial airplane pilots unless, of course, yours...

Adjust your thinking: Shifting the focus to volunteer retention

Recruit, recruit, recruit... Why is everyone so focused on recruitment of volunteers? It seems that every organization I meet these days is focused on recruitment. If only we had more volunteers! If only we had more volunteers...it would solve all...

Effective relationships between staff and volunteers

Build understanding and collaboration: Paid staff are respected and are empowered to fully participate in planning, decision-making and management related to volunteer involvement. There is a conscious, active effort to reduce the boundaries and increase the teamwork between paid and...
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