What could cars and oil changes possibly have to do with building successful volunteer-staff teams? If you are scratching your head, then read on… The analogy comes from Donna Lockhart, CVRM, of RETHINK GROUP. Her father always told her that...
I am frequently asked, "How do we motivate our volunteers?" My response is, "You don't." Volunteers bring their own unique motivations to their work. A good volunteer manager learns to identify those motivations and then helps each volunteer achieve a...
I have some volunteers that are more trouble than they are worth, but they are good-hearted people who mean well. Another team leader suggested I fire them. Can a nonprofit ethically get rid of people who want to help? Not...
Too often when we ask a member to volunteer his or her time and talent we are greeted with "objections": no time, no interest, maybe next year. This article offers suggestions on how to turn objections into YES. 1. Never...
It seems these days that there aren't enough volunteers (including board members) to go around. If you work with volunteers, you are probably nodding your head in agreement. Statistically, studies like the National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations confirm...
So you want to start a nonprofit? You've got a dream, objective or cause you wish to see to fruition for the good of society. Good on you. It's people like you who provide this country with vital services or...
I recently returned from the annual PAVR-O Conference (Professional Administrators of Volunteer Resources Ontario). I had this idea of "volunteer fatigue" simmering before I left and it was reinforced while I was there. Colleagues presented a range of ideas about...
Your organization can't succeed without a team of keen and committed volunteers. That's why putting the right volunteer recruitment and retention strategies and tactics into practice is so important. Success depends on building strong relationships with your volunteers and keeping...
Members of the largest generation in the history of the United States [and Canada], the baby boomers, are beginning to think seriously about retirement. Over the next 20 years, this generation will surge into retirement. Marketing specialists, researchers, foundations and...
I see bad people get away with stuff all the time. Those they report to look the other way, or are equally bad, or seem so gullible. Does anything bad ever happen to nonprofit staff or volunteers who behave unethically?...
