Building a Volunteer Program ANNETTE SHAFF-PALMER, MSW, CVA HOSPICE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM MANAGER

Transcription

1 Building a Volunteer Program ANNETTE SHAFF-PALMER, MSW, CVA HOSPICE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM MANAGER

2 Like any good garden, start with the soil Assess your soil: what do you have/what is missing? Where are you going to put your garden? Build the bed to last Design your first garden thoughtfully.

3 Analyze your opportunities & challenges Make it a group exercise Internal/External Helpful/Harmful Goal to build on existing opportunities & identify challenges (internally & externally)

4 Volunteers want to see themselves Start from the top down Think strategic planning

5 Start with the Mission Statement United Nations Mission Statement Volunteering brings benefits to both society at large and the individual volunteer. It makes important contributions, economically as well as socially. It contributes to a more cohesive society by building trust and reciprocity among citizens. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that supports sustainable human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism, including the mobilization of volunteers. It serves the causes of peace and development by enhancing opportunities for participation by all peoples. It is universal, inclusive and embraces volunteer action in all its diversity. It values free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity, which are the foundations of volunteerism.

6 Give Volunteers the vision as to how they make your garden grow

7 What is the VALUE of volunteers in your organization? How should the employees WORK WITH volunteers? What is the ROLE of volunteers in your organization? How should a volunteer FIT into the culture of your organization? Say WHY your project, program, organization involves VOLUNTEERS

8 Paradigm Shift If you don t start from the beginning you will have to change the culture of your organization to include volunteers Teaching employees to work with volunteers Having the volunteer program be outside the norm from other programs in the organization Volunteers belong to the volunteer program Ownership of the volunteer program as a whole Employees fearing volunteers will replace them

9 Create Position Descriptions just for Volunteer Roles How do volunteers work with Leaders? Are there leadership roles for Volunteers? How do Volunteers obtain leadership in your structure? Do you have an Advisory Board? Remember: your Board Members are Volunteers too Design your Volunteer Program thoughtfully

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11 Role of a Volunteer Coordinator Public Relations Community Outreach Human Resources Trainer Coach Supervisor Mentor Program Manager Leader Risk Management Events/Fundraising

12 Volunteer Administration Is a profession Does not have to re-invent the wheel it has been done before Network with other professionals Bring stability and credibility to your organization Know how to leverage community resources Manage/Supervise volunteers differently than paid staff Design/advocate for volunteer friendly processes Build around your organization s mission; not personal relationships

13 Orient: To welcome your volunteers to your project/agency/organization, impassion them on the mission of your work and show them how volunteer belong. Train: understand what is motivating volunteers, give them structure around their work and tools to do this in a designated area for them to become successful. Retain: to meet expectations around volunteer work, volunteer s own goals and create opportunities within the agency/organization to try on a new role. Value: show how the work supports the mission; not by numbers but tell the stories of success.

14 Thank you Try a SWOT Analysis Create a Mission Statement that includes Volunteers Design your program thoughtfully WHY, HOW, WHAT is the volunteer role/s Create Volunteer Positions to work with staff positions Design a leadership ladder for volunteers to climb Hire a Volunteer Coordinator