Mobilizing volunteers is a tough job requiring skills and a lot of
energy, but there are many resources to assist you. This is a look at some
of the many sources of information that exist in the US and abroad to make
your job an easier and to tap into the collective creativity of the many who
are making a difference in their communities.
On-line Interactive Resource Forums
These are opportunities for open discussion on the Internet. Have a
question you would like your peers and experts in the field to answer? Try
these links:
SustainAbility Online
Ask a question and receive on-line technical assistance by Campaign
Consultation, Inc. experts. Also, visit the resource library, participate
in a peer-to-peer resource exchange, and take part in interactive
conversations with others in your field on topics related to working with
volunteers, fundraising, collaboration, and media/marketing...or just
check-in regularly to discover new ideas.
Charity Channel
Charity Channel is an online community with over 100,000 participants
discussing every aspect of voluntary-sector issues in hundreds of forums.
Here you can subscribe to newsletters such as Volunteer Management Review
or browse the back issues online.
The
Nonprofit FAQ
from the
Internet Nonprofit Center
A wonderfully comprehensive set of FAQs on all issues related to
nonprofits, including Volunteer Recruitment and Volunteer Program
Management. You can also subscribe to the free weekly e-mail newsletter
Nonprofit Online News.
Association of Volunteer Administrators: Resources to Get the Job Done
Includes bibliographies, statistics, inspirational quotes, and sources
for recognition items, consultants and trainers, and clip art. Be sure and
check out their well-organized, selective list of Links to helpful
resources for managing volunteers.
The Corporation for
National and Community Service
This is the site for the government agency that supports the volunteer
and service sector through such programs as the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,
and Learn and Serve America. Here you will find information about
government resources available to support nonprofits that use volunteers
to strengthen communities. Also, more tips and tools for organization and
links to other sites.
Council on Foundations
Conferences, workshops and publications of interest to the nonprofit
sector and volunteer managers.
Energize, Inc. ...especially for leaders of volunteers
This excellent site includes monthly "hot topics" discussions,
volunteer recognition ideas, and links to other resources (be sure and
check out the section titled Information Source.) You can also subscribe
to the online newsletter e-volunteerism here - a high quality quarterly
publication with sections such as Training Designs, Research to Practice,
and Along the Web.
EpiCenter
EpiCenter is an online database of effective program practices
sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The
mission of EpiCenter is to support the development of sustainable programs
by sharing what works in community service and volunteering.
Improve Your
Philanthropic Portfolio: A Guide to Investing in Volunteer Resource
Management
This guide was developed by the UPS Foundation, the Association for
Volunteer Administration, and The Points of Light Foundation to assist
grant makers and corporations to assess and strengthen the capacity of
nonprofits to effectively engage and manage volunteers.
Independent
Sector
This site includes a nonprofit information center and publications of
interest to volunteer managers. Also included is a "Nonprofit Pathfinder"
which includes promising practices in non profit innovation and resources
to help nonprofits measure impact.
Internet Nonprofit Center Bibliography on Volunteerism
A list of 31 essential publications for managers of volunteers compiled
by Susan Ellis, an expert with 25 years of experience consulting for and
writing about the volunteer sector.
Milano
Nonprofit Management Knowledge Hub
This site is produced by the Nonprofit Management Program at the Milano
Graduate School at the New School University. There are many other
universities with non profit management programs/schools who also maintain
web-sites with resources for non profits.
National Campus
Compact
Campus Compact promotes community service that develops college
students' citizenship skills and encourages partnerships between campuses
and communities. The Resources section of their website includes over 450
best practices for campus engagement.
The National
Service Learning Clearinghouse
Your one-stop destination for information specific to service learning.
Teachers/faculty members who want to incorporate service into classroom
activities will find information here as well as nonprofit managers who
want to enrich the experience of their volunteers. Another project of ETR
Associates supported by the Corporation for National and Community
Service.
The National
Service Resource Center
Your one-stop destination for all kinds of information specific to
community service, with a focus on the National Service programs
AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn & Serve America. Many of its resources
are useful for any organization that uses volunteers. A project of ETR
Associates supported by the Corporation for National and Community
Service.
The Points of
Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network
One of the primary sources of information for the volunteer sector, the
Points of Light Foundation has many resources for volunteer organizations
including books and materials to purchase and conferences and training
events you can register for on-line. The Volunteer Center National
Network mobilizes people and resources to deliver creative solutions to
community problems. Its over 400 member Volunteer Centers connect more
than 2.5 million people with over one million volunteer opportunities
annually; work in partnership with more than 100,000 public and private
organizations; and train nearly 230,000 individuals a year. Over 150
million people (a majority of the U.S. population) live in the thousands
of communities served by local Volunteer Centers. Call or visit
1-800-VOLUNTEER.org.
Retention and Recognition
This excerpt from the book Volunteer Management, by Steve McCurley and
Rick Lynch covers in detail the proactive steps you can take to motivate
your volunteers and ensure that they feel valued.
Service Leader
The Volunteer Management / Service Leadership Online Resources section
of this website leads directly to valuable content on all aspects of
volunteer management, including volunteer screening, matching,
record-keeping and evaluation; legal issues and risk management;
volunteer/staff relations, online recruitment, and volunteer management
software. This is also the home of The Virtual Volunteering Project, with
hundreds of ideas, tips and real-life examples for any organization that
wants to involve volunteers via the Internet; a project of the RGK Center
for Philanthropy and Community Service at the LBJ School of Public Affairs
The University of Texas Austin.
SustainAbilityOnline
Sustainability - a concept often quoted and encouraged by nonprofit
organizations, foundations, corporate, and government funders - refers to
a program's staying power to endure beyond the early stages of initiation.
Find out more about what is needed with regard to: collaboration,
media/marketing, volunteer/leader development, and more.
United Way of America
The United Way of America and its network of local chapter
organizations across the country provide nonprofits with a wide array of
programs and initiatives. Start by checking out
http://www.unitedway.org
and explore links to local chapter web-sites as well.
Volunteer Management for Program Directors
Excellent articles on virtually every aspect of volunteer management,
including recruitment, screening, retention, and supervision.
Volunteer Recruitment Websites, Articles, and Books
Includes links to the major online volunteer recruitment systems and
other resources on volunteer recruitment.
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