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Sustainability
Searching for Volunteer
Leadership Stars
May 2009 |
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Dear “Searching"
Colleague,
With
the right mix of talents, skills and personalities within
your volunteer leadership, your organization will thrive
and grow. Make good use of real star leaders in your
community by placing them on your Board of Directors
and Advisory Council. Click on the titles on the right
to learn about…
Where to Find Volunteer Leadership Stars
Engaging Volunteer Leader Stars
Responsibilities
for Boards
and Advisory Councils
Do you have questions or ideas about welcoming community
members into your organization? Contact us through OntheGo@CampaignConsultation.com
for more information. You can still access previous
issues of On-the-Go eTA by clicking on the back issues
at the bottom of the page.
Where
to Find Volunteer
Leader Stars
One
of the most important tasks in building capacity is to
find volunteer leader who have skills, talents and connections
that can enhance your organization. Here are a few places
to find leadership stars.
Your own organization
Ask people inside your organization who are already committed
and have connections to help you find stars. Current Board,
Advisory Board, major donors, staff, clients, etc. can
join a work group to identify new volunteer leaders among
their circles of friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc.
This infusion of fresh thinking can lead to the discovery
of new talent. Having a personal association with someone
affiliated with your organization also assists in recruiting
since the invitation comes from a peer and there is usually
some inclination to be supportive.
Local companies
Many companies have leadership who have an interest in
the health of the communities where they are located.
They may also have a culture of giving back to community
through policies such as Corporate Responsibility. These
are the community savvy companies that your organization
will want to approach to harvest leaders with the interest
in building mission capacity..
Service clubs or civic organizations
Volunteer service clubs have been a historical and ongoing
feature of the American social landscape. These organizations
are both religious and non-sectarian varieties. The Knights
of Columbus, Rotarians, Kiwanis, Lions, Elks as well as
other fraternal organizations are prime places to recruit
fundraising volunteers. Each has a rotating roster of
leadership positions. Some, like Rotary, have volunteer
leaders on a multi-year track of leadership service.
Click here for additional ideas for
recruiting volunteer leaders.
Engaging
Volunteer
Leader Stars
Leadership volunteers need to be engaged in your organization
to be that strong voice you need. Employ the practices
below to set a positive tone and form a strong connection
with your volunteer leaders:
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Establish
a Positive Beginning
Opportunities to set a positive tone
and form a strong connection with your volunteer
leaders early on include: |
| Have
a formal welcoming process |
- Acknowledge their volunteer leadership status
to the advisory / board in a warm and welcoming
way.
- Ensure that leadership position descriptions
are drafted for specific responsibilities-i.e.
finances, human resources, fundraising, sort-term
projects, etc.
- Inform staff of the volunteer leaders and
their new involvement.
- Other
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Have
a structured orientation process
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- Develop and review orientation manual and
have volunteer leader review, make edits and
sign off on position description for volunteer
responsibilities.
- Set aside a specific place and time to formally
and informally introduce the new volunteer leader.
- Establish behavior between volunteer leader
and staff responsible to address frustration,
busy schedule and other bumps in the road that
can hinder success.
- Other
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Ensure
Success
Successful Volunteer Leaders need a conceptual framework,
an understanding of the organization’s mission
and process. Staff has a responsibility to:
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| Educate |
Most
star leaders prefer to read organizational background
material on their own following a meeting. Ask to
meet for 15 minutes over coffee. Prepare to review
an information packet for your volunteer leaders—i.e.
initiatives, history, FAQs, brochures, latest fundraising
appeal, etc.
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Train,
coach and encourage
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If
you are asking your star leaders to perform specific
tasks, such as fundraising or speaking to a group
about your program, they may appreciate practicing
“the ask” for specific project needs
to increase confidence. Sessions need to be carefully
shaped in time and topic to meet the needs of your
volunteers. Volunteers also benefit from sessions
to de brief, determine next steps, etc.
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Provide
Achievable
Goals |
Work
with leaders to create obtainable and defined goals.
What are the milestones on the road to success?
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| Build
Confidence |
The
highest praise we can offer a volunteer is that
he or she strives to know themselves and thereby
to be a better volunteer.
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| Recognize |
It
is a fact that leadership volunteer stars respond
favorably to recognition. Leaders who give their
time and talent should be given credit in the manner
which they prefer—i.e., a simple note, official
letters, a spoken thank you in publications, on
your website, etc.
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| Create
Satisfaction |
- Survey them
- Keep records of who is doing what
- Develop a culture of evaluation
- Ask your volunteers record their results.
|
Click
here to download a chart that will help you determine
the leadership talents you would like to add to your
organization.
Responsibilities
for Boards
and Advisory Councils
Volunteer
leaders need to have a clear understanding of what is
expected of them. The expectations differ for Boards of
Directors and Advisory Councils. Having written job descriptions
and keeping in close contact with volunteer leaders will
assure that you are making greatest use of their assets.
Board of Directors
One definition of Board of Directors is a group that is
legally charged with the responsibility to govern an organization
and/or corporation. In a not for profit organization the
Board reports to the stakeholders of the community served
by the organization.
Here is a sample of possible Board roles and responsibilities:
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Select
and appoint a Chief Executive or Executive Director
to assume administrative responsibility of the organization.
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Acquire
sufficient resources for organization operations.
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Account
to the public for organizational services and program
expenditures.
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Effectively
monitor organizational resources.
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Enhance
the organization’s public image.
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Ensure
effective long-term organizational planning. |
Adapted
from: Brenda Hanlon’s “In Boards We Trust”
&
BoardSource’s “Ten Basic Responsibilities
of Nonprofit Boards”
Advisory
Council
Some describe an Advisory Council’s work is to
assume the responsibility of planning, decision-making,
and acting as advisor to, and supporter of, the program
it supports. An Advisory Council usually has no fiduciary
responsibilities to the organization it serves.
Sample Advisory Council roles and responsibilities:
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Select
and appoint a Chief Executive or Executive Director
to assume administrative responsibility of the organization.
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Acquire
sufficient resources for organization operations.
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Account
to the public for organizational services and program
expenditures.
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Effectively
monitor organizational resources.
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Enhance
the organization’s public image.
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Ensure
effective long-term organizational planning. |
Click
here to download a sample board job description from
the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute.
Let
us know
Let
us know about any “best practices” you have
employed to keep volunteer leaders providing the best
talents and connections for your organization. Contact
OntheGo@CampaignConsultation.com
We would be happy to answer questions or to give you
more support.
Thank you for your interest in On-The-Go eTA. We encourage
you to send this and other issues of OTG
eTA
to friends and colleagues who would benefit from the
information. Also, if you’re on information-overload,
you may request email
removal.
Otherwise OTG e-TA will be back soon with another edition.
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Where
to Find Volunteer Leader Stars (cont.)
Professional,
industry and business associations
Some
of these associations are based on a combination of geography
and industry type, such as your local Chamber of Commerce (national
link), restaurant and hospitality association. Associations
such as the Association for Fundraising Professionals (national
link) are professionally, industry and locally based with local
chapters. Still others have civic responsibilities such as a
business committee for the arts.
Faith-based
organizations
Places
of worship can sometimes present great reservoirs of well-connected
volunteers who are committed to social action.
Other
nonprofit organizations
Be
aware of volunteer leaders who serve with other nonprofits in
your community. Monitor their involvement and effectiveness.
Unincorporated
organizations
Look
for volunteer leaders in more informal groups who usually have
committed participants. For example, certain parts of the country
have recently seen a growth of “walking clubs.”
Cooperatives
The
co-op movement has a long history in our country. There are
cooperative businesses in banking, finance, food distribution,
even in housing. The most commonly recognized form of cooperative
is the local food co-op.
Network
with volunteer resources in your region
Interact
with:
- United Way staff and executives
- Service and fraternal organization (Rotary, Lions, etc.)
- Volunteer job banks
- Community Foundations
- Large company human resource departments
- College/University human resource departments
- Fundraising professionals
Always look for volunteer leadership stars in everything you
do. To determine, their follow-through ability, ask the prospect
to accomplish a small task for you and if they complete it,
you just may have found your next star!
Resources
eOrganizer
eOrganizer is an interactive clearinghouse for the latest
and greatest web instruments of change. This GIZMO shows you
how to maximize free and inexpensive online tools and resources
to mobilize people around issues and within organizations.
Structured around eight categories important to community
organizing, it offers descriptions and provides access to
many of the most current web arenas and strategies for bringing
groups together to create community change.
http://www.campaignconsultation.com/GIZMOs/eorganizer/index.html
The National ASK (Awareness, Skills, Knowledge) to Sustain
Institute, sponsored by Corporation for National and
Community Service, provided by Campaign Consultation, Inc.
1998, 2002.
The CNCS Resources Now! National Institute, sponsored
by Corporation for National and Community Service, provided
by Campaign Consultation, Inc. 2005-07.
Learning
Products and Services
Sustainability:
OntheGo@CampaignConsultation.com is designed to give
information fast on building capacity. Use this online support
for advice from a fundraising professional.
Contact OntheGo@CampaignConsultation.com
VISTA
Campus:
VISTA Campus is an online learning environment for
the VISTA community. The aim is to support you in your development
throughout and beyond your VISTA service. The Campus includes
self-paced tutorials and courses, reference materials, discussion
boards, a campus bookstore and more to help improve your
skills and connect with other VISTAs. To access the site,
go to http://vistacampus.org
and select the “VISTAs” option. You will need
to create an account to access the content and discussion
boards.
GIZMOs:
(Giving Information for Zooming Mission Objectives)
GIZMOS are resource and fund development tools for you and
your volunteers. They are tangible products in packets,
pocket brochures, CD-ROMs, games, etc. They feature a myriad
of fundraising topics such as The Case for Support, an interactive
online resource. View and use our newest GIZMOs at www.CampaignConsultation.com/gizmosplash
The
Chronicle of Philanthropy:
Everyone who comes to a Resources Now! National Institute
gets a free subscription to the Chronicle for a year. Participants
in CNCS Campaign Consultation workshops receive the latest
issue free of charge plus a $20 discount on one year’s
subscription.
Workshops/Clinics:
The Corporation for National and Community
Service (CNCS), through its T/TA service provider Campaign
Consultation, Inc., offers a three-hour workshops and clinics
for those interested.
WebWizard:
CNCS sponsors this new service that
Campaign Consultation provides to assist programs and projects
in maximizing their websites for program, client, volunteer
and fundraising needs.
Online
Courses/Webinars:
Web course delivery of topics pertinent to resource
development such as — Build Fundraising Volunteer
Champions and Cause Related Marketing and
Corporate Partnerships.
Available
through the Resource Center at http://www.nationalserviceresources.org
Read
Back Issues of OTG e-TA
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