Powerful Partnerships With Today’s Volunteers Facilitator: Betty Stallings

Our Time Together…. Trends impacting Volunteering Today Roles that Strengthen Volunteer Partnerships Break Building Organizational Commitment and Competency to Partner with Volunteers Lunch 10 Essential Elements for Successful Volunteer Engagement The Future of the Profession Time to dig deeper into your issues

Trends… Technology Interest in short term work (day of) Lots of “voluntolds” Many offering high skills Volunteering in groups Outcome based interest Different messages and positions attracting various generations Volunteers looking to make a difference Limited discretionary time – Many choices/need flexibility Challenge to build leaders

What trend is most impacting your org? Response Action

Roles Partnering with Volunteers Executives/Administration Director of Volunteers Program leader engaging volunteers Board Member Volunteers

Executive/Administration Role Promoting organizational leadership in a positive philosophy/value of volunteers Engage volunteers to partner in your role (beyond board) Support selection/function of Director of Volunteer Engagement Incorporate Volunteer Engagement in Strategic Planning of Organization Have Volunteer Voice represented on Management Team **** See 12 Key Actions of Volunteer: Program Champions :CEOs Who Lead the Way (handout)

Director of Volunteer Engagement Role The role is to EMPOWER all staff and leadership volunteers to effectively engage and partner with volunteers in meeting the mission of the organization. Building organizational: Capacity - Commitment - Competency

Program Staff Role Develop meaningful positions for volunteers Welcome and arrange or carry out Orientation to work setting Training (skills/knowledge) for position On-going Support and supply needed resources/information Provide necessary record keeping Show on-going appreciation for volunteers Work closely with Director of Volunteers

Board Role…. Staying informed/supportive of broad-based volunteer engagement in organization Review and support expenses related to volunteer engagement in budget allocation. Establish and sustain a positive philosophy of volunteer engagement in organization. See themselves as governance volunteers in the organization

Volunteer Roles Clearly described in position description and through orientation and training (expectations/skills/requirements for position/authority/benefits, time commitment, etc.) Volunteers carry out the above. Resources and support that volunteers can expect and receive from organization. A time to mutually evaluate the partnership between volunteer and organization/staff

How are you working as a Team ? Execs Dr. of Volunteers Staff Board Member

Building Commitment and Competency in Volunteer Engagement Staff will not commit to something that they do not value or is not valued by organization.

Commitment Commitment to effective partnerships with volunteers must be felt by all members of the staff team or it will NEVER reach its potential!!!

Why staff May resist working with Volunteers Staff ultimately responsible for the work volunteers do Wondering if volunteers will replace staff Don’t know how to supervise volunteers How do you get rid of problem volunteers? Past experience with volunteers…..not good

WHY STAFF MAY RESIST WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS (2) Not enough time to work with volunteers Unreliability of some volunteers Volunteers wanting to work short term Volunteers who are needy and take extra time No benefits/appreciation for staff who work with volunteers Not in my job description

Technique #1 Building Commitment Identify Stakeholder: staff, exec, volunteer, etc. _________________________ What do I need/expect from this stakeholder and why? (CLEAR expectations) What is the potential value to them to accept my request for commitment/action? What is your understanding of their potential resistance, objections, barriers to commitment to volunteer engagement? How can I (if possible, with them involved) begin to diminish these barriers/gaps, etc. ???

Technique #2 – Building Commitment (DENNIS Kinlaw) Clarity Competency Involvement Appreciation

Important When Working with Resistant Staff or volunteers Try to understand….don’t judge resistance… Assume benign neglect and provide resources to build commitment and competence Build bridges/partnership feeling between staff and volunteers

Building Competency – 55-Minute Staff Training Series What topics will be most helpful for staff in partnering with volunteers? When/what are the best times/methods to share information on skills of supervising volunteers in your organization? How do you get staff involved and excited about training in working with volunteers? How do you evaluate whether your training/coaching was successful?

55-Minute Module Topics Job Design Recruitment Supervision Delegation Risk Management Interviewing Recognition Volunteer Program Evaluation Orientation/training Working with Difficult Volunteer Situations

10 Essential Elements of Successful volunteer Engagement Partnerships Facilitator: Betty Stallings

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 1. Executive and governing board are ACTIVELY committed to vibrant volunteer engagement .(Adequate budget and support, etc.)

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 2. There is a strong, positive philosophy/ commitment statement guiding the organization’s involvement of volunteers……. With a Partnership FOCUS

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 3. There is a competent, well positioned and supported person to empower/lead the organization to have excellent volunteer engagement by building the organization’s capacity (policies, systems), commitment and competency to engage volunteers.

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 4. Volunteer Engagement is Staff- Friendly Clear on expectations Supported and trained to be competent in working with volunteers Involved in planning & assessing positions/projects manned by volunteers Appreciated for excellence in their partnership with volunteers!

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 5. Volunteers bring diversity (gender, age/generations, cultural) skills and service into positions that are integrated throughout the organization.

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 6. Organizations work cooperatively with many partners in their community (4-H, Boy Scouts, Corporate Volunteer groups, etc. etc. )

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 7.Organizations make effective use of technology for communication, recruitment, recordkeeping, orientation/training, web presence, etc.

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 8. The organization is deemed volunteer- friendly through its efficient, thorough and welcoming outreach/recruitment, screening, training, on-going support and recognition.

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 9. Volunteer engagement is a significant aspect of strategic planning for how to reach the organization’s mission.

Successful Elements of volunteer Partnerships 10. Volunteers are the greatest public relations asset and are retained as champions of the organization’s mission.

Activity in Pairs…… Find someone who has a check for an element you are lacking and also You have a check where they are lacking. Discuss what each of you has done to be successful in the element that they are struggling with.

Review of the Day…. Trends Key roles in the partnership How to Build Commitment and Competency to partner with volunteers in reaching mission Essential elements in successful engagement