1 Put Corporate Volunteers to Work! Jennifer Bennett, CVA, Senior Manager, Education & Training VolunteerMatch

2 Agenda Put groups to work for you! Build an ongoing relationship The importance of planning Create opportunities that meet your mission Get help! Say thank you

Working with Groups Groups can present different challenges than ongoing volunteers –Motivation –Messaging –Expectations But a successful group opportunity can produce ongoing positive results –Awareness –Measurable impact –Opportunity for more involvement 3

Build an Ongoing Relationship Encourage a group to think of your organization first when they are looking to volunteer Offer a variety of different types of volunteer –Group opportunities –Team building opportunities –Opportunities for employees to build or expand skills –Leadership opportunities –Opportunities for families and children 4

The Importance of Planning Understand what you can offer, and what you need from the group –Be honest about what you can provide, but think creatively too! Guidelines –minimum age –time commitment –when background checks are required Project outlines Setting up boundaries 5

Make the Work Mission Driven Meet the Needs of the Group but don't forget your mission Orientation – Share why you do what you do –Make sure you have names and s The relationship you build with a group is a two way street. Determine what the groups coordinator's goals are for the volunteer event Manage the expectations of the coordinator and the volunteers 6

Get Help Don’t feel like you have to do everything alone. Build a plan that involves others in your organization Create an internal communication plan to inform other staff and volunteers about the project event Engage your regular volunteers as team leaders or supervisors Ask the group to create teams with leaders –Children friendly opportunities need to be managed 7

Say Thank You Remember the goals –Make sure you share what was done with the coordinator and invite them back Share the impacts with all of the volunteers –Not just hours, but actions and impacts too –Take pictures –Use social media - spread the thank you –Include ways for them to get more involved Don't forget to share how that work serves your mission 8

Make it Work Checklist Create a connection between the group, the volunteers and your mission, and you can build a real relationship. Get your ducks in a row! Think creatively. Know your boundaries. Connect the work to your mission – share the connection. Get help and start small. Keep in touch – say thank you and share the impacts. 9

10 Questions? Support VolunteerMatch Learning Center Contact Me! Jennifer Bennett