1. Skills-Based Volunteering
Contributing lifelong wisdom and career skills

2. Skills-Based Volunteering
Leveraging the specialized skills and talents of individuals to strengthen the infrastructure of nonprofits, helping them build and sustain their capacity to successfully achieve their missions. 
- Corporation for National & Community Services
Skills-Based Volunteering

3. Skilled Volunteer Roles
Friendly visitor/caller
Dementia Live demos
Memory Café
Write articles
Give presentations
Plan events
Lead Dementia Friends conversations
Record life stories
Fundraise
Co-facilitate support groups

4. Volunteer’s Expectations
Make a difference, fulfillment
Match skills with assignment
Build job skills and resume
Flexibility, shorter terms
Online recruitment
Investment in volunteers
Amenities – transportation, food, stipend, childcare
Training – mental health first aid, first aid, computer skills
Recognition of contributions and impact
Strong Leadership
Connection to the organization and/or other volunteers
Volunteer’s Expectations

5. What motivates volunteers?
8/29/2019
What motivates volunteers?
Autonomy
Purpose
Mastery
- the desire to be self directed
- making a difference. Contributions will have real value
- being able to use and improve skills & knowledge
Daniel Pink - Drive

6. Preparing to use skilled volunteers
Agency culture
Job description
Expectations of the role
Outcomes identified
Benefits to the volunteer
Risk management processes
Structure for supporting, recruiting, training and evaluating volunteers by training staff.
Preparing to use skilled volunteers

7. ***Integrate volunteers into you strategic plan***
Shift your language
“Volunteer” or
Pro bono ___
Fundraiser
Project Manager
Consultant
Describe the work done
Community drivers
Helper
Doer
***Integrate volunteers into you strategic plan***

8. Volunteer cultivation
Intentional
Targeted
Personal
Planned
Explicit - impact
Easy to sign up
Quick to start
Volunteer cultivation

9. Strategies Develop a strategic plan that includes volunteers
Develop well-defined roles within the organization
Establish measures to determine impact, share with volunteers and others
Provide opportunities for developing connections with other volunteers and the organization
Assign appropriate tasks according to skills and desires
Focus on how they help their community vs. help your organization
Create inclusive organizational culture
Remove barriers – language, lack of flexibility, background checks, policies

10. Thank you!
Carrie Diamond, Transportation & Volunteer Specialist