Rethink Your Volunteer Strategy

Are you using your volunteers in the most effective way?

The nature of volunteering has changed. Younger people are looking to get something out of their volunteering experience – they are asking “what’s in it for me?” rather than “how can I serve?”  Instead of shying away from this reality, nonprofits would be wise to re-imagine their volunteer programs as braintrusts, rather than “more hands on deck.”

Volunteers can provide access to free knowledge and resources to help your nonprofit become more effective in what your are doing. For example, instead of calling on volunteers to help put address labels on your newsletter, you can get someone to help you create an online newsletter system that will have more value for your organization over the long-term.

NONPROFIT WAKE UP CALL: How can you re-invent your organization’s use of volunteers to help you maximize your organizational effectiveness?

Volunteering Gets a Boost on CNN

Nonprofits and volunteering are in the news again. CNN online featured a story about a man who was laid off from his Wall Street job and decided to volunteer to work with baboons in Africa. Volunteering was positioned as a good way to spend time between jobs: contributing to society, moving outside of your comfort zone, gaining new skills and perspectives, and potentially reducing your living expenses.

WAKE UP CALL: How is your nonprofit taking advantage of the recession to attract highly-qualified volunteers to help bring about needed change.