Walking the Walk: Engage Volunteers in your Volunteer Engagement Program

Walking the Walk: Engage Volunteers in your Volunteer Engagement Program

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  2 Walking the Walk:Engage Volunteers in your Volunteer Engagement Program Jennifer Bennett, CVA, Senior Manager, Education & Training To hear the presentation by phone call: (415) 655-0061 Access Code: 127-334-953 Jennifer Bennett @JenBennettCVA CVA, Senior Manager, Education & Training Matt Wallace @ItsMattWallace Senior Associate, Nonprofit Relations Follow this webinar on Twitter to join the conversation! Hash tag: #VMlearn
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  Agenda • How canyou engage volunteers in your program? • Keys program components and ideas for delegating • Creating a communication plan • Finding and building the right team • Strategies for successful engagement • Questions
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  What could volunteersdo? •What does your volunteer program look like now? • Hamster wheel - same tasks again and again • Not enough time to think strategically - seasonal or annual events “sneak” up on you • Volunteers work in a handful of positions What could it look like if you delegated and engaged volunteers to make your strategic plan a reality?
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  How can VolunteersHelp? What activities do you do now that could be delegated? • Recruitment plan and communications • Annual recruitment plan • Interviews with current volunteers - messaging • Create flyers • Attend volunteer fairs or speak at recruitment events
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  How Could VolunteersHelp? • Program foundations or core components • Write their own position descriptions • Work with a group or committee to determine policies and procedures • Share new structure with other volunteers - Town Hall • Help other volunteers understand the new structure and help enforce policies
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  How Could VolunteersHelp? •Interviews and Screening - create Placement Counselors or Talent Scouts • Review applications • Conduct initial interviews • Shift or team leaders screen/place new members • Investigate and outline new opportunities for volunteer engagement - skills or project based, virtual
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  How Could VolunteersHelp? •Retention and Recognition activities • Shift/Team leaders build relationships • Conduct ongoing interviews - 3 months, etc. • Survey or interview current volunteers about their roles or what they would like to do • Create social media communication plans - thank you, impact messages, videos • Coordinate ongoing education, social or recognition events
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  Start Spreading theNews • Create a communications plan • Become an advocate for your new engagement program • Who in your community would want to support/participate? • Existing volunteers, Paid/Leadership staff, Community members, donors, clients •How can you reach them? What do they want to know? • Internal, external, social media, newsletters
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  Create the RightTeam Find the volunteers with the passion and the skills • Be selective • Not everyone will be the right fit. Start with the great volunteers you know you can work with. • Look for the skills/experience you need • HR consultants, hiring professionals, organizational structure specialists. • Screen them as if you were going to hire them! • Be clear about your vision • If you don’t know where you’re going - no else will
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  Create the RightTeam • Let go, but don’t check out • Build in evaluation and check in points to ensure you’re supporting your team • Be honest about what’s working and what’s not • Feel comfortable having those conversations. Learn to say and hear no.
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  Things to ThinkAbout • You don’t have to change everything right now • Start small • Start with the steps that feel easier • Invite volunteers to take on leadership roles • Look to the volunteers that are already in those roles, or have naturally taken on more responsibility • Invite your superstar volunteers to take the lead • Share your impact and successes with the organization •Manager, leadership, co-workers and, of course, the volunteers!
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  13 Resources Learning Center Find upcomingwebinar dates, how-to videos and more http://learn.volunteermatch.org VolunteerMatch Community Ask and answer questions after the webinar – use keywords Evolving your Program, Volunteer Management http://community.volunteermatch.org/volunteer Related Webinar Topics: •Engaging Pro Bono and Skilled Volunteers •Managing Difficult Volunteer Transitions •Where do I go from here? Evolving your Volunteer Program for More Involvement
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  14 Thanks for attending! Joinus online: Like us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/VolunteerMatch Follow us on Twitter: @VolunteerMatch Visit Engaging Volunteers, our nonprofit blog: blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/ For any questions contact: Jennifer Bennett (415) 321-3639 @JenBennettCVA [email protected]