Florida Atlantic University
Nonprofit Resource Center
Volunteers

These sites provide information to assist in recruiting volunteers and managing a volunteer program including recruitment, human resource issues, and discharging. Information regarding publications available on volunteer issues is included, some are free others are for sale. Samples of volunteer applications and job descriptions are included. Other information available includes advertising for volunteers, consultants, liability legislation, education opportunities and interesting volunteer quotes.

ONLINE ADVERTISING FOR VOLUNTEERS

http://www.volunteermatch.org/
You can advertise your volunteer needs at this site free of charge. Information you may include in your advertisement includes the name of your organization, specific function you need volunteers for, who prospective volunteers need to contact, the dates the volunteers are needed on, and the duration of the project. Individuals who want to volunteers query on this site by entering their zip code, how far from home they are willing to travel, whether they are looking for a one time opportunity or ongoing work, and may specify the type of organization they are interested in helping or query the entire database. Volunteers may also search by specific organization. This site includes the option of volunteering over the Internet for people who do not have time to physically go somewhere to volunteer or are unable to travel. This site is user friendly and provides an excellent way to match volunteers with organizations that need their services.

GENERAL INFORMATION

http://www.drcharity.com/voluntee.html
This site would be helpful to an organization in the preliminary stages of volunteer recruitment, or possibly one that needs a fresh look at volunteer recruitment. It provides suggestions for gaining community support for your volunteer program, and places to recruit volunteers. It also provides information about acknowledging and cultivating volunteers and suggestions for creating volunteer job descriptions. There is not an overabundance of information on this site, however the information provided is common sense and straight to the point.

http://www.delawarenonprofit.org/volfaq5.html
This is a volunteer program and procedure manual. It has ten chapters and an appendix:

  1. Purpose of Volunteer Program Procedural Manual
  2. Developing Volunteer Positions
  3. Volunteer Application Process
  4. Creating and Running a Volunteer Recruitment Campaign
  5. Screening Volunteers In and Out
  6. Training Volunteers
  7. Supervising and Evaluating Volunteers
  8. Correcting and dismissing Volunteers
  9. Volunteer Recognition
  10. Program Evaluation and Refinement
  11. Appendix

There is a large amount of helpful information in each of these chapters and overall it is a very comprehensive site. It also includes a sample volunteer development plan, job description and application. The information on this site would be helpful to those organizations beginning a volunteer program and those with established ones.

http://www.egroups.com/message/ShelterFundraising/346
This site consists of over 1400 online messages discussing fundraising and volunteer issues as they relate to animal shelters. This URL address enters the overall site at an ongoing discussion of volunteer issues. Although the main concern of the discussion deals with animal shelters, many of the points made are applicable to volunteer recruitment for any organization.

http://www.slc2002.org/sloc/get_involved/volunteers/volunteers_index.html
This is the volunteer recruitment site for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It is an excellent example of a comprehensive recruitment plan. The topics included are:

  1. What does Mitt have to say? (Mitt Romney is the CEO of the organizing committee)
  2. What is the volunteer timetable?
  3. What are the benefits of volunteering?
  4. What does it take to be a volunteer?
  5. What positions are available?
  6. How will I be trained?
  7. Do I need to complete CPR and First Aid training to be a volunteer?
  8. Where are the Olympic Venues?
  9. What can I do as a volunteer BEFORE the Games?
  10. How will I know if I have been selected?

The information provided is detailed and informative. This site could serve as a model for an organization seeking to recruit volunteers.

http://www.cybervpm.com/recruit.htm
This site provides a large amount of information on volunteer recruitment including:

  1. Volunteer Recruitment That Actually Works
  2. Turning a Volunteer Job Description into a Recruitment Strategy
  3. What's our Recruitment Message?
  4. Selling Your Volunteer Opportunities
  5. How to Market your Organization and its Volunteer Opportunities on the Internet
  6. Raining Money and Volunteers
  7. Further Online Resources On This Topic

This site also has many links to other sites. Unfortunately many of these links do not work.

http://www.fiu.edu/~time4chg/Library/recruit.keep.html
Articles on volunteer recruitment. This link gives many ideas on how to retain volunteers, although it is geared to student volunteers.

http://nisus.sfusd.k12.ca.us/sfsv/teacher6.html
Sources for Recruiting Volunteers. This link gives suggestions on what groups of people to approach for volunteer recruitment.

http://bluegoose.arw.r9.fws.gov/nwrsfiles/HabitatMgmt/PestMgmt/SaltcedarWorkshopJun96/Paper6.html
Guidelines for Recruiting Volunteers. This is an article that discusses which duties or projects should be given to volunteers and which to paid staff.

http://www.idealist.org/
Action Without Borders. This is an international site that allows non-profits to advertise for volunteers and volunteers to seek opportunities globally. It provides for non-profits to find consultants, software, and conferences. Don’t click on "The Big Help", this will take you to a site that has nothing to do with volunteers and it is difficult to get out of it without completely exiting and re-entering the original site.

The Do Something link has to do with gun control in schools, not volunteers. http://rth.netgate.net/freeweb/index.html Free Web Page for Organizations Improving the World. If your organization is involved in science, education, gardening or environmental activities you can obtain a free website.

http://www.nonprofitspace.org/ncava/index.html
Nonprofit Space , go to North Carolina AVA. Great information about organized efforts to recruit volunteers and make the overall volunteer process more successful.

http://www.charityvillage.com/guides/guide1.html
This is a Canadian site that provides a large amount of information on many volunteer recruitment issues. The most helpful information on this site is that contained in the articles, resource web sites, online publications, government programs and organizations. It also provides information on books that may be purchased on the subject. It provides the names of consulting firms, however these are Canadian firms. Most of the information is provided in English or French, however some is only available in French.

http://www.nonprofit.about.com/careers/nonprofit/library/weekly/aa090199.htm
This site provides information on how to recruit and keep volunteers. It includes a discussion of what you want volunteers to do, where to find them, and how to keep them. There are many links at this site to information regarding many issues of interest to nonprofits.

http://www.txserve.org/mgmt/volrec/costs.html
This site provides good information of volunteer recruitment. It discusses planning recruitment strategies, identifying volunteer needs, and tips for successful volunteer recruitment programs. There is a large amount of useful information on this site.

http://www.serviceleader.org/vv/vmarket.html
This site offers information regarding advertising for volunteers online. It includes tips on when and how to advertise online. There are several links to additional information on numerous issues regarding internet recruitment. http://www.energizeinc.com/art/npcrea.html

http://www.energizeinc.com/art/npday.html
These are two articles written by Susan J. Ellis. They each provide an insightful discussion about issues facing nonprofits recruiting volunteers. Each of these discusses the tasks that can be done in other than normal hours and how to recruit volunteers for work during the normal business hours.

http://home.about.com/jobs/nonprofit/library/weekly/aa090199.htm#anchor12154
This site offers basic information on volunteer recruitment. This site gives good information regarding firing a volunteer and draws similarities between volunteers and paid employees in that aspect. The best feature on this site is that it allows you to subscribe to a volunteer recruitment newsletter.

http://www.mnpl.org/best/boards/00simons.html
This is an article written by Cultural Program Manager in the City of Kent. She discusses traditional and new volunteer recruitment techniques. It is a comprehensive article that provides useful information.

http://www.serviceleader.org/
This is a very comprehensive site with many links all dedicated to online recruitement. The Virtual Volunteering Project link provides information on using the Internet to recruit volunteers. Other links include information on how to develop an online application. The Community Engagement and Volunteer Management Resources for School Settings link gives excellent information and links to school related volunteer recruitment.

ASSESSMENT TOOL

http://www.uwex.edu/li/learner/assess7.htm
This is an assessment tool to determine where your organization is in the development of its volunteer program. A suggested action plan for improvement is also included. This tool is one of eight provided by the Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations. It provides answers to questions submitted via internet regarding several nonprofit issues including volunteers.

CONSULTING

http://www.pointsoflight.org/trainprodserv/trainprodserv_nonprofitconsulting.html
This is the site of the Points of Light Foundation, a nonprofit consulting firm. It discusses some of the challenges of volunteer recruitment today and includes information on how to contact the firm for further information.

PUBLICATIONS

http://www.ivr.org.uk/voluntaryaction5.htm
This is the British site for the Institute of Volunteering Research. It includes abstracts of articles included in The Journal of the Institute of Volunteering Research. By selecting “Voluntary Action, the journal” you will have access to a few full journal articles on volunteer issues. Information is also provided to subscribe to the journal.

http://www.symphony.org/info/titles.htm
This site provides information on many publications that are available to purchase about volunteer issues. The publications available are:

  • 101 Ideas for Volunteer Programs
  • 101 Tips for Volunteer Recruitment Beyond
  • Banquets, Plaques and Pins: Creative Ways to Recognize Volunteers
  • Episodic Volunteering: Building the Short-Term Volunteer Program
  • Evaluating Volunteers, Programs, and Events
  • Gold Book: Sourcebook of Successful Fundraising, Education, Ticket Sales and Service Projects
  • Megatrends & Volunteerism
  • Recruiting Volunteers for Difficult or Long-Term Assignments
  • Secrets of Leadership
  • Volunteer Recruiting and Retention: A Marketing Approach
  • Volunteer Recruitment (and Membership Development) Book
  • Volunteer's Survival Manual: The Only Practical Guide to Filing Your Time and Money

VOLUNTEERISM: GOVERNANCE

  • Audit Committee: A Key to Financial Accountability for Nonprofit Organizations
  • Board Assessment of the Chief Executive: A Responsibility Essential to Good Governance
  • Board Members and Risk: A Primer on Protection From Liability
  • Board Member's Guide to Strategic Planning
  • Board Overboard! Laughs and lessons for all but the Perfect Nonprofit
  • Board Passages: Three Key Stages in a Nonprofit Board's Life Cycle
  • Board's Role in Effective Volunteer Management
  • Board's Role in Strategic Planning
  • Building Board Diversity
  • Chief Executive's Role in Developing the Nonprofit Board
  • Creating and Renewing Advisory Boards: Strategies for Success
  • Development Committee: Fundraising Begins with the Board
  • Executive Committee: Making it Work for Your Organization
  • Finance Committee: The Fiscal Conscience of the Nonprofit Board
  • Fundraising and the Nonprofit Board Member
  • Fundraising Realities Every Board member Must Face
  • Guide to Orchestra Governance, Revised Edition
  • Guidebook for Directors of Nonprofit Corporations
  • How to Help Your Board Govern More and Manage Less
  • Improving the Performance of Governing Boards
  • Legal Obligation of Nonprofit Boards: A Guidebook for Board Members
  • Nominating Committee: Laying a Foundation for Your Organization's Future
  • Nonprofit Board Answer Book
  • Nonprofit Board Committees: How to Make Them Work
  • Nonprofit Board's Guide to Bylaws: Creating a Framework for Effective Governance
  • Nonprofit Board's Role in Reducing Risk: More Than Buying Insurance
  • Orchestra Board Executive Connection: Selecting, Enabling, and Evaluating the Executive Director
  • Planning Committee: Shaping Your Organization's Future
  • Planning Successful Board Retreats: A Guide for Board members and Chief Executives
  • Six Keys to Recruiting, Orienting, and Involving Nonprofit Board Members
  • Sound Advice
  • Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations
  • Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards
  • We Can't Keep Meeting Like This! A Guide to More Effective Meetings
  • Welcome to the Board: Your Guide to Effective Participation

http://www.jobing.com/jobs/bookstore5.asp
This site offers for sale several books on assorted volunteer recruitment subjects. Most links on this site such as “read more” or “click here for more information” take you to Amazon.com. The information here provides you with some of the publications that are available to assist with volunteer issues, but all at a cost.

EDUCATION

http://www.serviceleader.org/training/courses.html
This site offers information to nonnprofit managers about the availability of courses in volunteer management at institutes of higher education. You can query these courses by state.

LIABILITY

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/il10_porter/essay_970311_hr911.htm
This is an essay by Congressman John Porter discussing his proposed bill (Volunteer Protection Act (with the signature bill number H.R. 911) regarding liability of volunteers. The aforementioned link brings you to the legislative history of the bill which was signed by the president as S.B. 544 on June 18, 1997 and enacted as public law No: 105-19. This provides the text of the federal legislation that applies to volunteer liability. This is good information for anyone in the nonprofit sector to be aware of.

QUOTES

http://www.energizeinc.com/reflect/quote1.html
This is an inspirational site that supplies quotes on volunteerism such as the following: There is only one thing worse than training your volunteers and having them leave - and that's not training them, and having them stay. --unknown Submitted by Eileen Macmillan, American Friends of the University of Edinburgh

http://www.energizeinc.com/reflect/joke.html
This site provides entertaining information which can lighten up the search for volunteers. Historical quotes are presented about volunteers that are quite humorous.