Volunteers are an essential part of any nonprofit’s team. But many organizations struggle recruiting and managing their volunteers effectively – not to mention retaining them! If this sounds like your organization, then join us for our conversation with Diana Zhang and get her 8 lessons learned from recruiting and managing an all-volunteer nonprofit.
Listen to the Episode Here!
Links
Website: Neighbor Share
Podcast: Ep 129: The No Bricks, No Mortar, 100% Virtual Nonprofit with Barbara Van Dahlen
Podcast: Ep 151: Groundbreaking Volunteer Management Ideas with Rob Jackson
Successful Nonprofits® Webinars
Successful Nonprofits® Book Club
Timestamps
(02:34) Diana’s story
(04:16) Neighbor Share’s story
(07:50) An all-volunteer force
(08:45) Secret 1: Flexibility
(10:12) Secret 2: Value
(14:18) Secret 3: Expectations
(15:20) A sidebar on Boards
(16:00) Secret 4: Fun
(17:00) Secret 5: Org Chart
(19:13) Secret 6: Managing
(22:40) Secret 7: Duds
(24:30) A sidebar on your job as a manager
(27:50) Secret 8: Donation
A 15 minute call was the igniting spark to this journey.
How can we get direct help to the people in our communities when they need it?
How can we empower the folks in the community who know when someone needs help?
We empower the existing experts.
We have anywhere from 25 to 30 volunteers on the ground plus a volunteer advisory council and board. = 40ish
If you don’t ask, you’re not going to get it.
One of the things I’ve learned in this space is to be flexible.
With good planning, flexibility, and empathy on both sides, you can get a lot out of volunteers.
I followed a typical recruiting process as my for-profit job.
I stopped calling folks volunteers – this is just the team.
Volunteering is someone’s extracurricular. You have to make it fun!
Have good frank conversations about what your talent is interested in, what they’re capable of, and what they have the capacity to do.
You need to be able to adjust if you have an all-volunteer team.
The most effective way to develop your talent is on the job training.
Excellence begets excellence.
Hold the bar high and get rid of the duds.
Know that you’re going to have turnover.