Developing your Volunteer Program Shellie Orngard, Executive Director Volunteer Center of Story County

What was your worst experience as a volunteer? – What made it a bad experience?

What was your best experience as a volunteer? – What made it a good experience?

2 out of 5 volunteers quit volunteering because of poor volunteer management practices FACT:

Steps in Working with Volunteers STEP 1: Define and Communicate Clear Expectations STEP 2: Guide and Support Volunteers STEP 3: Ensure that Volunteers Feel Rewarded and Recognized

STEP 1 Define and Communicate Clear Expectation s Volunteers need and deserve clarity about: 1. Significant agency policies, procedures and operations that affect them or that they affect. 2. Their responsibilities & functions toward the agency and its clients. 3. The agency’s responsibilities to them. What materials will provide clarity?

To Conduct Step 1… Define & Communicate Clear Expectations Don’t simply hand volunteers piles of paper – review information with them. Cover only those items relevant to the volunteer. Create a culture that encourages questions. Define and Communicate Clear Expectations:

STEP 2 Guide & Support Volunteers Give volunteers the Instructions Direction Feedback Corrections Information Freedom they need to perform their functions well. Give volunteers the

Principles for Effective Volunteer Guidance Take care of the person, not the task. Provide guidance in the way that works for the volunteer, not the way you think is right. Support, rather than control, the volunteer’s efforts. Other:

STEP 3 Ensure that Volunteers Feel Rewarded & Recognized This step is about setting the environment, structuring the experience, treating volunteers well, and recognizing volunteers so that their volunteer work is personally rewarding to them.

12 Basic Needs of Volunteers 1.A specific and manageable task with a beginning and end 2.A task that matches interests and reasons for volunteering 3.A good reason for doing the task 4.Written instructions 5.A reasonable deadline for completing the task 6.Freedom to complete the task when and where most convenient to the volunteer

7.Everything necessary to complete the task without interruption 8.Adequate training 9.A safe, comfortable, and friendly working environment 10.Follow-up to see that the task is completed 11.An opportunity to provide feedback when the task is finished 12.Appreciation, recognition, and rewards that match the reasons for volunteering Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them ©1999 Helen Little

For more information Energize, Inc., For leaders of volunteers Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, Points of Light,

Thank you