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Some very interestings thoughts from Marnie at ext337:

“Bascially, Google’s search has replaced any store front loyalty. Their only brand loyalty seemed to be to the things that they carried on their person—phones, cameras for example. They would by that at the cheapest place possible and use search to find that place. What does this mean to nonprofits who are trying to get people to donate to them? Will contributors use a search mechanism rather than brand loyalty to decide where to give? I think so. I think it means the organization that provides the greatest access to information, organized in way that allows it to be displayed and used in ways that are meaningful to the individual user, will be able to get the greatest amount of attention.”

Via: Sonny

It is a very good sign when a volunteer uses the word “we.” It denotes ownership and identification. The volunteer is no longer slaving for some impersonal organization. It’s a personal matter, and he/she feels involved in the organization.

How to move from “you” to “we” can be a difficult transition. If volunteers do not feel like they are a part of things, you have a crucial uphill climb to make.

One area that you can focus on today is the staff. Encourage staff to stop and talk with the volunteers. Pending on the size of your organization, make sure that at least key members introduce themselves to the volunteers and make them feel welcome. Ask the staff to drop off coffee or tea.

You can also make volunteers feel included by asking for their input and then act on it. If you expect them to invest in the organization, you cannot limit it just to performing a certain task. Many of them have opinions and ideas that need to be heard. You obviously cannot act on all of them, but at least they will know that you are listening. They should know why you are or are not following through on their ideas. Many “us vs. them” problems can be subverted if you give volunteers an open channel for their ideas. Few will want to say too much, but when you listen, it will really make a volunteer’s day.

Another path to “we” is empowering volunteers to ownership. Whether it’s a mailing, event, or any other volunteer activity, give volunteers a chance to customize and modify the event to their style. A volunteer at a reception desk may not want to follow your carefully crafted script, which is fine. Let them ad lib if that makes them more effective in greeting guests. If volunteers want to modify the order of inserts in a mailing, let them go for it.

This doesn’t mean you become a push over. It simply means that we allow room for freedom and creativity. Conformity has a price sometimes. It is simply a matter of knowing when to give some room and when to follow your plans precisely.

While every good manager in a company should know a little about delegation, it is a crucial skill when working with volunteers. It is not common that volunteers are the ones driving a project. They typically are performing tasks that are part of the whole, but they are not the ones pushing the big picture forward.

Having said that, I think it is important to evaluate a few things:

1. Who you are and what your role is.
2. Who your volunteers are and how they operate.

Unless you understand your role and how it relates to the kind of people volunteering for your organization, you will really be in trouble.

If you know what needs to happen and what your role is, then you need to ask some questions about the volunteers:

Is this volunteer a self-starter?

Does the volunteer want lots of responsibility, or just a supporting role?

Does the volunteer prefer a social job that involves meeting lots of people, or is he/she content with simply staying behind the scenes and doing administrative/office work?

Does the volunteer need lots of supervision?

Does the volunteer need to communicate with you often?

When will you know when the project is done? Will this be clear to the volunteer?

Do you have dealines set and plan to make sure they are met?

There are plenty of other factors to consider, but such questions will set you on the right course when working with volunteers.

Tech Soup is a non-profit techonology service. From their about page:

“Powered by CompuMentor, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit technology assistance agencies, TechSoup.org offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resources, and support. In addition to online information and resources, we offer a product philanthropy service called TechSoup Stock. Here, nonprofits can access donated and discounted technology products, generously provided by corporate and nonprofit technology partners.

We believe that technology can enhance nonprofit work, making us more efficient and better able to serve our communities. We never lose sight of that goal.”

A friend just e-mailed me the following deal from tech soup:

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Nonprofits! This February 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only, GrantStation and TechSoup Stock are sharing the love — by offering eligible nonprofits specially discounted GrantStation PRO memberships for only $90. Each GrantStation PRO membership includes instant access to a searchable database of thousands of pre-screened foundation and corporate grantmakers that are actively accepting proposals from nonprofits. “

Link to the tech soup home page.

In light of the recent controversy started by a few Christians regarding the portrayal of missionaries Steve and Nate Saint by gay actor Chad Allen, I wrote up a little satire. The piece itself has absolutely no truth to it. It’s just a different look at a controversy that is divisive in the church and stains the name Christian.Link

After using PagePlus for over a month, I’ve had some time to acquaint myself with its quirks and advantages.

Advantages:

It’s free! You can’t beat a free program that provides the flexibility you need to do all kinds of publishing. There are a number of free templates that you can download online. The layout options, though different than Publisher, are fairly diverse and provide options for brochures, newsletters, etc. The program itself runs very well, never slowing down the computer like Publisher often does. There are tons of fonts to choose from and you basically have all of the text editing tools that you could think of.

Disadvantages:

It did crash when I tried to import a .wmf clipart file I found on the Net and again when I tried to import either a .bmp or .gif (I can’t remember which)…But I have been able to download .jpg files. Make sure you save often! Layering text boxes can be a bit tricky and frustrating. If you figured out Publisher, you should be able to navigate it nonetheless. The templates are a bit limited, but you can customize them if you have the patience.
There is more I could say, but this gives you a glimpse of PagePlus. It’s worth downloading and playing with it. The money you save by not purchasing Publisher makes it worth a slight learning curve.

I called a volunteer yesterday. After saying where I was calling from, she said, “Oh, I already sent in my money.” I wasn’t calling about that of course, I was calling to ask her to volunteer. Totally different department.

Yet in some ways, I feel like asking people to volunteer is more demanding than asking for their money. You are basically asking them to reprioritize their time and help your organization out. It’s thoughts like these that make me feel I am worse than a telemarketer.

So how do we counteract that impersonal, organizational feeling when we call people? How can they feel like their volunteering for more than a non-profit organization, but for people, a cause, etc.?

Relationships

There is nothing more powerful than building relationships when creating a team of volunteers. While it’s not a transaction, it is logical to assume that if you want them to care about your organization, your organization better care about them. Designating one person to build relationships with volunteers is a way to personalize the volunteer experience and helps customize your volunteer program to each individual.

Take time to find out about your volunteers and their habits, likes/dislikes, and activities. You may be able to focus their volunteer time more effectively once you find out how much they enjoy people or hate clerical work. It also helps to find out about specific preferences.

For example, if you know one volunteer doesn’t like driving in snow, check the forecast before you call, have a sub lined up, and give him/her an easy out if the weather gets bad. Also, if a volunteer has a sick spouse, call to check up on the situation, don’t let them think they are forgotten if they no longer can volunteer.

You can only find these things out if you invest the time in relationships. This investment will prevent you from viewing volunteers as fuel to keep your non-profit “machine” going. They are an integral part of the whole, but have individual worth that you must value. Any time spent building up the value of relationships will make your volunteer program stronger and more satisfying for all parties involved.