Recently I have heard of many layoffs of volunteer management staff due to budget restraints and closing of programs.
As the Covid-19 Pandemic creates havoc over all our lives and we are looking at ways to navigate and plan for the “new normal”, I think it is important to consider the value and return on investment of a professional administrator of volunteers to help you bridge from now to the future.
I have come up with a list of reasons why the volunteer program is key to navigating and bridging the needs of your organizations and the volunteers who want to help.
Some of the reasons to keep volunteer programs alive and an integral member of the strategic planning process are as follows:
- Volunteer programs have developed relationships with many other community organizations and businesses through their networking and recruitment plans and can reach out beyond their immediate circles
- Administrators of volunteers understand the balance between opportunities and risks for both clients and volunteers
- It is important to keep relationships with existing volunteers as programs change and develop
- Administrators of volunteers understand how to create appropriate volunteer roles and can train and support volunteers in a meaningful way while reducing client and volunteers’ risks
- It is key to keep all stakeholders engaged and up to date on changes and new requirements and Administrators of Volunteers can be an integral part of the process
- Administrators of volunteers know how to shift priorities in response to need and will be instrumental as we move to a virtual support model and should be part of the strategic planning process
- Community members want to help and need a point person to guide them from initial contact to engagement
- Administrators of volunteers have always understood the pulse of volunteers and how they can be a benefit to organizations
- It is still necessary to go through appropriate recruitment, screening, orientation, training, support and recognition for volunteers…. who is going to do this?
- And finally…Volunteers need to feel like they belong, even if they are not physically connected to the organization…this is key to the success and stability of volunteer programs
Please consider the past, present and future of volunteerism and volunteer program and engage your volunteer management staff in meaningful ways because they are trained, engaged and willing to help in any way.
