(2006) volunteers & the web: merging two resources
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(September 2006) Introduction to online opportunities for volunteers and volunteer managementTRANSCRIPT
Volunteers & the Web:Merging Two Resources
Super Quick Overview
• Participant Intros• Volunteering by the numbers• Volunteering characteristics• Web as Operational: E-Volunteers• E-Volunteers-Examples• E-Volunteers-Tips• Web for Promotion• Web for Logistics
DISCUSSION
Who Am I?Why Am I Here?
[Hint : Trick Question!]
Devendra Shrikhande[blah…blah}
Introductions
• Name• Organization• Role• Volunteer Engagement (on and offline)• Session “Takeaway”
VolunteeringSome Statistics
Trends & Highlights
• Slightly more than 65 million volunteered in the US (2005)
• While numbers increase, rate remained constant at 28.8% from 2003-05
• Women volunteered at a higher rate than men. Married more than unmarried (2005)
Where They Volunteer
• Greatest percentage through religious organizations (34.8%)
• Over a quarter donated time to educational or youth service organizations
• Around 13.4% to social or community service
Volunteer Activities
• Over a third coach, referee, tutor, teach or mentor• Fundraising or selling items second most popular (nearly
30%)• Third most popular: collecting, preparing, distributing or
serving food
Challenges to Mobilization
• Insufficient staff time for volunteer management• Not adopting volunteer management practices• Recruiting volunteers for the traditional work day• Finding matching volunteers• Finding specialists
Stuff the Envelopes
Volunteers (baby boomers) are • more educated• driven • plan to keep working later in life
Nearly 38 million volunteers did not not show up (2005)
Similar to the New Philanthropy
Volunteers are looking for:• Flexible hours• Leadership roles• Tapping individual skills• Making a difference
Web and Volunteering
Primary Roles• Operational• Promotional• Logistics
E-Volunteers
Not ONLY via the Internet
May be a combination of onsite and online tasks.
Volunteer interacts with clients online (chats) but meets regularly with staff or exchanges email with client and then meets in person
E-Volunteering: Types
1. Technical Assistance
2. Direct Contact
E-Volunteers: Types
1. Technical AssistanceA) Online Research
- grants, newsletter articles
B) Professional Consulting Expertise - accounting or legal questions, strategic plans
C) Advocacy Assistance - participating in online communities, tracking legislation
D) TranslationE) Websites or MultimediaF) Writing
E-Volunteers: Types
2. Direct ContactA) Electronically Visit Clients - with homebound patients, may also visit in person
B) Online Mentoring and Instruction - assist students or adult learners
C) Online Community Participation - supervise or moderate an online communities
E-Volunteers: Examples
1. Caitran Murphy - Key Farmers CameroonBuilt website: http://www.keyfarmers.org
E-Volunteers: Examples
2. Senior Volunteers – Elder Wisdom CircleOffer advice online: http://www.elderwisdomcircle.org/
E-Volunteers: Examples
3. Volunteers – Refugee Education Sponsorship ProgramConnects refugee schoolchildren in African and Asia with counterparts in the US and Canada: http://www.respectrefugees.org/
E-Volunteers: Examples
4. Volunteers – TwangfestOnline to Offline: http://www.twangfest.org/
E-Volunteering: Is Your Institution Ready?
1. Established Volunteer Program
2. Staff familiar working with volunteers
3. Same person coordinates offline and online volunteers
4. Organization is “web-ready” - regular and prompt email communication
E-Volunteering: Be A Champion
1. Provide vision - educate
2. Program advocate – constant promotion
3. Have your own e-volunteer
4. Become the resident expert
5. Do not force – success will recruit
E-Volunteering: Nuts & Bolts
1. Prepare a written plan
2. Executive-level support
3. Build a resource base
4. Conduct in-house training
5. Modify policies to accommodate online volunteer behavior
6. Start with core mission projects
7. Patience!
Web – Promotional Tool
Communicating volunteer opportunities
Tapping quality volunteers.
1. External resources
2. Internally through your own channels
Web – Promotion: External resources
1. VolunteerMatch: http://www.volunteermatch.orgRich resource for nonprofits and volunteers
Web – Promotion: External resources
1. UNOV: http://www.onlinevolunteering.org/United Nations Online Volunteering Service
Web – Promotion: Internal resources
1. Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/Prominent profile
Web – Promotion: Internal resources
1. Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/Celebrate - Stories
Web – Promotion: Internal resources
1. Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/Celebrate – Images/Video
Web – Logistics Tool
Recruiting and Records10,000 hours: http://www.10000hours.org
Sign Up and Logs
E-Volunteers – Myths
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/ovmyths.html
1. Take less volunteer time
2. Only for distance volunteers
3. Mostly young, affluent volunteers
4. For shy, introverts
5. It is impersonal
6. Online volunteering is a new concept
How Big Can This Get?
Wikipedia: http://www.wikipedia.org/
THINK BIG
start small
??? Devendra Shrikhande