Technology
Optimizing Online Volunteer Resource Management in Times of Social Distancing
Now more than ever, technology is playing an all-encompassing role in keeping nonprofits and volunteer programs going. While volunteer-matching apps and social media platforms have been around for a while, social distancing takes us to a whole other level in terms of technology use. In this issue of Research to Practice, Laurie Mook looks at a study of nonprofits in Hong Kong which explored in-depth how technology reconfigured their volunteer management. We focus mainly on the challenges these nonprofits faced to highlight the limitations and unintended negative consequences of going online. The study also suggests several ways to optimize online volunteer resource management, including how to engage your volunteers while programs are put on hold.
Does Household Internet Access Make a Difference in Inclusive Volunteer Recruitment?
With more and more volunteer recruitment done online, it is important to take a step back and look at who has or doesn’t have the opportunity to volunteer as a result of not having household Internet access. Has digital access changed the demographics of who is being asked to volunteer or to serve in leadership positions such as on a board? In this issue’s Research to Practice, Laurie Mook reviews a study on the influence of household Internet access on formal and informal volunteering. The results confirm that “volunteer recruitment may not always be an inclusive process” and that nonprofits have a role in bridging this digital divide.
Virtual Volunteer Recruitment Teams: Considerations, Tools, and Training for Success
Recruitment is an integral part of the success of volunteer engagement departments in almost every organization. But when this task is being coordinated by one person sitting in an office space, it can sometimes feel like an impossible job. In a perfect world, that person might be able to find a volunteer with the right skills to support recruitment and screening in local proximity to our organization, with availability that aligns perfectly with the free work station in our office. Alas, we all know this can be far from reality.
In this Training Designs, writer Erin McLean explores how to build a virtual volunteer recruitment team that supports organizational goals and fulfills the multiple tasks associated with successful volunteer engagement. She presents the tools required for operational success and reviews the nuances of training volunteer recruiters who work together remotely. Through this Training Designs, volunteer engagement coordinators can provide effective recruitment and screening support to virtual volunteer recruitment team members that will contribute to the success of an entire organization.
Volunteer Management Software – A Beginner’s Guide
After more than 30 years of working directly in a variety of volunteer leadership roles, Andy Fryar now works with volunteer involving organisations to assist them in establishing cloud-based software solutions. Along the way, Fryar has come to recognise that many volunteer leaders can see the writing on the wall when it comes to moving away from their trusted excel spreadsheets, but they simply don’t know where to start!
In this e-Volunteerism feature, Fryar, who is also this journal’s manuscript developer, provides a comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to help volunteer leaders understand, embrace, and use the new technology and volunteer management software that can benefit them and their programs. Writers Fryer, “It seems that very few volunteer leaders know where to start to find an appropriate solution to meet their volunteer management needs! And so to this end, I thought it might be useful to put together some simple guidelines for those embarking on this journey.”
Using Interactive Polling Software to Engage Volunteers in Training
It's the holy grail of all trainers – more interaction! But how do you increase interaction if you continue to use your typical orientation and trainings methods?
In this Training Designs, author Sammy Feilchenfeld introduces "Poll Everywhere" – a free plug-in tool for PowerPoint® that lets you to ask questions and get answers live. Using a number of resources, this Training Designs article will showcase a few different ways you can use Poll Everywhere to connect with volunteers in training sessions. Feilchenfeld explains that volunteers only need their phones to participate via web browser or text, and reviews how volunteer managers can work with their live responses. This Training Designs will no doubt help you deliver the highly engaging trainings you strive to create while interacting more with your volunteers.
Tech Tools: Best Bets for Volunteer Managers
Technology tools designed to lighten our workload abound online, but the options can be overwhelming. Some productivity tools may be specifically intended for nonprofit leaders. Others, while aimed at broader audiences, may also be useful for those working with volunteers.
When every day is packed with demands, who has time to explore all the resources available to determine which are most useful? How can you know which will actually help you become more productive and be worth the time investment to master the learning curve?
In this Along the Web column, Faye C. Roberts helps answer these questions by exploring popular tech tools that can ease the time crunch for volunteer managers. And in keeping with the limited budgets of groups that depend on volunteers, most of the tools Roberts discusses are free or low in cost.