Learn Skills to Take Your Volunteers to the Next Level

Volunteer Fairfax offers the Volunteer Management Boot Camp in both two and three-hour increments. The session, currently offered to the general public once per quarter, covers the basics of the volunteer management cycle focusing much of the time on planning for and supporting volunteers, as well as targeted recruitment. Specifically, the session touches on completing a needs analysis, writing position descriptions, working through recruitment strategies, and the importance of communication and volunteer motivation.

For those seeking a higher level of training, we also offer the Advanced Volunteer Management Boot Camp 201 which focuses on strategies to address common issues faced and soft skills used by successful volunteer management professionals. The Advanced Boot Camp delves deeper into volunteer screening/recruitment, supervision, and retention.

These sessions are available as a consultant package to any organization or group and can be lead at the purchaser’s chosen time and location.

Read a quick write up on the session featured in an issue of Association & Non-Profit Bisnow.

Session Outline

1. Getting Started
   1. Elements of Volunteer Program Management
   2. Characteristics of Organizations that Effectively Engage Volunteers
   3. Volunteerism Trends
2. Planning your Volunteer Program
   1. Importance of a Needs Assessment
   2. Methods for Conducting Needs Assessments
   3. Appropriate Roles for Volunteers
   4. Position Descriptions
3. Recruiting and Placing Volunteers
   1. Strategically Defined Positions Descriptions
   2. Benefits and Features of Volunteer Positions
   3. Matching the Right Individuals to the Right Positions
4. Supervising Volunteers
   1. Communicating Clear Expectations
   2. Guiding and Supporting Volunteers
   3. Ensuring Volunteers Feel Rewarded
5. Volunteer Evaluation
   1. Importance
   2. Having Difficult Conversations
6. Wrap Up
   1. Reflection
   2. Additional Materials