Volunteers Are Not Staff!

If you are fortunate enough to have good volunteers, the next trick is to utilize their talents and treat them well. When you do this correctly, they will stay and work hard because they feel fulfilled, and your nonprofit will benefit from their commitment. Following are tips to help you achieve this goal.

Treat them well
A volunteer is an "unpaid helper or assistant." Volunteers are not staff, so don't treat them as such. Volunteers raise millions of dollars every year for organizations, and often give you money to boot! Now that's a deal!

Listen to them
When volunteers give you their time, they often like to share advice along with it. While the advice may not always be welcome, you must acknowledge their ideas regardless of whether or not you actually utilize them. Keep in mind that often, their outside view and experience can be helpful to your organization.

Keep them coming
Appreciate the value of volunteers. If they are used well and appreciated, most volunteers take their role very seriously. Remember, volunteers can come in and help or attend meetings, give a specific amount of time to a project, and feel like they are part of the organization . . . or not.

Unlike paid staff, volunteers don't have to keep to a schedule, inform you of when they're taking a sick day, or - in fact - even show up at all. A successful volunteer relationship depends on your providing specific training, detailed job descriptions, and frequent feedback. Volunteers must feel useful, important and appreciated. With all they bring to the organization - at little cost to you - that's a good return on your investment.

- Susan Schneweis, Executive Vice President (Kansas City) susan@hartsookcompanies.com

Another Smart Idea...From the Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM

"Even though I may only be working on an annual fund appeal, it is important to make it part of the total fundraising picture." - Erica Waasdorp, A Direct Solution (Marstons Mills, Mass.)

If you are interested in Best Practices and smart ideas, see these additional resources from Hartsook Companies:

On the Money! by Robert F. Hartsook, JD, EdD, Chairman and CEO of Hartsook Companies, Inc. (2004, ASR Philanthropic Publishing) is an enlightening collection of success stories and lessons learned from 25 nonprofit fundraising campaigns nationwide is the newest book. An early review called On the Money! ". . . a celebration of well-earned victories, smart thinking and ideas that make sense." For more information, or to order a copy, visit www.asrpublishing.com.
Fundraising Magic - 33.5 Strategies for Turning Board Members into Money Makers by Robert G. Swanson (2007, ASR Philanthropic Publishing). This book shares proven strategies you can implement immediately to give Board members the confidence and tools needed to cultivate donors, solicit gifts and strengthen your organization's position in the community. To order this book, follow this link http://www.ASRpublishing.com.

"Best Practices Coast to Coast^SM," a compilation of best practices from every state in the union.
"Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM," our original collection of 250 best practices and great ideas.

For a free copy of "Best Practices Coast to Coast" or the "Hartsook Best Practices Collection", please email Cathy Rutz, cathy@hartsookcompanies.com, or visit our web site at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com. We also invite you to contribute your own best practice by emailing Tami Druzba, tami@hartsookcompanies.com.

Visit the Hartsook Companies web site for:

• Educational opportunities
• Books/reference articles
• Conference/workshop speakers

Strategies for Success explores smart ideas, connecting with more than 1,500 fundraising professionals bi-weekly. We welcome your contributions or comments. Send to Strategies for Success and eHartsook Editor Karin Cox, MFA, Senior Vice President (Wilmington, NC), kcox@hartsookcompanies.com. If you'd like a free subscription to Strategies for Success - or its monthly companion, eHartsook on Philanthropy - contact Tammy Weinman, tammy@hartsookcompanies.com. You also can reach her at 316.630.9992.

Our web site is located at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com.