Volunteer Management Hot Topics with Susan J. Ellis

By carefully separating the nonprofit board's role in "governance" from the paid staff's role in "management," have we distanced volunteer board members from first-hand understanding of the organizations they lead? It's a mystery how anyone can determine the best policies for an agency without ever having seen the work being done. Susan describes some warning signs that board volunteers are becoming isolated, recommends simple ways to remedy the situation, and poses strategic questions to consider - whether for the board of a large institution, a grassroots organization, or an all-volunteer membership association.

Recruiting volunteers to contribute their time and effort to your organization puts you in the middle of an implied promise. When new people agree to volunteer, they initially commit because they believe you. Should they?

Recruiting volunteers to contribute their time and effort to your organization puts you in the middle of an implied promise. When new people agree to volunteer, they initially commit because they believe you. Should they?

Recruiting volunteers to contribute their time and effort to your organization puts you in the middle of an implied promise. When new people agree to volunteer, they initially commit because they believe you. Should they?

When new people agree to volunteer, they initially commit because they believe in the sincerity of the invitation and of the recruiter. So when there is a disconnect between the organization's stated desire for volunteers and its basic attitude towards them, we face a personal ethical dilemma. What should we do if our values are in conflict with those of the organization?

We spend a lot of time debating what is “volunteering.” But what about situations where the word volunteer is almost never applied, yet the activity truly is unpaid service – and even costs people money?

We spend a lot of time debating what is “volunteering.” But what about situations where the word volunteer is almost never applied, yet the activity truly is unpaid service – and even costs people money?

We spend a lot of time debating what is “volunteering.” But what about situations where the word volunteer is almost never applied, yet the activity truly is unpaid service – and even costs people money?

What do foster parents, parade marchers, church choirs and community gardeners have in common? They are all volunteers. But we don't usually apply the word volunteer to these kinds of community activities. Susan talks on this month's podcast about some of the public's and the media's perception of what volunteering is. She also offers some examples of volunteers we may see everyday, but fail to recognize. Hey, you may even be one of these people! So take a moment to open your eyes, and look around you. Stop ignoring your fellow volunteers.

The merger between the Points of Light Foundation (POLF) and Hands On Network (HON) clearly has potential for positive impact on our field but is also worrisome. What should we expect and do now?

The merger between the Points of Light Foundation (POLF) and Hands On Network (HON) clearly has potential for positive impact on our field but is also worrisome. What should we expect and do now?

The merger between the Points of Light Foundation (POLF) and Hands On Network (HON) clearly has potential for positive impact on our field but is also worrisome. What should we expect and do now?

The merger between the Points of Light Foundation (POLF) and Hands On Network (HON) has been in the works for many months. Susan points out the important perspectives that still need to be reconciled and communicated about the new entity.

After consulting and training in five countries this year, Susan comments on her observations of global volunteerism.

After consulting and training in five countries this year, Susan comments on her observations of global volunteerism.