Define Roles - Match needs of your organization with volunteer's skills and availability by including it in those written volunteer position's description.

Move people around - Unless you have a good reason not to switch roles, put new people (with a good track record) in those organizational roles that will move your fundraiser forward. Do this ahead of time. Provide proper training.

The early bird gets “volunteer” - Let community know early and often about what volunteers you need. Recruit more volunteers than you think you will need. This way, no one feels overworked. And of course, those volunteers will be able to pick up slack in event others don’t follow through as expected. Have volunteer sign-up forms at every event and meeting your organization hosts.

Recruit a volunteer to be volunteer coordinator - A strong communicator that will help assign and place volunteers would be best choice. Some people are a natural for this key role.

Set realistic goals - Break those goals down into what's needed from each sub-group. Tell them consequences of their participation as well as what could happen if they don’t follow through. Let volunteers know importance of their roles and what's in it for them. Reward volunteers based upon their individual and group success.

© 2005 - Heidi Richards

Learn about people involved – beyond their volunteer roles. Learn their likes, dislikes, talents, what excites them, why they volunteer, etc. This will create a sense of Team and unity that nothing can diminish.

Give potential leaders chance to prove themselves by providing limited opportunities for them to learn, grow and shine. Have them run a meeting, co-facilitate a training program, or make a presentation.

Provide continuous opportunities for feedback. This includes needs assessments, and interim “job applications.” People evolve and learn new skills. The organization that stays on top of their volunteer leadership development will never run out of potential and future leaders to carry on mission.

Build in “term limits” so that you have a continuous need for new, fresh ideas. Otherwise you will continue to hear “we have never done it that way,” from old guard making it difficult if not impossible to recruit people who wish to make a difference. Volunteers want to be heard. Volunteers want to know that their efforts are appreciated.

© 2005 - Heidi Richards

Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is also the Founder & CEO of the Women’s ECommerce Association, International www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) – an Internet organization that “Helps Women Do Business on the WEB.” Basic Membership is FREE. Ms. Richards can be reached at Heidi@speakingwithspirit.com or heidi@wecai.org.