Resources for Volunteer Recruitment and Retention

Through its studies on Volunteering In America, the Corporation for National and Community Service continues to deliver increasingly detailed reports on the trends and habits in volunteering across the country, in order to better understand who is serving in our communities and how, when, and why they serve.

In partnership with HandsOn Network, the Corporation is providing specific resources to support the findings of the Volunteering in Americareports. The resources on this page have been developed to help you increase the capacity of your organization, company, program, or community to effectively engage volunteers of all ages. This page builds on resources developed for previous Volunteering in America reports and includes new and updated resources (as indicated below). Additionally, scroll down the page to learn more about and register for three Ask the Expert webinars facilitated by leading volunteer practitioners and researchers.

Featured Resources

Volunteer Self-Organizing – Resources to help individuals plan and manage projects to bring about positive community change
Recruitment - Strategies to recruit new volunteers, including target populations such as Boomers and students
Retention – Tips for retaining volunteers and plugging “the leaky bucket”
Human Capital Strategies – Innovative techniques for nonprofits during these difficult economic times, including the use of pro bono services, other skilled volunteers, and volunteer leaders
Cost-Effective Volunteering - Practical tips for maximizing resources during an economic downturn
Voluntourism – Resources for understanding the growing trend of combining service and vacations

Using Volunteers for Your Fundraising Efforts

I came across this fundraising page created by a Southern Tier AIDS Program supporter, which you can see here. This supporter is using the Internet to bring her cause to her friends and potential new connections, and raise money for it. This is possible for any nonprofit. Have another example you would like to share? Post it here.

Boys & Girls Club gets funding boost

The Press & Sun-Bulletin reported that the Boys & Girls Club has received a $250,000 shot in the arm from U.S. Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey, D-Hurley.

"It's a giant help," said the club's Resource Development Director Jocelyn Terranova. "This definitely helps to bring us one step closer to rounding this project off."

Including the funds garnered by Hinchey, the club has about $3.7 million of the $4.7 million needed for construction of its new handicapped-accessible, 21,500-square-foot facility, she said. The non-profit is seeking the remaining $1 million needed for the 90 Clinton Street facility.
Construction of the building will be completed shortly, Terranova said, and it should be occupied by late September or early October. Read more here.

United Way gives $58K to 11 nonprofits

The Press & Sun-Bulletin reported that eleven nonprofit groups will receive a total $58,925 in grant money from the United Way of Broome County and the Helen T. Howland Foundation, United Way officials announced Wednesday.

The funds, from Venture and Special Assistance grants, will go toward projects that span early childhood care to service access for the elderly, said United Way Executive Director Alan Hertel.

"The projects that you provide represent what it means to live united," he told nonprofit representatives during a Wednesday morning press conference.

Read more here about the recipients.

Special Projects Committee Offers Insight to Other ED Groups on Ecnomic Impact

A joint meeting was held by the Oneida and Herkimer Nonprofit Executive Directors Group Steering Committee and the South Central NY Nonprofit Executive Directors Special Projects Committee to discuss the SCNY Group’s recent efforts around an economic impact study. The meeting, hosted by the Central New York Community Foundation, was attended by representatives from the SCNY ED Group, Oneida and Herkimer ED Group, and the Human Services Leadership Council in Syracuse. The main presenter and chair of the SCNY Special Projects committee was Joe Sellepack, Broome County Council of Churches Executive Director. Also, presenting was Katie McDonald, a Binghamton University master’s student working to help implement the study.

The discussion began with an understanding of why nonprofits were focusing on economic impact. In recent years, taxing nonprofits (whether by PILOT, a snow assessment fee, etc) has become an issue. With the downturn, nonprofits will be facing in more scrutiny and possible tax proposals. In response, the SCNY ED Group saw a need to communicate the economic impact of nonprofits on the local community and region. As Joe related, they also saw a need to make it more than about the numbers, and make a comparison to what the real costs would be if their services weren’t provided. The Special Projects Committee was formed, and is examining how the nonprofit sector in the Broome region shapes the community and environment through social and human services, arts and culture, and environmental services.

The Committee has been spending a great deal of time and effort looking at past studies, not only locally but nationally. Hospitals have been a good source, and two state studies, in Michigan and New Hampshire, have been good models.

The idea for the study will incorporate two streams. The first is the financial information taken from nonprofits’ 990s, while the second will be the “social capital” they contribute. The study will show how nonprofits shape and contribute to the community narrative. The study will incorporate personal interviews to help demonstrate this piece. The study will hopefully subvert the forces that want to tax nonprofits, and show their clout, but also the rest of the story. The message will be much clearer and powerful as a group.

Joe Sellepack related that the Committee under the guidance of Binghamton University and two interns has spent much time developing their study protocol. They have decided to focus on range of nonprofits, which would include only organizations that file 990s and exclude very large nonprofits (hospitals, universities, etc) that would skew the study (and already do their own studies). In a sense, the study will give a voice to the small to medium-sized organizations.

The study is slated to take about 2 years. Much of the work is being driven by Binghamton University’s interns in the Public Administration Master’s Program.

A question was asked by Darlene Ford, ED for the Mid-York Library System, concerning the target audience and overall purpose for this effort. A number of reasons were offered by Joe and other participants: showing return on investment, advocacy, use for collaboration, joint funding projects, etc. The qualitative analysis will help show gaps and overlaps in funding and can figure in ways to help address and form partnerships.

In looking at why the Oneida and Herkimer ED Group should undertake such an effort, the Steering Committee members related a number of reasons. One was the conflicting messages in the Oneida and Herkimer communities coming from nonprofits. There needs to be a clear message and story around how nonprofits help and impact the community. Also, a study would show what would happen if nonprofits disappeared.

A part of the discussion was spent on recent efforts of the Human Services Leadership Council (HSLC) on an economic impact study. Susan Horn, the ED from Hiscock Legal Aid Society, offered some of the lessons they learned in a group study. A discussion continued about the different data involved with nonprofits, including how things are reported (outcome vs outputs). Joe offered that using personal stories will help illuminate some of the challenges of data that won’t mesh. Katie McDonald added that being clear about the data collection and analysis is key. She has been developing the study’s introduction and methodology. She also is gathering social and cultural impact pieces (social network and social capital). She related that the study will include the history of nonprofits in the Broome County region (for example, what happened when IBM left), and how they’ve developed.
Overall, there was agreement that the study could be a template for other nonprofits, and the Oneida and Herkimer ED Group plans to follow up with Joe in the fall about the protocol and info they develop.

Grants available for women’s projects

The Press and Sun-Bulletin reported that The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation for South Central New York is accepting grant applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies for projects assisting women and girls in Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego and/or Tioga counties.

Applications must be filed at the Community Foundation, 70 Front St., Binghamton, by 5 p.m. Sept. 14.

For information, go online to “Forms and Guidelines” at www.cfscny.org and download the “2009 Women’s Fund Grant Guidelines.”

The fund will award a total of $7,000 in 2009 to applicants who make a compelling case for projects or programs with the potential to improve the well-being of women and/or girls in the region.

New York unemployment rises to highest level since 1992

The Central NY Business Journal reported that the state's June unemployment rate increased to its highest level since October 1992, according to figures released today by the New York State Labor Department.

June's unemployment rate was 8.7 percent, up from 8.2 percent in May and 5.3 percent a year ago. For the month, the number of unemployed state residents jumped to more than 854,000, the largest number on records dating back to 1976.
After seasonal adjustment, New York State's private-sector job count decreased over the month by nearly 18,000, or 0.2 percent, to about 7.08 million. The job total has now dropped for 10 consecutive months.

Since the state's private-sector job count peaked in August 2008, New York has lost nearly 236,000 private-sector jobs, erasing more than half of the 400,000 jobs added during the last economic expansion from 2003 to 2008, according to the Labor Department.

Since June 2008, the number of nonfarm jobs in the Binghamton area decreased by 3,200, or 2.7 percent and the number of private-sector jobs decreased by 3,200, or 3.5 percent. The area's unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in June 2009, compared with 7.9 percent in May and 5.3 percent in June 2008.

Program Committee

September 15 session
Will feature Dan Bonsick at 8:30 AM at Family Enrichment Network. Topic will be non-monetary incentives for motivating and keeping staff.

December 8 session
Topic: A 3 Year Vision of Community Funding (will include a brief overview of the strategic change UW is implementing)

Discussed having Steering Committee put together a survey about how we are doing, what is working, what isn’t, if the group is meeting needs, and soliciting topics for next year’s forums. Survey would go out in September and be reported out at December forum

Next meeting date TBD

The Interim Executive Director Leadership Program

Are You Looking for an Exciting Opportunity to Lead a Nonprofit Organization?
Consider becoming an Interim Executive Director!

What is the Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program? The Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program is designed to help meet the needs of nonprofit agencies as significant numbers of nonprofit executives are expected to retire over the next 5 years. The Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program is a comprehensive training, placement and support initiative designed for qualified, experienced nonprofit professionals in transitional nonprofit Executive Director/CEO positions in New York State. Interim Executive Directors trained through our program will provide effective transitional leadership to nonprofits in order to strengthen organizational health and effectiveness during a time of transition.

Consider Becoming an Interim Executive Director if you are a:
Current and/or former executive director with successful experience in nonprofit executive management;
Nonprofit professional who is currently or have already served as an Interim Executive Leader who would like to be involved with this initiative and receive specialized training to augment and build upon their current skills;
Nonprofit Professional or consultant who clearly demonstrates executive leadership knowledge, abilities, maturity and effectiveness.

Program Dates & Locations: Please note that space in the training sessions listed below is limited. Registrants must complete an application process that includes submission of a writing sample and at least one reference. Candidates who successfully complete the training and secondary evaluation process may be placed into Interim Executive Director positions through this program.

August 18th, 2009 - Albany, NY NYCON Main Office, 272 Broadway, Albany, NYTime: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Cost: $150, Training Materials & Lunch Provided

August 20th, 2009 - Rochester, NY United Way of Greater Rochester, 75 College Avenue, Rochester, NY Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Cost: $150, Training Materials & Lunch Provided

For more information click here or please contact: Jennifer Lockwood, Program Director jlockwood@nycon.org(845) 454-5062 x. 102

Resources for Shooting Emergencies, Security Needs

In light of the June 10 incident at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., when security guard Stephen Johns was shot and killed, American Association of Museums (AAM) is distributing Active Shooter materials prepared by the Department of Homeland Security. The materials provide guidance—in booklet, pocket card and poster forms—for the immediate actions to take in the event of an active shooter in your museum.

The Museum Association Security Committee (MASC) also shares its Recommendations for Preparing Museums for Active Shooter Situations, which were adapted from the Department of Homeland Security’s Active Shooter Guidelines. In order to prepare for an active shooter incident, MASC recommends that museums conduct a risk assessment, update their emergency evacuation plan following the risk assessment, train all employees and volunteers in the updated emergency evacuation plan, and conduct unscheduled realistic evacuation drills on a regular basis.

In addition, the Museum, Library, and Cultural Properties Council of ASIS International and the Museum Association Security Committee of AAM jointly developed Suggested Practices for Museum Security. Revised in 2006, the document addresses fire protection, burglar alarms, key control, access control, security staffing and training, security officer qualifications and pre-employment screening for museum employees.

SAVE THE DATE Building A Better Ask: Planning and Implementing a Successful Annual Appeal

Sponsored by the Community Foundation for South Central New York and WSKG
It’s more than raising money. A successful approach to “making the call” will 1) energize
those involved—board, staff, volunteers, and donors, 2) give confidence and experience to new generations of leaders, and 3) elevate a community’s sense of what it is capable of
accomplishing.

AUDIENCE: Board Members, Executive Directors /CEOs, Development Officers. We encourage teams of two key volunteers/board and staff to attend this workshop together.
LEVEL: Intermediate through advanced.
DESCRIPTION: This half-day seminar will focus on the skills and activities needed to plan and implement an annual campaign successfully. The presenter will focus on practical and helpful information based on real life fundraising challenges and success stories. Better Asks = Better Outcomes

WORKSHOP TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

• The five tenets of successful fundraising
• Creating a compelling case for giving—packaging the dream so others can buy into it!
• Identifying, recruiting, and motivating board and annual campaign leaders
• Proper fundraising sequence—everybody in the pool, but who’s first?
• Making the “right ask”
• Building a constituency—relational fundraising
• Overcoming call reluctance and making effective calls face-to-face

PRESENTED BY: Susan J. Palmer Building a Better Ask: Planning and Implementing a Successful Annual Appeal

DATE Thursday, August 20, 2009
TIME 8:00AM–12:00PM
LOCATION WSKG Studios
601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850
COST Free

AGENDA:
8:00AM Coffee, juice, muffins
8:30AM Welcome and Thank You
Diane Brown, Executive Director, Community Foundation
Brian Sickora, President and CEO, WSKG
8:40AM Introductions
9:00AM Review of Agenda and Overview
Susan Palmer
• Case
• Donor confidence
• Constituency of donors
• Leadership
• Organizational capacity
9:15AM Are You Campaign Ready?
Susan Palmer
• Making your case
• Building your board
• Building your team
9:45AM Annual Appeal Fundraising Sequence
Susan Palmer
• Board Solicitation
• Campaign Team Solicitation
• Prospect Research
• Cultivation
• Solicitor Training
• Gracious, one-on-one fundraising
11:30AM Comments, Questions, and Answers
All participants
12:00PM Thank You and Adjourn
Diane Brown

REGISTRATION:
To register for this program, please provide the following information by Thursday, August 13. For your convenience, you can register by filling out and mailing the form below, give us a call, or send us a fax or E-mail to: The Community Foundation for South Central New York, 70 Front Street, Binghamton, NY 13905, Phone: (607) 772-6773,
Fax: (607) 722-6752 or E-mail to: cfscny@stny.rr.com

State & Federal Dollars Make Their Way to SCNY

The Rural Health Service Corps, an Americorps program that works with community clinics and departments of health, has just approved funding for the region as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Young adults ages 18-25 can apply for positions that will support healthy communities via placements with organizations like the Broome County Department of Health, the Dr. G.A. Fattal Community Free Clinic, the Rural Health Network of South Central NY, Farm Catskills, and Headwaters Youth Conservation Corps. More on the story here.

The New York State Department of Labor is working to assist companies and organizations in need by committing $5 million to job training. Businesses will be able to get up to $50,000 to train workers through the "Building Skills in New York State" program. Nonprofit agencies with four or more employees are eligible for this program. July 20th is the deadline to apply for one of the training grants.

Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways Announces New Board of Directors

New Channel 34 reported that July 1 marks the first day for the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways. The council, made up of legacy councils, Girl Scouts – Foothills Council, Inc.; Girl Scout Council of Central New York, Inc.; Girl Scouts – Indian Hills Council, Inc.; Girl Scouts – Seven Lakes Council, Inc.; and the Thousand Islands Girl Scout Council, Inc. is announcing its new Board of Directors. Read about the new board here.