VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY & DESIGN
We use assessments and a variety of approaches to understand the operating environment and offer recommendations, training, planning and implementation tools to ensure optimal volunteer impact, empowering staff and volunteers at every level.
Why engage volunteer strategy experts?
- Your organization is expanding, and you want to scale volunteer involvement to support your growth.
- You are not seeing desired results from volunteer efforts.
- You are struggling to recruit and/or retain volunteers; turnover is high.
- You are experiencing negative team dynamics and conflicts among volunteers or between volunteers and staff.
- You want to reap the rewards of engaging volunteers but aren’t sure where to begin.
- You want to create a community of ambassadors.
Results you can expect
- Expanded organizational capacity to deliver programs and services.
- Clarity around the roles that volunteers play and the outcomes they are expected to achieve.
- Greater staff buy-in and enthusiasm about working with volunteers.
- Recruitment is targeted and retention is strengthened.
Quantifiable return on investment. Organizations that invest strategically in the volunteer infrastructure reap up to $6 return for every $1 they invest.
the power of volunteers?
As leading national experts in volunteer engagement, we are uniquely positioned to support you in building an expansive volunteer infrastructure. In 2020, Energize became a program of Adisa. Founded in 1977 by Susan J. Ellis, Energize has assisted organizations of all sizes and types as they launch, expand or strengthen volunteer involvement.
ASSESSMENTS
Adisa conducts in-depth organizational assessments to strengthen and expand strategic volunteer engagement. The process includes surveying and interviewing stakeholders using a research-model approach, evaluating processes, identifying what’s working and where improvements need to be made, and providing guidance on volunteer engagement development and growth.
Among the tools we use is the Volunteer Program Assessment (VPA), a cutting-edge, innovative system first developed in 2009 by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in conjunction with Adisa’s Betsy McFarland. VPA is designed to promote nonprofit organizational effectiveness by focusing on volunteer engagement as seen through the perspective of volunteers using a comprehensive and validated attitudes and engagement survey.
INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING
Following an assessment, Adisa can partner with you to move forward, including:
- Creating volunteer engagement plans and timelines;
- Developing new procedures and processes;
- Guiding the team in implementing changes; and
- Evaluating program effectiveness and impact, making adjustments as needed to ensure a smooth progression.
TRAINING
Whether virtually or in person, we offer client-customized trainings on every topic related to volunteer engagement. Here is a sampling.
- Building the Foundation for Volunteer Involvement
- Designing Volunteer Work in Light of Covid-19
- Communicating Effectively with Volunteers
- Increasing Diversity in Your Volunteer Corps
- Managing Challenging Volunteers and Reducing Conflict
- Mitigating Risk and Developing Strategies for Keeping Volunteers Safe
- Gaining Leadership Support for Volunteer Engagement
- Successful Volunteer Recruitment Techniques
- Interviewing, Screening and Placing Volunteers
- Orienting and Welcoming Volunteers for Success
- Formulating Policies that Support Volunteer Involvement
- Volunteer Recognition: Creating a Culture of Appreciation
Ready to jump start your volunteer program?
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