Unclear Expectations: Center team members have heard many horror stories from individuals who have volunteered for nonprofits only to realize that their roles are not what they seem. We sometimes receive calls from disgruntled people who claim that they were recruited to volunteer, but later asked to perform work similar to that of paid staff. Other volunteers become disengaged over time due to a lack of clarity about their responsibilities and their contribution to the nonprofit's mission. I think it's safe to say that most volunteers sign up because it provides a sense of fulfillment or offers an opportunity to use or build additional skills. But if these motivators do not hold true, then a volunteer can disengage--or do damage to your nonprofit's culture or reputation--fairly quickly. To ensure that your volunteers understand their roles and the impact of their service, use volunteer position descriptions that affirm the voluntary nature of the role, specific duties, reporting relationships, and more. To quell doubt, spell it out!
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Draining Training: One of most common complaints from volunteers is that training wasn't provided, or was inadequate. When you skip or skimp on training you miss an opportunity to help your earnest volunteers succeed. Check out the two most recent editions of the Risk eNews for onboarding and training tips. Or peruse these free resources from our website:
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Volunteer Law Ignorance: You might have heard of the federal Volunteer Protection Act or similar state laws. While these laws protect our beloved volunteers, take time to understand what they cover, and what they don't. Never over-state a particular law's purpose or value to calm volunteer fears about liability. For example, the Volunteer Protection Act (VPA) provides a defense to legal claims alleging simple negligence made against volunteers. But the protection afforded by the VPA is narrow, and it doesn't apply in some of the more common liability claims implicating volunteers. I'll explain some of the ways the laws may be more narrow than you thought during the upcoming webinar. To learn more about your state's volunteer protection law and the federal law, read our compendium of State Liability Laws for Charitable Organizations and Volunteers. You can also look forward to a new version of this resource, which the Center will release this Fall: Volunteer Protect, a desktop and mobile app offering quick and easy access to updated volunteer protection laws, with helpful references and links to legislative sources and also cases citing the federal and state volunteer protection laws.
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I've heard many nonprofit leaders state that volunteers are the lifeblood of their nonprofit's mission. If it's true, then take action now to address the most critical risks that face your volunteers (and you as a volunteer manager). Though you might have to work an extra work hour to attend the upcoming webinar on 'Top 10 Risks Facing Volunteer Programs,' it's your duty to provide the best possible volunteering experience for the sake of your team and your mission.
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Erin Gloeckner is the director of consulting services at the Center. She welcomes your feedback about this article and questions about other volunteer management topics at Erin@nonprofitrisk.org or 703.777.3504.
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