For a busy nonprofit professional, effectively managing volunteers can seem challenging– even daunting – but with a little time and intention, you can become highly effective at engaging volunteers. This series of sessions will guide you through the critical components of setting a volunteer program up for success and provide resources for future development.

This workshop is designed to meet the needs of volunteer managers with less than two years of experience in the field or those looking to refresh or increase their understanding of the basics. Participants will explore the life cycle of effective volunteer management over the course of three separate online sessions. Attend one session for a mini boost to your volunteer program, or all three for maximum impact.

Session 1 | Volunteer Management Strategy | Monday, Apr. 5 | 2pm- 5pm

Effective volunteer engagement begins with a strong volunteer management strategy. In this first session, we will explore the importance of aligning your volunteer strategy with the mission of your organization and creating a volunteer engagement philosophy statement. We encourage your organization’s leadership to participate in this session with the volunteer manager/coordinators.

Participants will learn how to:

• Establish why your organization engages volunteers

• Develop a volunteer engagement philosophy statement

Session 2 | Effective Volunteer Recruitment | Tuesday, Apr. 6 | 2pm- 5pm

We build on the first session by discussing how to develop strong volunteer position descriptions, how to recruit for opportunities through effective targeting marketing, and ways to engage volunteers virtually.

Participants will learn how to:

• Develop great volunteer position descriptions

• Recruit fantastic volunteers

• Engage volunteers virtually

• Strategically match volunteers

Session 3 | Volunteer Engagement | Wednesday, Apr. 7 | 2pm- 5pm

With a solid foundation in place, we will dive into supervising for success, recognition approaches that don’t require a huge budget, and evaluating your volunteer program.

Participants will learn how to:

• Orient and train volunteers

• Develop your supervisory skills

• Recognize your volunteers

• Evaluate your volunteer program

About the presenter:

Nancy A. Gaston, CVA, is a trainer and consultant with her own practice, Gifts Differing. She has been the executive director of a volunteer-staffed crisis line, a county-wide volunteer center, and a volunteer chore service. As a trainer, she has presented sessions on volunteer engagement at local, regional, national, and international conferences.

She holds a degree in English and journalism from Eastern Michigan University and a graduate degree in theology from McGill University in Montreal. She is a Certified Volunteer Administrator—CVA—granted by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration, and a certified trainer with Oregon Volunteers. Nancy has served on many boards of directors, including those of Clark County YWCA, Nonprofit Network of Southwest Washington, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, Assistance League Southwest Washington, and Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation. She volunteers regularly with her faith community and is a lunch buddy in a local elementary school.

Nancy has a passion for engaging citizens in their communities, especially through the work of small nonprofit organizations. She embraces Margaret Meade’s statement: “Never doubt that a small group of informed and committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”