Understanding the New Volunteer

Building a Spirit of Engagement: The New Volunteerism

Peggy Hoffman, CAE@peggyhoffman

Mariner Management Association Management, Training & Consulting

Home of PRSA MD, ISES DC, AIDC, Maryland Recycling Network

What percentage of your members volunteer for your association?

Available from ASAE www.asaecenter.org

Plug in Increase Value Increase retention Increase acquisition

The Committee Model Is Broken

Reality looks more like this:

Source: The Mission Driven Volunteer – Peggy Hoffman & Elizabeth Weaver

Looking for meaning

Not …

CONSUMING (viewing, reading,

attending)

PROMOTING (liking, sharing, recommending)

CREATING (contributing, commenting,

survey respondent)

SERVING (volunteer in

non-governing role)

GOVERNING (volunteer in a

leadershievauap role)

Time/Flexibility

prefer ad hoc or episodic

volunteering

Source: Decision To Volunteer, ASAE

getting involved is cyclical …

tied to family & profession stages

prefer short terms not

“jail terms”

Motivation

Have you surveyed your members or your volunteer pool

about why they volunteer?

Volunteers are Pro-Social

Its about the cause,

the people … and me

Top 5 Volunteering Drivers …

1. It’s important to help others2. Do something for profession/cause

important to me3. Feel compassion for others4. Gain new perspectives5. Explore my own strengths

Source: Decision To Volunteer, ASAE

Work Styles

on our way to the same place

We think differently,

speak differently …work differently,

Be flexible

Embrace micro-volunteering

and harness technology

What volunteer opportunities do you offer members?

Be motivational

CommunityProfessional developmentService to others

Be outcome

focused

Switch from giving direction to defining the goal

Open to new structures, new

formats

Inventory• consider every

opportunity, share, gather input

Inventory• consider every

opportunity, share, gather input

Committee Review• Term• Task• Role within the

association

Inventory• consider every opportunity,

share, gather input

Committee Review• Term• Task• Role within the association

Individual Job Review • can you unbundle?• categorize (occasional,

limited/short-term, annual/ongoing, national governance)

MatrixPosition Type of

CommitmentSkill/

Knowledge Level

Individual/Group

Location Time Commitment

Key Tasks

Position e.g., Governance, Standing, AdHoc

e.g. Vol level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

e.g., Virtual, Teleconference,Face-to-face

Est. number of hours req’d or term, temporary, occasional, interim

List

Writer AdHoc Vol Level 1 Individual Virtual 1-3 hours Write e-letter article of 300 words

Committee Chair

Governance Vol Level 4 Group Combo 1-yr term (list key tasks)

Inventory• consider every opportunity,

share, gather input

Committee Review• Term• Task• Role within the association

Individual Job Review • can you unbundle?• categorize (occasional,

limited/short-term, annual/ongoing, national governance)

Create & visualize your volunteer

pathway

Pathway5 - Strategic Volunteers Leader

4 - Experienced Volunteer Leader

3 - New Volunteer Leader

2 - Learning Volunteer

1- Prospective Volunteers

Membersas

Citizens

Questions …

Let’s connect … Phone: 301.725.2508Web: www.marinermanagement.comTwitter: @peggyhoffmanLinkedIn: Peggy Hoffman