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goodcompanyCommunity group on-line training

Effective skilled volunteering experiences

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Topic menuClick on any of the buttons below to find out about goodcompany, how you can use us & applying

for a volunteer

About goodcompany

Who are our volunteers?

How can we help you?

What volunteer projects can I request?

Applying for a volunteer

Tips, considerations and next steps

Who is goodcompany?

Step 1: Understanding your skill gaps

Step 2: Creating a good project

Step 3: Obtaining a volunteer

Step 4: The first meeting

Tips and advice Things to consider… Take action!

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Who is goodcompany? A small, dynamic, web-based, not-for-profit founded in 2001 An organisation that matches the skills of professionals with the needs of

community groups – skilled, not general volunteering. Operates in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth with reach into other states A FREE service available to hundreds of registered not-for-profit

community groups, and thousands of registered volunteers and employees of corporate partners

A resource for community organisations wanting to : reduce reliance on fundraising, build capacity, exchange knowledge, expand networks and opportunities.

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Who is goodcompany? Small executive team spread across three offices One full time Executive officer, the remainder of the team works part-time Board, committee and regular volunteers help run the organisation goodcompany is grateful for the past, current and future support of our

corporate partners, state governments, philanthropic trusts and foundations, individual donors, and in kind support from Hall & Wilcox and Moon Design.

With this support, goodcompany is able to offer their service free of charge to our volunteers and registered community groups.

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How can goodcompany help you?goodcompany can help you by working together with your organisation

and making us aware of your skilled volunteering needs. Through – Online matching – posting & updating the status of your volunteer projects Events - attending & networking with volunteers Community group workshops – meeting other Community Groups, sharing

insights, answers to your questions, & scoping volunteer projects eNewsletters – reading our up to date resource on our service for community

groups and volunteers. Content includes volunteer and community group profiles, articles, useful links and volunteering news. Community groups that are active and utilise our services can be profiled to all our volunteers and community groups.

Volunteer information sessions

Click to hear more about how we can help you.

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Who are our volunteers? Most are time-poor, white collar professionals looking for

one-off projects, with the exception of ongoing board/committee roles

They work full-time or are self-employed in diverse industries and are Individuals who come to our website that want to

‘give back’ Employees of our corporate partners – both individuals and

small and large teams – with access to paid volunteer leave Checking volunteering opportunities every 1-2 months - not

daily or weekly

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Who are our volunteers?

They are looking for, and respond well to: An interesting, detailed, well scoped volunteer project

(the same as for a paid job) Project/s that utilise their skills, whether it be skills they

use at work, or skills in a hobby outside of work A chance to connect and impact the community – point

out how their skills make a difference! Specific requirements (time, location, skills, experience)

so they can determine if they are suitable/available or not

Click to hear from a volunteer.

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Other

Web/IT

Strategy/Mentor

Media/PR/Comms

MarketingLegal/Governance

Human Resources

General/Admin

Fundraising/goods

Event Management

Design/ProductionAccounting/Finance

Skill categories

What skills do volunteers have? Topic menu

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1. Understand your skill gaps Topic menu

When initially scoping your needs, follow these consideration points: 1. Your strategic vision, aims and goals and compare these to your existing operations2. Identify any gaps and determine what you need in terms of people, capacity and

resources3. Concentrate on your ‘people’ gap.4. Don’t forget to check the 12+ categories we cater for.5. Could a skilled professional fill this job?6. Can it be broken down into smaller projects or tasks? And if so, how?7. How would you approach this project if you were paying a contractor to complete it?8. Can a volunteer teach others in your organisation (skills transference)

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Some questions to help brainstorm opportunities for skilled projects• What have you often thought “it would be great to ….” but have never done, or didn’t know where to

start?• What processes/systems are “clunky” and would make life easier if they were different?• What training do you, your staff, your volunteers need to help you work better or more efficiently?• If you were starting from scratch, what would you do differently or better?• Do you have a business plan? Do you need strategic business planning advice?• Is your organisation keeping up with technology – are there new technologies that could help you

work/communicate with your customer base better?• Are you asked by your client base for new/different support, programs, activities to what you currently

provide? What would be needed to implement this?• How well known is your organisation? Would you like to increase your profile?• Are you planning an event that could be supported by skilled volunteers – would you like photographers

to capture the event, graphic design for posters or a press release for media coverage?• Do any of your staff, committee or board members need advice/mentoring so they can perform their role

better?

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Address the following questions, and include the information in your project description and you will increase your chances of success:1.Does the volunteer need to complete the project:

• face to face? • during business hours?

2.Can some or all of the project be done over phone/email (there are lots of volunteers who may be out of your area)3.What support are you able to give the volunteer?4.Has any work been done on this project before? Are you starting a process from scratch?5.Does the project have a deadline? Or do you have a preferred finish date?6.How many hours will a volunteer need to commit to the project a week/month or in total? Don’t forget most volunteers are looking for, and can contribute successfully to your organisation, a one-off, defined, project.

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2. Creating a good project Topic menu

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Listed below are the sections to be covered in a submission and some examples of what to include in each:

About your organisation – The group’s mission, who or what to you help and how Volunteer project description and responsibilities – Activities and tasks, objectives Expected outcomes – Specific deliverables, and how will these be measured Required skills – Specific skills and attributes the volunteer will require Resources – what physical resources will be provided, and any unusual working conditions Timeframe and milestones – Starting date, deadlines, number of hours

2. Creating a good project Topic menu

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Over the next pages, you will see the next steps in the process of obtaining a volunteer.

Don’t forget, when filling in your submission, you want to ensure potential volunteers are inspired by your organisation and the role, and how they will make a difference.

3. Obtaining a volunteer Topic menu

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• Be written well (remember our website is public and the information you upload will be a published document from your organisation – check spelling, grammar and readability before you submit)

• Have an informative and enticing title – catchy ones help!• Inspire the volunteer to act by including:

• Several sentences on the organisation - what it does, who it helps and how • Detail on the role so volunteers can assess if they will be a ‘good match’ and

determine if they have the time, skills and availability to complete the project/role

• How doing this project will make a difference to the organisation and the people you help, and what the specific difference will be

A good project description will

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Responding to an application• Acknowledge and respond to an application (after all, it’s an interest in your

project and organisation) in a timely manner. How and when you communicate will often determine the success of the volunteer relationship.

• Feel free to ask for a resume, or portfolio before inviting them to progress• Accept = volunteer and community group contact details are exchanged by

goodcompany• Reject = goodcompany will notify the volunteer that it is not a good fit and

the project will be republished (unless you notify us)

Click to read the email goodcompany sends to volunteers

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If the application isn’t suitable

• goodcompany doesn’t screen volunteers from the public. Use your application process to screen your volunteers.

• If the volunteer is not “a good fit”, they might be suitable for another project. If not, don’t despair and give up sourcing skilled volunteers for your organisation. Try again!

• You may not have made your expectations clear in your original request for help. Reconsider the project brief and rewrite the description incorporating the changes.

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During your first meeting or communication

• Share your organisation – what you do, how their work will help the community – they might become an ambassador for you!

• Find out all you need about the volunteer/s - request more information if necessary

• Discuss the volunteer(s) availability• Agree on the project scope, objectives & expectations, deliverables,

process, and timelines so you are working towards a common goal

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During the relationship

• Always treat the volunteer as you would a paid professional employee, contractor or consultant

• Ensure there is clear, open & honest communication throughout• Acknowledge and appreciate the volunteer(s)

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Remember before you meet• You need to consider there are risks in engaging any volunteer. Take action to manage

these, starting with using your standard practice to vet volunteers as goodcompany does not formally do this.

• Make sure your volunteer and public liability insurance is current.• To acknowledge and respond to interest from a volunteer in a timely manner. How

and when you communicate will often determine the success of the volunteer relationship.

• If the volunteer is not “a good fit”, they might be suitable for another project. If not, don’t despair and give up sourcing skilled volunteers for your organisation. Try again!

• If application quality is not up to expectations, consider that you may not have made your expectations clear in your original request for help. Reconsider the project brief and rewrite the description incorporating the changes. Next >< Back

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Tips from those with experienceWe have lots of feedback and suggestions from our volunteers.

Click to read a selection of their tips

Click to listen to a community group with extensive experience working with skilled volunteers

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Our website has a Tools & Support section that includes:•Documents •Templates•Links to helpful organisations•Tips & advice from experienced skilled volunteers and registered community groups

Tools & Support

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More information can be found at

www.goodcompany.com.au

For assistance please contact us:

mail@goodcompany.com.au

Melbourne: 03 9603 3533

Sydney: 02 8094 7554

Perth: 08 9449 6124