Training Busy Staff

to Succeed with Volunteers:

The 55-Minute Training Series
Copyright 2007
Betty Stallings

Energize, Inc.

Designing Positions
for Volunteers
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 1
Learning Objectives

Describe the significance of good
volunteer position design.
Analyze the trends in volunteering and
their impact on design or re-design of
volunteer positions.
Design new volunteer position
opportunities within your organization.
Name the necessary components of
written position descriptions.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 2
4 Key Concepts
1. Good volunteer position design is pivotal to the
ultimate success of a volunteer program.

2. Understanding trends in volunteering should impact
position design and re-design in your organization.

3. Expanding the ways volunteers are utilized within
your organization will enable it to more effectively
reach its mission.

4. Position descriptions should be clearly written and
include all essential information.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 3
Key Concept 1
Good volunteer position design is
pivotal to the ultimate success of a
volunteer program.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 4
Warm-up Activity
What problems or benefits did you
experience when working without a clear,
written position description?

Other than the obvious value of giving a
person a clear description of what is
expected of him or her, what are some
other benefits to having written position
descriptions?
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 5
Benefits of Written Position
Descriptions
Clear understanding of what is expected.
Marketing tool for recruitment.
Guide for screening.
Basis for supervision and evaluation.
Contract between volunteer and agency.
Volunteer positions understood by co-
workers.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 6
Key Concept 2
Understanding trends in
volunteering should impact position
design and re-design in your
organization.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 7
Trends in Volunteering
Trend

Impact

Potential Responses
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 8
Sample Trends in Volunteering

Short-term volunteering options.
Desire for freedom, ability to act quickly.
Volunteers want challenging, interesting
assignments.
Volunteers come from a broader cross-section of
society.
Volunteers expect to be treated professionally.
Volunteers need flexibility in hours.

2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 9
Trends in Volunteering
Family and group volunteering are popular.
People more interested in working for causes than for
organizations.
Volunteers are often looking for job experience,
training, re-entry to employment.
Many people with professional skills available to
nonprofit organizations.
Multitude of motivations for volunteering.
More voluntolds (e.g., requirement for high school
graduation).
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 10
Responses to Volunteer Trends
Design episodic, short-term positions.
Offer position sharing.
Provide group volunteer opportunities.
Target recruitment to professionals, youth, retired
people, ethnic groups, etc.
Offer flexible hours and locations.
Organize a substitute system of volunteers.
Reimburse volunteer expenses.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 11
Responses to Volunteer Trends
Break down committee work into time-limited task
forces.
More efficient use of volunteer time.
Broaden the ways volunteers are utilized.
Develop positions for evenings and weekends.
Develop positions that can be performed off-site.
Create opportunities for students.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 12
Key Concept 3

Expanding the ways volunteers are
utilized within an organization will
enable it to more effectively reach its
mission.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 13
Activity: Designing New
Volunteer Positions

List all the duties of your current position.

Put an asterisk next to tasks which:
You feel unqualified to perform.
You would rather not be doing.

List the things you would like to do but do not
have the time to perform now (your Dream
List).
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 14
Activity (continued)
Brainstorm programs or services you wish
your organization could accomplish but
cannot, due to limited resources.

Study the flip charts and begin to develop
some new, interesting, creative potential
volunteer positions from the released tasks
and the Dream List.

Assign a task force to refine these positions
and develop new opportunities.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 15
Key Concept 4

Position descriptions should be clearly
written and include all essential
information.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 16
Elements in an Ideal
Volunteer Position Description

Position Title
Supervisor
Goal or purpose of position
Major responsibilities
Time commitment
Qualifications (required, desired)
Work location
Benefits to volunteer
Date of position design or re-design
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 17
Activity
Design a new volunteer position
description using the form in the handouts
or your own organizations format.
2007, Betty Stallings - Energize, Inc. S- 18
Summary
Sound position design is the foundation of a
solid volunteer program, but it should also
retain the fluidity necessary to continually
undergo change.