RETHINK Service Excellence's List: Volunteer Engagement

RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin (2009)
- explores myths
- Volunteer Involvement Framework (based on time frame and type of service, a matrix)
- volunteer motivations and trends
- creating a vision for volunteer engagement
- strategies for maximizing investment in volunteers
- strategies for minimizing challenges and embracing opportunities.

- best practice

Volunteer Canada (2013)
The Canadian voluntary sector's perspective on the trends and issues identified in 'Bridging the Gap'.
- survey of volunteer perceptions
- a look at the capacity of organizations to respond to the gaps, trends and issues in volunteering and citizen engagement
- examines innovative practices, models and tools for engaging today's volunteers.
- case study (Canadian Cancer Society) focused on a culture shift from volunteer management to volunteer engagement

Volunteer Calgary (2009)
- findings from research on 'high skills' volunteers
- success factors for volunteer engagement
- best practices

based on New York Cares experience (2010)
- 13 principles to guide a volunteer communication strategy

Volunteer Centre Serving Howard County, US (2010)

Administrators of Volunteer Resources, BC (2009)
- standards of practice for the volunteer manager, coordinator or administrator

David Eisner et.al., Stanford Social Innovation Review (Winter 2009)
- describes common mismanagement practices
- framework for best practices

Volunteer Calgary (2007)
Identified five important lessons or success factors:
- essential strategic leadership
- role and place of the manager of volunteers
- professionally managed volunteer programs (alignment of systems, policies and processes for paid and unpaid staff)
- valuing volunteers
- readiness for an integrated human resource strategy approach.

Canadian Journal of Volunteer Resources Management (2009)
- 8 articles on strategies for engaging baby boomers as volunteers

Volunteer Canada
- values, guiding principles and standards of practice

Volunteer Wisconsin
- defines a new paradigm for volunteer management
- best practice guidelines for planning, recruitment, training, resources, recognition/evaluation, assessment

Volunteer Management Resource Centre
Best practices related to:
- organizational readiness
- risk management
- development the volunteer program
- finding volunteers
- screening, selecting and matching volunteers
- training volunteers
- support, supervision and retention
- financial management
- motivation and recognition

Model based on four key concepts: generate, educate, mobilize, sustain.

Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (2012)
Best Practice standards related to:
- professional volunteer program management
- organizational readiness
- recruitment
- screening
- orientation
- training
- supervision and support
- acknowledgement
- continuous improvement

Anna Maranta and Paula Speevak Sladowski, Carlton University Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development
- 6 common characteristics of today's volunteer
- changing nature of the non-profit and voluntary sector
- evolution of volunteer resource management
- model of volunteer engagement
- strategies for supporting skills based volunteering

- model based on paradigm shift

Volunteer Frontier
- assessment tool based on best practice assumptions

Corporation for National and Community Service, US
- challenges
- value of the volunteer
- strategic planning to maximize volunteer impact

Volunteering Australia