Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Tag: non-profits

  • Appreciation Fuels Volunteers

    “Thank you. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for showing up fully and bringing yourself to our shared mission. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.”

    Its value seems obvious, but appreciation of one’s volunteers too often gets overlooked in the busyness of our non-profit efforts. Make yourself one promise today. Promise yourself never to let another day go by without finding a way to express thanks to those who work alongside you.

    Remember from our latest podcast with Rodney Walker, that a core source of motivation for volunteers is the opportunity to contribute and make a difference. Expressing gratitude is a way to communicate the specifics of how someone does just that.

    pdf iconFor simple guidelines on the what’s and how’s of a meaningful “Thank You,” download my Say Thank You and Mean It worksheet.

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Building In Volunteer Accountability

    Key with volunteers is the opportunity to contribute and make a difference. Take that away and why not just stay home and catch up on chores?

    A position without accountability is the same as a position that doesn’t matter. If it’s not important enough to have standards and expected outcomes, then it’s not very important.

    By treading lightly and avoiding confrontation over sub-standard work by volunteers, we rob them of one of the key benefits of getting involved—the opportunity to make a difference. Work that matters is work worth insisting on people’s best efforts.

    Try including expected outcomes in your volunteer job descriptions. Lists of tasks or responsibilities leave too much to individual interpretation. Many arguments or misunderstandings about performance can be avoided from the outset with a focus on outcomes.

    Accountability is not a threat to those who care about their work… it is a gift. How do you go about giving the gift of accountability?

    (Find the entire Challenges Facing Non-Profits series here.)

  • When It’s Difficult to Say “Thank You”

    Rodney Walker asserts that volunteers are the non-profit’s most valuable resource in this week’s podcast interview.

    But volunteers don’t always do a good job. They do not always come with the skills we need. Some arrive with too much time on their hands and set up a home away from home in our office. Awkward, to say the least! Bless their hearts for helping on the one hand, while we curse under our breath for the complications, on the other.

    pdf iconYou might consider developing a simple job description for each task or role for which you plan to recruit volunteer help. (Click here for free pdf template download.)

    Such a tool would help you and your team define more clearly what you actually needed help with. More importantly, prospective volunteers would see up front how much time was being asked, the duration of the commitment, the tasks involved and the skills required.

    This job description could serve as a talking tool or discussion guide when interviewing interested recruits. You would be able to highlight how the person’s heart fits with the organization’s mission, without sacrificing the substance or quality of the job that needs to get done.

    How do you keep volunteers both motivated and on track?

    (Catch up on the entire series here.) 

  • Listen In -> Non-Profit Challenges #4: Working With Volunteers

    Is there such a thing as firing a volunteer? For organizations that depend on volunteers, this can be a tricky subject. What about motivation when there are no raises or promotions on offer?

    This week’s interview with Rodney Walker focuses on the challenge working with volunteers presents the non-profit.

    Listen in.

    powered by ODEO

  • Who Is Serving Whom?

    Fund raising can twist two ways. For some it feels like the annoying child whining for your limited time while you’re trying to focus on more important things. For others it is the insidious demon that has somehow possessed your soul without you even realizing it, and all you do and see is related to money.

    Helpful may be to ask, “Who is serving whom here?

    Money has its place, a reality we have acknowledged in an earlier entry. But its place is not the primary place. When you feel like you’re serving the money demands of your organization instead of money serving the world-changing goals of your organization, it is time to realign and/or get some help.

    Find creative ways to keep money and fund-raising in your service. Funds are a vital and necessary tool to have in the arsenal. But we want to be able to choose how we leverage its power on behalf of our cause. When we can no longer choose, we are no longer in charge.

    Who is serving whom?

    If you haven’t heard this week’s interview with Rodney Walker, then be sure to click on the player in the right column and enjoy!

  • Money = Oxygen?

    Oxygen. Interesting word to use when talking about money.

    It forces a reality check for the non-profit. Rodney’s insight in this week’s podcast interview is that there is no avoiding, getting around, or wishing away the simple fact that no enterprise, even a not-for-profit one, can function without funds.

    Many non-profit leaders look down on, or are simply annoyed by, money, fund-raising, and the capitalistic context of our work. All power to them on their convictions, but unless they find a way to pay their staff, pay their rent, buy supplies, postage, computers, etc. etc., they will be out looking for a new job themselves.

    What is your view of the role of money in the non-profit? How do you keep fund-raising in perspective?

    Listen in.