I Need a Volunteer Program YESTERDAY…Help!

Museum Association of Arizona Annual Meeting

June 2010, Sedona AZ

Volunteer Program Management History at AMY

• AMY’s previous volunteer program retention rate was low…why?

• AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer Program Manager grant– Benefits:• A volunteer manages volunteers• Dedicated individual to build a legacy program• Builds capacity of organization• Helps to ease/navigate sea change in an organization

Why you need a dedicated Volunteer Program Manager

• Develops on-boarding and orientation processes, and ongoing training

• Develops forms: application, fingerprinting, database, reporting, reward and recognition processes

• Recruits, retains, and grows volunteer program

• Provides a consistency, a “familiar face” to volunteers

Finding Volunteers

Today, volunteers are not necessarily found intraditional places. Since the “great recession”there are many new resources for volunteers.

How Quickly Did the Program Grow?

In just 2 short months, the volunteer program at AMY was off and running. Elements that made it successful:• Speaking at retirement clubs• Meeting with other volunteer program managers, such as

Desert Botanical Garden, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Arizona Science Center, and Mesa Arts Center, etc.

• Developing a program that “stole with pride”• Providing elements to unify the program: check-in area, uniforms, recognition system

Provide Perks!

Recognizing your volunteers, on a consistent andregular basis, will keep them engaged with your institution. • On-the-job training in a variety of positions sought after in today’s job market.• Ability to itemize and describe their position on a resume to eliminate time gaps.• Flexible schedules that allow time to job hunt.• Fingerprinting at no cost to the participant.• Assigned uniforms of polo shirts and aprons for those who work on the Gallery Floor.• Special t-shirts for “AMY Ambassadors” for outreach events.• Skill training classes• Recognition incentives including museum passes, movie tickets and gifts• Occasional special event tickets• Invitations to VIP events such as Exhibition Pre-Openings.• Ongoing opportunities to learn about art.• Letters of recommendation• Linkedin recommendations

AMY Multi-Level Resource ModelNon-Funded and Funded Volunteers and Temps

CommunityVolunteers

On-Call Temp Pool : Vols & Ex-

Educators

HS/CollegeService Learning

Agencies & Business

Interns

No Cost

Low Cost

AMY Multi-Level Resource Model Participants and Benefits

Participants– Community

Gloria AidanKim Gladys

Karen DonJeneanna KimBarbara SuzanneSharon BetsyGizel LizHeather GinnyFred Jillian

– College/HS Service LearningCindy AshlynColette SheriShelley SamiBailey

– InternsSarah KarinaJessica BridgetDaibin

– Agencies and Business Margot Joan

Myrna Karen– Temps On-Call

Volunteers and former Educators

Benefits

– On the job training– Work experience for resumes– Flexible Schedules– Fingerprinting at no cost– Assigned uniforms– Art training– Recognition incentives– Special event tickets– Attend VIP/other special events

– Seal on Diploma for HS students– Hours towards degree for College– Americorp, scholarship $’s

– College credit– Valuable work experience in their degree field

– Pay from government agencies like AgeWorks or private firms like

Re-Employability

– Pay for part-time on-call work as needed

AMY Multi-Level Resource ModelResults

VolunteerHours

AgencyHours

Educator Hours

Points of LightVolunteer Time $20.25/Hour

2008 1,288 0 7825652/Month

$26,082

Jan 09-Aug 09 1,430 0 4,766595/Month

$28,958

Sept 09-Feb 10(Model Initiated)

2,704 721 2,529421/Month

$54,756

Points of Light• Use the Points of

Light Volunteer Calculator to determine the donated value that your volunteers provide

• Communicate that value to your institution’s board, community stakeholders

AMY Multi-Level Resource Model Results

Vol HrsAgcy Hrs

Ed Hrs/MthVol Val ($0)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

2008Jan-Aug 09Sep-Feb 10

AMY VOLUNTEERS AREAdults

With or without

Experience,

Students.

Or

Members.

Engaged ASU students volunteer at Boo at the Zoo Oct 24, 2009

AMY VOLUNTEERS AREAdults

With or without

Experience,

Students.

Or

Members.

Engaged Barbara Van Hoy in her Volunteer Red Shirt

VOLUNTEERS NEWS FLASH Red shirts and aprons are here!! If you work on the

gallery floor, see Sandy to get yours today.

Regular CommunicationMonthly NewslettersFlyersEmailsPhone CallsBulletin Board

Volunteer Newsletter

Long-Term Sustainability

Develop internal systems to help the program run itself:• Whentohelp.com• Volunteer team coordinators• Lockers/check-in area for volunteers• Consistent support/feedback from employees• Ongoing recognition: tangible and intangible

Tangible Thank Yous on Volunteer Recognition Week

Thank You!

Questions?