6 comments Receive from a reader of this blog a nice email with an interesting question about the organization of the office volunteer.
Hello I am writing to have an opinion "authoritative."
I work in an organization that does fundraising for projects in Italy and abroad help>>
Volunteer work in the office. Volunteers are a "godsend" for everything that is visibility, fundraising
testimony on projects abroad.
For some 'of months we have created an events manager who works in the fundraising office, but this does not seem practical, because 99% of the events is done by volunteers and. I would be more logical to think that the event is under the office volunteer or possibly the opposite, but for now we are still looking for more functional organizational model, for which events are in conjunction with fundraising and volunteering is a different office.
I wish I had a comment on his part and of any references / examples.
Thank you for your availability and I hope to know in one of her upcoming classes.
Here's my answer
Eliminate office volunteers!
If volunteers are autonomous and able to support all the creative work of the events there is no reason to create a figure that they paid "controls". The story makes sense if from your strategic plan, your budget or fundraising, you believe that the "instrument" events should be enlarged, in which case it makes sense to put "service" of unpaid volunteers, even a person, but this would not choose a person of high level, but someone who helps the volunteers (who by definition do not have unlimited time to stay in the organization) to do what they must do.
In other words, everything depends on which button you push.
I, however, to put it out of the teeth, completely eliminate the volunteer office. It 'a strategic error and also operating to relegate volunteers in an office volunteer, as if to volunteer to be a "type" of work, as if it was like to volunteer to do the plumber, the consultant, the accountant. Volunteering is not a job, pay is a mere category. The volunteer staff is part of the organization and it is personal to all intents and purposes. It simply is not paid, but otherwise it makes no difference. If you really want to identify a difference between those who volunteer and who is not to indicate this organization chart with a circle instead of a rectangle. But the volunteers pertains to the area of work they do. If they are in administration will refer to the administration, if they are in the events office will refer events, if they are elderly services, will report to the Head of the elderly (or children) ... etc..
No difference with the worker paid in one direction and another, that you have to start treating salaried staff as if it were unpaid, the same level of passion and motivation that you would have if they were not paid. Would treat them the same way?
The secret of success of a nonprofit organization is to understand that there is only one type of human resources, some are paid, some do not. Everything here, but it's a long story that does not have time to investigate, but if you have any questions, tell me! Best wishes and good work (whether paid or not)
Ps my reply I have worked (although I have not been paid ...) and for this I should be placed in the office to volunteer? NO! I remain in my office in Piazzale della Vittoria, they simply are a consultant (even if not paid!) Ok?
