The Volunteer Everyone Wants

My mother was the dream volunteer. She was involved, believed in the organization, took initiative, created solutions to big challenges. She was not the volunteer to answer phones, or be a greeter, or stuff envelopes. She shared that upfront.

That being said, my mother was a skilled fundraiser and event planner. I have written about the subtle business savvy of my father, but my mother’s ability to support a cause would make any businessperson sit up and take notice. My mother was never a person of technology; she was very analog, yet very effective. What she knew was that technology was just one tool. She had other tools that she possessed, and the organizations she supported benefited from her skills with these tools.

• Relationships – My mother, like my father, understood the value of everyone’s role. From the custodial staff to the chairperson, they were all necessary to the success of an event. Maintaining and growing those relationships meant that the events Mom was involved with would continue to grow and succeed.
• Keeping good records – Long before the days of computers, my mother had systems and processes. She maintained records from one year to the next, which helped her to “make it all look so easy.” She knew who did task well and who gave the big bucks and who brought the most guests. Mom was always more successful the next year, because she knew what worked the previous year (and what didn’t).  I remember this was something I learned early on. Our fundraiser for Scouts was selling fertilizer. I maintained my sales list from one year to the next and grew it, constantly updating it. My parents never paid for any summer trips because of this trick.
• Say “Thank You” – There were never any strikethroughs on Mom’s notes. Her penmanship was like calligraphy. The notes were often brief, but always genuine. They may have been written to a fellow volunteer, or a major donor, but each was written with care. Many people have shared the value of her notes and how special she made them feel.
• Knowledge – When someone joined a committee Mom chaired, she would get to know them. She would understand their interest and their background and then discuss specific task. It was never “just jump in.” Some people would describe her as a controlling person, but really she was identifying assets and empowering people.  When she would go ask for a donation or a sponsorship, she didn’t offer a menu. She knew whom she was asking and would often ask for the right thing and the right amount.
• Listening – Sometimes the donation she wanted would not come through, or that volunteer would get overwhelmed. Mom would not end that conversation there, she knew how to ask the right question and then listen. Sometimes new opportunities would be discovered; sometimes it was not the right time. She always left the door open.

I don’t know that there will be another Katie Mae, but there are many like her. People who want to make a difference. Yes, stuffing envelopes and answering phones are an important role for your organization, but so is fundraising or being an ambassador, or a project manager.

Don’t miss an opportunity because you missed interviewing your new volunteer.

As always we hope this post helps you to drive results. To learn more about effective volunteer strategies and infrastructure, contact PB&J marComm.