Barriers, Benefits, and Balance: Volunteers are Not Employees | Ep 15

We address HR professionals stepping into the world of volunteer management—an increasingly common trend as seasoned HR leaders transition from for-profit to nonprofit roles. Managing volunteers is an exciting opportunity but comes with its unique challenges and differences from managing paid staff. This episode explores how to approach volunteerism with a fresh perspective and practical strategies for success.

What You’ll Learn:
• Understand the key differences between managing employees and volunteers—and why volunteers aren’t unpaid employees.
• How to respect volunteers’ time and motivation by streamlining recruitment and onboarding processes.
• The importance of front-loading applications, background checks, and training to retain motivated volunteers.
• Why creating a smooth and efficient onboarding process leads to higher retention and repeat volunteerism.
• Insights into when gatekeeping is necessary—like in high-commitment roles or leadership opportunities—and how to balance selectivity with accessibility.

Whether you’re an HR professional new to volunteerism or a nonprofit leader looking to refine your volunteer management practices, this episode offers valuable guidance to ensure you’re maximizing impact and creating extraordinary volunteer experiences.

Learn More:
Discover our free guide to approaching volunteerism with a fresh perspective: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_Volunteers_Are_Not_Employees.pdf.

Links:
Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com

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Tune in now to redefine how you approach volunteer management and build a stronger, more effective program!