Volunteer Management Resources

Understanding the needs and interests of volunteers is key to recruiting, retaining, supporting and involving volunteers.

By engaging volunteers effectively and in a meaningful way, their time and contribution will make a real difference in your organization.

You can begin by:

  • listing and measuring what your volunteers accomplish
  • asking your volunteers how they think they can be engaged more effectively
  • asking your volunteer board members how they are involved in the organization’s work
  • collecting the stories of your volunteers and publishing these internally; what can you learn from them?

--Rethink Volunteer Engagement (Volunteer Canada)

To help you in your role, visit the following websites for more information and research on volunteer management.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Edmonton and Area Recruitment Strategies
This detailed tip sheet, courtesy of the Big Brother Big Sister Edmonton and area, provides valuable and useful information about volunteer involvement, recruitment techniques, data collection and much more.

Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement 
The CCVI was designed to present a setting in which organizations can discuss and support volunteer engagement. It puts forward a key statement about the value of volunteerism in Canada, identifies principles to guide organization, and volunteer partnerships and presents 12 standards to evaluate your volunteer program.  An important element of the code is to initiate a conversation about the volunteer program in the organization and to identify volunteer involvement as an organizational asset to consider, discuss and assess.

To help you succesfully implement the code, Volunteer Alberta has generously provided meeting agenda templates and an example code of conduct that can be adapted to suit your organization's volunteer program.

Canadian Administrators of Volunteer Resources (CAVR)
The CAVR is the only National Professional Association that offers ongoing certification in the field of volunteer resources management. Its mission is to provide and maintain a national association which promotes the professional administration of volunteer resources, certification of membership, continuing education standards and collaboration with provincial, national and international organizations.

  • New resources published by Imagine Canada’s Knowledge Development Centre (KDC) are available in both English and French at the RCVO. This collection of reports, manuals and fact sheets cover a wide range of topics like leadership development and advancement of the voluntary sector in Canada.

    Information on key issues like recruitment and retention in the sector, additional resources on how to increase your volunteer pool, major factors of volunteer burnout and engaging different volunteer demographics like Aboriginals, retirees and youth are also available.

             For more information, visit the KDC resources online.

Directors' and Officers' Liability
This online guide provides information on how to improve risk management, reduce liability and what kinds of insurance are available for nonprofit organizations. To view the handout, click here.

Government Resources for Alberta's Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
Looking for information about volunteering or how to apply for grants? Interested in registering your charity but don't know how?

With information ranging from how to build a career through volunteering and fundraising tips, to accessing forms and research, Alberta's voluntary and nonprofit sector can visit this online resource to find information on a variety of topics that impact them directly. You can also call 310-000 toll-free anywhere in Alberta for more details.

Human Resource Council 
As an independent nonprofit organization, the Human Resources Council provides leadership on issues related to paid employment in the voluntary/non-profit sector.  It brings sector employers and employees together to work collaboratively on research, strategies and action. The website offers practical tools and information on human resources for nonprofit organizations.

Insurance Toolkit
The voluntary sector said it needed better information about the complexities of adequate insurance and now it's available! The Alberta Voluntary Sector Insurance Council, through the generous funding of the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Wild Rose Foundation, Canada Volunteerism Initiative-Alberta Network and Volunteer Alberta, created an insurance toolkit designed by Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations specifically for the voluntary sector. 

Media Guide
The Information and Volunteer Centre for Strathcona County has developed a media guide to assist nonprofit organizations looking for ways to promote their volunteer opportunities and events. Although this is a comprehensive list of media contacts in the Edmonton and surronding area, keep in mind that the contact information may not be up-to-date as media contacts change regularly. Send your suggestions, comments or revisions to info@ivcstrathcona.org.

Mount Royal College Online Courses
Through Mount Royal College's online Nonprofit Management Certificate, learn from experienced nonprofit professionals and acquire practical and relevant skills that can be used in the workplace. To earn the certificate, students must complete eight required and two optional courses. For more information, email cebusiness@mtroyal.ca or call toll-free 1-888-392-3655.

Subscribe to Barb's Bytes
This monthly enewsletter provides "byte-sized" tips, resources and information of interest to those in the profession of maximizing the involvement of volunteers.

Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations (RCVO)
The RCVO contributes to the vitality and capacity of Alberta's nonprofit community through knowledge, resources and learning opportunities. RCVO's website provides information about its free consultation and referral services, access to the RCVO library catalogue, a full archive of Connections newsletters, frequently asked questions and step-by-step guides, book sales, annotated links, and the latest news and events of interest to the voluntary sector.

This information resource supports the Alberta Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector Initiative.

Volunteers and the Law in Alberta Online
To make access easier, an updated version of the 2003 edition of Volunteers and the Law in Alberta is now available online. You can find general information on the law, use of special volunteers (children, offenders, etc.), legal responsibilities and liabilities, guidelines for managers and volunteers, and much more.

Volunteer Canada's Resource Centre
Provides extensive links to information on volunteering and volunteer management.  

Volunteer Canada's Ten Step Screening Process
The screening process is designed to help organizations create appropriate policies and procedures for screening staff and volunteers.  Screening serves two main purposes: to create and maintain a safe environment; and to ensure an appropriate match between person and task. 

Voluntary Gateway
The Voluntary Gateway web portal is a one-stop resource centre for the voluntary sector. Seperate sections focus on a variety of issues like the latest news from on technology, funding, marketing, policy planning, human resource management and more. 

Volunteer Management Audit: Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement 
The audit has been developed as a tool for nonprofit and charitable organizations to assess their volunteer resources program. This is composed of seven sections which will provide important information about volunteer involvement and management practices within your organization.  Please note that it is not necessary for your organization to have adopted the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement in order to complete the audit.

Volunteer Managment Group (VMG)
This professional association represents managers of volunteer programs in Edmonton and area. Regular meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Volunteers with Disabilities
Stepping Forward: Including Volunteers with Intellectual Disabilities is an excellent article from Imagine Canada's Knowledge Development Centre on how volunteer managers can be more inclusive with volunteers who have an intellectual disability. The report outlines benefits, tips on how to accomodate special volunteers and how to get started, and testimonials from volunteers.  

Volunteer Connections: Creating an Accessible and Inclusive Environment is another resource published by Volunteer Canada. It's an easy-to-use manual that discusses the impact, challenges and opportunities for organizations wanting to diversify their volunteer group.  

Who Cares? Canada Transcripts--Now Available!
To help you in your research, we have transcribed all 6 audio selections of the Who Cares? conversations by Linda Graff and Paul Reed. Visit the Canada Who Cares website to listen to the transcripts--it will change the way you think about volunteerism in Canada.

Transcript 1   Transcript 2   Transcript 3   Transcript 4   Transcript 5   Transcript 6

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Last updated: September 18, 2008