Yesterday TAPE held the webinar  “Getting (and Keeping) Quality Volunteers in our Schools” led by Alissa Mangrum of Communities in Schools of Central Texas.    Alissa proposed three fundamental questions that need to be addressed when looking at volunteer recruitment and retention:

• What is your real need for volunteers? (Alissa recounted often hearing “We need a mentor for every student in our school”, but stressed that was never truly the case)
• What is the right kind of volunteer?
• Do you have the capacity to support your volunteers?

Through the course of her presentation much of the discussion centered around the last question (per Alissa the most important)–the issue of capacity.   Several specific ideas really stood out:

• Monthly volunteer support meetings during which volunteers have the opportunity to share any concerns or issues they have and discuss possible solutions
• Monthly newsletters in which upcoming school and volunteer events are included (ensuring volunteers feel like part of the team)
• Annual surveys sent to all volunteers inquiring about all aspects of their volunteer experience
• Exit surveys administered to those volunteers who do not return  (When asked what one retention activity CIS will be putting the most energy into this was the answer!)

TAPE members can view Alissa’s full powerpoint in the members only section.  Share your effective volunteer recruitment and/or retention strategies in the forum.