This article relates to Standard 1 of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.

Overview

Leaders of volunteers engage with volunteers to meet the goals and objectives of your organisation’s programs or projects.

Volunteer engagement includes a range of activities that support the development and sustainability of a skilled and engaged volunteer workforce. In larger not for profit organisations it is usually handled by a dedicated role often called a Volunteer Coordinator or Volunteer Manager. In smaller organisations the work may be carried out by a volunteer, or group of volunteers who may or may not identify with a specific role of leader of volunteers.

Leaders of Volunteers are Leaders

Volunteer engagement and management requires strong leadership abilities.

Leading volunteers can require more expertise than managing paid staff. If you have found yourself in such a role, you are someone who possesses the leadership skills and qualities to bring the volunteer team together to work towards the organisation’s mission.

As an aspiring, new or existing leader of volunteers it is important to continually develop and sharpen your leadership skills to ensure success.

Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, newly arrived migrants and volunteers with a disability, present their own unique challenges and barriers. As a Volunteer Leader, it is important to understand these challenges and how to address them. 

Refer to the articles below for further information on each subject.

Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Engaging Newly Arrived Migrants

Engaging Volunteers with Disability

Skills Needed for Volunteer Leadership

There are many skills required as a Volunteer Manager/Coordinator that can help you to get the most out of your volunteer programs. The required skills can be summarised into two key areas for Volunteer Managers: People, and Projects. Both areas require different skills and depending on the size of the organisation the work may be spread out across multiple people.

Managing People

• Human Resource Management – The ability to engage, nurture and support volunteers in a systematic and intentional manner to meet the organisation's strategic objectives.
• Communications, Marketing & Special Events – The ability to create, communicate, deliver, and exchange information that has value to a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Training and Talent Development – The ability to build an organisation's capacity through the development of volunteer skills and performance.
• Community Partnership Development – The ability to develop mutually beneficial collaborations with organisations with common interests and goals.
• Leadership & Advising – The ability to manage conflict, coach others, and lead the organisation in change management initiatives related to volunteer involvement.

Managing Programs & Projects

• Program Evaluation & Assessment – The ability to use data to conduct a systematic assessment of the processes and outcomes in order to improve the program’s results.
• Program Design & Risk Management – The ability to develop engaging programs, initiatives, and processes in a safe environtment which align with the organisation's mission and vision.
• Data Management & Analysis – The ability to collect, analyse, and act upon reliable and valid data in order to engage in program monitoring and reporting to stakeholders.
• Program/Project Planning & Management – The ability to define strategy and plan, organise, motivate, and control resources in order to achieve specific, time-limited goals.
• Financial Management – The ability to generate, manage, and control budget and in-kind resources and be responsible stewards of public and private funds.
• Flexibility - The ability to respond to changing circumstances in the social environment to accommodate and embrace emerging community needs.

Additional Resources

The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement Refer to National Standard 1 - Volunteering is embedded in leadership, governance and culture

Understanding Volunteer Leadership and Engagement in Multicultural Settings - This discussion paper, written by Henrietta Podgorska of Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services Inc, captures the essence of shared experiences to overcome the unique challenges volunteer leaders face in diverse settings. More information is available on the Engaging Newly Arrived Migrants article.

Volunteer Management Handbook

Acknowledgement

The 2023 refresh of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement was funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services under the Volunteer Management Activity. Intellectual Property for the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement belongs to Volunteering Australia.