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Nov. 11 - Nov. 17
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Grooming future philanthropists? Better start young
By Marina Monsisvais |
 Why is one person giving and the next isn’t? It runs in the family. Take Paul Foster, currently El Paso’s most prominent philanthropist. He explained to El Paso Inc. last year the rational behind his giving actions: “They [his parents] were involved in all the charitable and civic causes in their small town, and I just grew up that way.”
In the article on a new generation of El Paso philanthropists (see p. 12), Amy Parker told us she, too, was raised in a civically involved family. United Way’s Community Initiatives Coordinator Emily Martin agrees. “Parents who volunteer are more likely to encourage their kids to volunteer in order to learn new skills and give back to their community,” she said.
The Foster Grandparent Program helps infuse philanthropic thinking among children who might not otherwise be exposed to it. The organization offers volunteer seniors as mentors to kids. “We find that many of our volunteers have a rich history of volunteering … We have many Foster Grandparents who have raised whole generations of volunteers and have instilled in their children the need to give back to their community,” said program coordinator Maria Valdivia.
But many El Pasoans are not brought up to donate their time or money, or don’t think they can.
United Way’s Martin says the biggest challenge she faces in recruiting volunteers is that people think they’re too busy. “We all have busy lives, but some of the best volunteers I’ve worked with have been some of the busiest people I’ve ever met! When you are passionate about an issue or organization, you can find time in your busy schedule to do something to make a difference.”
How do we change the mentality?
Peer pressure. Volunteer veterans cite word of mouth as one of the best tactics in recruiting volunteers.
“Our volunteers always have a card about volunteering when they are out in the public so they can direct interested people to the right place to further learn about us,” says Anne Lagenfeld, volunteer coordinator for the El Paso Zoo.
Lagenfeld and other organizations pound the street promoting opportunities to help the cause.
“We utilize a variety of tools, however, the most successful avenues include volunteer fairs and Web sites, newspaper ads and word of mouth. We also look to public
schools and local universities for referrals,” said Rocio Lozano, YWCA volunteer services coordinator.
Getting donors is only part of the challenge. Retaining them is important, too.
“[They] must feel empowered and appreciated. They must know that the work they do is integral to the success of the organization as a whole, regardless of the specific task,” said Lozano.
Lagenfeld and Martin agree – recognition and thank yous go a long way. The YWCA, United Way and the zoo all host volunteer appreciation events.
“Volunteers who feel valued and appreciated are likely to continue volunteering,” Martin said. “Retaining volunteers isn’t so different from retaining staff.”
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How can nonprofits and volunteers work best together? Here are tips from an expert panel that included Dr. Kathleen Staudt, director for the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) at UTEP; Gregory Schober, CCE program coordinator; and Dr. John Bretting, associate professor, MPA program.
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How to retain your volunteer force
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• Validate and celebrate your volunteers. This can be done several ways: end of year reflection sessions, a simple “thank you,” provide a positive work environment, letters of reference, etc.
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• Manage your volunteer’s expectations. Provide a job description and let them know, “This is what we want you to do, if this doesn’t meet your expectations, let us know so that we can re-direct your energy and expertise.”
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• Make time to orient and train volunteers.
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• Make sure that volunteers are aware that they are part of the fabric of your organization and that they help fill a need. This motivates and validates at the same time.
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• Have a communication plan where you set goals and can let volunteers know that they are 50 percent towards reaching that goal, for example.
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• Invest in your volunteers. Send them to conferences, workshops, etc.
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How to have a rewarding volunteer experience
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• There’s nothing wrong with personal advancement through volunteering. It’s okay to pick up grant writing skills in the process of helping an organization. We make ourselves better people through experience.
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• Do research and choose something you like. You’ll stay positive and you’ll feel good about doing your part.
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• Just because you’re a volunteer, that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Remember, you’re there to help an organization meet its mission.
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• Show up with a good attitude.
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• Get to know the population you are serving. It’s easier to give when your work has a name and face attached to it.
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