Transferring Your For-Profit Management Skills to Volunteer Leadership: Two Examples

Having trouble making the transition from for-profit management to philanthropic, volunteer leadership?

Two dynamic women, both of whom are successful in their respective professions, have made in-roads in the charitable arena and share with us their secrets of volunteer management.

Donna Moran, immediate past president of American Society - Rio de Janeiro has re-invigorated members of her club with enthusiasm and positive-thinking. Under her direction (plus a 22 person executive board), membership has grown by 20%, corporate donations have increased by 36%, and charitable donations have increased by 60%.

On the other hand, Nathalie Menjoulou, volunteer responsible for cultural visits at the French-speaking club, Rio Accueil, tosses aside titles and statistics and aims for a rather modest approach that is just as effective. "When I started in this position, I proposed that we make one visit a month and I have been aiming for 2 monthly visits since then, among which: Copacabana Palace, Praça do Castello, the Portuaire Zone, Nossa Senhora da Penha, Palacio Tiradentes." says Nathalie.

"What I like most about what I do is that I have the opportunity to discover and help other people discover the beauties of the city they live in. Some places are not necessarily very well-known or easily accessible to newcomers (or even to people who have been living here for a while). Thus, these visits enable newcomers or those who are not so new to the area to have access to a cultural visit that they might not have done on their own," she adds. Nathalie reflects, "I have always been very drawn to the cultural aspects of my adopted home to be able to share this interest with others and hopefully make them appreciate more the city they live in is very rewarding for me."

How might one transform a complacent, staid organization into one bustling with activity? How do we inspire others to open up, share a little of themselves, come out of their shell, enjoy their environs, and the overseas posting?

Know the Specific Community

Married to an executive with at a petroleum company, Donna knows the importance of socially integrating into the cultural fabric of the host country’s culture. Abject poverty and inadequate health care is a blaring problem in Brazil.

Identify the Unmet Needs of the Community

Only 30% of Brazilian households enjoy middle class or higher standard of living, access to good health care, nutritional meals, education and housing. Donna's mission is to "find the heart and soul of the country I am living in. To be involved with charities, I believe, represents just one way for me to make a difference," asserts Donna.

As a response to these bleak conditions for the poor, Donna is doing her part, and challenging others to join along. She volunteers one day per week at the free medical clinic associated with Evangemed at Instituto Central do Povo in Gamboa.

High illiteracy and the plight of the nation's impoverished children have lead Nathalie to action as well. While Nathalie assists her own two children aged 11 and 14 years with their homework, shuttles them to soccer practice and extracurricular activities, she still finds the time to teach Brazilian children in the shanty towns of Rio de Janeiro to read and write.

Develop a Plan

If the first two steps to effective volunteer management are to Know the Specific Community and to Identify Unmet Needs, the third, and perhaps most crucial step is to Plan. Without proper planning, goals and objectives may be unattainable. In Donna's case, planning is an outgrowth of several years experience in the health care field. Donna applies the 'identify the problem', 'apply treatment' and 'expect results' attitude to her volunteer endeavors and has reached her goals.

Establish Linkages

One core component of philanthropy in action is to provide opportunities in which the donors and the beneficiaries might meet to share information and to exchange ideas. In so doing, the needs of the needy community come to life to the unsuspecting potential donor. Much more convincing than words printed in a brochure or direct mail appeal for money, hands-on, touch the flesh meetings are effective for encouraging the participants to become involved with their surroundings.

Nathalie considers meeting people, making connections and establishing linkages her primary strengths. Skills, no doubt, that are complimentary to the requirements of her volunteer position. "I enjoy bringing people together. More importantly," she adds, "I find it fascinating to see someone's eyes light up when I mention a Brazilian cultural or historical fact." Indeed, knowledge may be used as a persuasive tool to entice other expatriates to donate money, volunteer expertise, and to participate. "I’ve conducted quite a number of visits and cultural tours this past year which have exceeded our expectations. "I believe that increased participation ultimately leads to an increase in financial and volunteer support," Nathalie contents.

Include Significant Others in Your Dreams

Shrugging one-dimensional thinking to reaching one's objectives, Donna is quick to include her family in all of her pursuits. "My family and husband share in my dreams. For instance, my kids help with the volunteer workdays and get excited to see the kids at the charities." Furthermore, my kids have helped to paint a local pre-school, helped teach computer literacy, and donated old toys, clothes. They've even persuaded their friends to help out too," she says in amazement.

"My husband and his company have been extremely supportive in the American Society charity work by donating a new roof, renovating 5 classrooms, donating 16 solar panels, among others, she proudly asserts."

Re-Charge your Batteries

Of course, an accompanying spouse with so much boundless energy, professional expertise, and awareness of the host country's unmet needs is highly susceptible to volunteer burnout. How does one maintain one’s equilibrium?

"It's my husband who supports me when I over-extend my commitments. He faithfully goes to all my "volunteer" obligations and meetings with a smile. My number one fan supports me and shows enthusiasm for what the American Society has accomplished. He is very calm and listens to my frustrations while at the same time encourages me to meet my goals, she concedes.

Ensure Volunteer Follow-Through

One important aspect of volunteer management is the establishment of a placement, performance and evaluation system. Some organizations even adopt volunteer job descriptions, require signatures for volunteer contract agreements, assign supervisors and regularly schedule performance evaluations.

Although the organizations of our two experts do not consider such formal procedures necessary, both women agree that volunteer commitment and follow-through are keys to the success of volunteer organizations.

Recognize and Reward

In addition to burnout and ensuring volunteer commitment, another key element crucial to goal acheivement is recognition and reward programs. "I understand that everyone wants to help. But at times, not everyone can follow through - even if they truly want to. To keep that person feeling good about themselves and their involvement is very crucial to success so they will never feel like a failure," says Moran.

Public reward and recognition in the form of appreciation letters, certificates, club pendants, and even trophies are vital to the long-term survival of an organization. Even a private 'thank you' or pat on the back will ensure that a volunteer is appreciated for sharing her time, talents and resources with others. Today's volunteers, perhaps more sophisticated than in years past, understand the dollar-value of their time and therefore expect to be recognized and rewarded at the end of their volunteer period.

Tonya J. Foust Mead is President of Shared Knowledge, a certified management consultant and certified fundraising executive. She has eleven years experience in market, fund and adult development and accompanied her partner overseas to Latin America and Europe.