Organizing volunteers on the spot

This post was originally published on WhatGives?!

As the last school break before 2011 comes to an end, homeroom parents, scout leaders, and other event organizers are gearing up to get organized for the second half of the school year. That usually means lots of sign up sheets and phone trees and, all too often, no-shows. But it doesn’t have to.

In 2009, Karen Bantuveris – just your typical, over-scheduled regular mom/girl scout leader/PTA leader – decided to organize the organizing, and created VolunteerSpot.com. The website streamlines the volunteering process and provides free online tools for organizers, understanding that it often takes a combination of computers and clipboards to run an effective volunteer effort.

This time around, don’t let back-to-school mean back to begging. Show your volunteers that you appreciate their time and efforts. Give them a way to see where they’re needed and let them schedule their time efficiently, and you’ll develop a larger pool of reliable volunteers. Check out their list of features and see if VolunteerSpot is a good fit for you. There’s a demo that takes you through the steps a typical volunteer would need to take; a video with detailed info; and some testimonials from folks who have used the free tools successfully.

One more thing: don’t forget that while online organizing can be highly effective, an offline, in-person thank-you is still the best way to build lasting support. Oh, and cookies. Volunteers love cookies.

Guest blogger Marijane Miller is the Managing Editor at WhatGives?!