Coordinating Volunteer Groups

Volunteer groups, whether corporate, faith-based, or student groups, can help your organization accomplish big tasks.  They can also be a great way to connect your organization to key players in the community, and make a lasting impression on potential donors and on-going volunteers in just a few hours.  But what is the best way to coordinate episodic groups to ensure a positive experience for volunteers, a successful project, and meaningful connections for your organization?  In this interactive workshop, we’ll learn best practices for planning, facilitating, and making the most of volunteer groups.  Together we’ll explore:

• Recruiting volunteer groups
• Communicating with group leaders and volunteers
• Making the ask – volunteer groups and donations
• Behind the scenes – preparing for volunteer groups
• Training and managing volunteer groups
• Appreciating volunteer groups – making a lasting positive impression
• Engaging with volunteers and their organizations after the project or event

Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of coordinating volunteer groups, and will leave the workshop with practical strategies to create or improve their group volunteer program.  If you want to engage volunteer groups to accomplish large projects and help secure ongoing support for your organization, this workshop is for you!
About the Presenter:   Julie Strassman
Julie Strassman is an experienced volunteer engagement professional and educator, dedicated to helping organizations build mutually beneficial relationships with volunteers.  She currently works as the Volunteer Coordinator with Bethesda Hospice Care.  Previously, she worked with Kingdom House, where she achieved volunteer engagement goals such as a 78% increase in volunteer groups over 2 years.  She passionately believes in engaging volunteers to not only help meet an organization’s immediate needs for service, but their ongoing needs for financial support and community buy-in.
Julie currently serves on the Board of the Metropolitan Volunteer Management Association (MVMA) as the VP of Programming, and has served on the Certification Committee for the United Way of Greater St. Louis’  Volunteer Center.  She has presented on volunteer engagement best practices for many local and national nonprofit organizations, including MVMA, Send Me St. Louis, We Raise Foundation (previously Wheat Ridge Ministries), and the Episcopal Service Corps.