Nonprofit Leadership, Innovation, and Change

Creating a "Notables Sheet"

Recently I wrote about a new practice that I implemented with interviewing all new volunteers. Since then I have implemented another practice that has really increased the ability to lead volunteers.

For every volunteer that gives his or her time to A Day of Hope, I have began creating a separate manila file folder for that volunteer. In the folder I keep the agendas from when we meet one-to-one and I keep what I call a "Notable Mentions" sheet.

The notable mentions sheet is a piece of paper that I use to write down all of the important personal things about that volunteer. These are things such as where she was born, what types of cars she likes, what her hobbies are, how many kids she has, or what food she enjoys.

Why a sheet on stuff that does not pertain to the work volunteers are doing with my program? Because that little notable stuff is a very important element for me to know about that volunteer.

Every time I meet the person one-to-one, in a meeting, or over the phone I pull out that Notable Mentions sheet and I write down a few things that I learned about the volunteer.

Those "little things" help me to lead, serve, and meet the needs of the person I'm leading. It gives me a reference for their past experiences, allows me to send them birthday cards, and gives me the opportunity to make a difference in their life.

Starbucks, Addiction, & Volunteering

Business thought leaders say that Starbucks is not about the coffee, they say it’s about the experience.

Well, they are partially right: Starbucks is not about the coffee, it’s about the sweet sugar of caramel blended with ice on a 100+ degree day in the Northern California Central Valley. Starbucks has the unique ability to mix the correct ingredients, served at the right time (which is a Frappuccino on a hot summer day), to the right people.

A lady I know very well has become addicted to Starbucks (as I have been in the past). She is an 84 year old lady who had never experienced the tasty sweet Carmel Frappuccinos that Starbucks makes so well. It’s been about two weeks since she experienced the drink, which she talks about them everyday, and purchases herself a drink about three days a week.

One day while she was talking about Starbucks, I asked myself the question,

“How could I as a nonprofit leader create such an outstanding experience for my volunteers that they will become addicted to volunteering with me and tell other people about it?”

Is such a thing possible? I think yes!

I believe that it’s a matter of mixing the right ingredients, served at the right time, to the right person. This lady’s Frapaccino was mixed with excellent ingredients, that was served to her on a hot summer day, to a lady who enjoys the taste of caramel and coffee.

As a nonprofit leader you need give your volunteer the correct volunteer opportunity, at a time of the day and week that he is available to volunteer, offered to a person who has a sincere heart to serve and help people.

In other words, serve up an outstanding volunteer experience, and people will keep coming back for more!

Mission Is Key

If people buy-in to your mission enough, they will make time for you and your organization. One of the most difficult challenges in dealing with volunteers is them actually having the time to volunteer.

Many volunteers I know would volunteer full-time if their finances allowed them to do so. However, if a volunteer believes in the mission of you and your organization enough, he or she will always make the time to assist your efforts.