Experience the right fit
What makes volunteer work attractive and fulfilling? The characteristics of volunteers—their skills, time availability, motivations, and expectations—are evolving rapidly. Baby boomers in particular are expressing an interest in using their skills in a more substantive way than traditional volunteer roles allow. With funding and knowledge from the Community Experience Partnership (CEP), The Seattle Foundation, in partnership with Next Chapter of Puget Sound, aims to help them do so.
Next Chapter, a consortium of area nonprofit organizations and government agencies providing volunteer and educational support to those in midlife and beyond, enters the partnership having already conducted research on why college-educated adults age 35 and above volunteer. Findings include messages proven effective in motivating older adults to volunteer, volunteer preferences for type and timing of work, and many others. The Seattle Foundation-Next Chapter partnership will build on this research with the following assessment process; results will inform a Next Chapter strategy agenda for changing perceptions of the older adult population and expanding the size and quality of volunteerism.
Assessment process
The partnership is engaged in a multi-step process to better understand and engage older volunteers:
- Gathering existing demographic profiles and projections of the local older adult population in the area, adding new research where needed to address civic engagement.
- Assembling an inventory of the conduits for engagement of older adults in their communities rather than specific volunteering opportunities. Exploring the barriers these “portal” organizations and programs experience in accessing or placing older volunteers, particularly in skills-based or highly accountable roles. Promoting this inventory to the public via the internet.
- Determining the existing level of local philanthropic giving that supports engagement of experienced adults. Proposing strategies for increasing investment in these opportunities.
- Identifying barriers that prevent nonprofits, schools and government from engaging older adults, particularly in substantive roles that utilize their professional skills and experience. The key barrier the project is exploring is the role of the volunteer manager and the need for greater support for volunteer management and training.
- Documenting the role of intermediary portal organizations that can recruit, match and supervise volunteers.
- Developing a readiness assessment for using skilled volunteers and a typology which provides a framework for making a successful match between an organization and a volunteer.
Readiness assessment tool
The Using Skilled Volunteers Readiness Assessment is being designed to help identify barriers organizations face in placing—and supporting—volunteers in positions that are a good fit for both the volunteer and the nonprofit organization or school. The assessment will help organizations determine their readiness to use skilled baby boomer volunteers in accountable roles, including positions as consultants or advisors for project-based engagements, as unpaid or stipended staff members in ongoing roles.
Volunteer typology
The project has developed a typology for matching volunteers with volunteer opportunities. A successful match occurs when the values, skills, and preferences of the volunteer are aligned with the mission/values, culture, and requirements of the organization. The project is developing questionnaires for organizations and volunteers. These questionnaires are intended to make factors that can determine a successful match more transparent. For example, some volunteers prefer roles that allow for independent judgment or for social interaction, while others want very well defined roles or positions with little socializing. By helping volunteers think through what matters to them and helping organizations think through the requirements of the volunteer opportunities they create, we hope to nurture more successful and long-lasting volunteer engagements.
These tools will help boomer volunteers and nonprofit/intermediary organization managers make good decisions about how to match skilled older volunteers to appropriate jobs and to empower them to function effectively in those roles. A field test of the readiness assessment and volunteer typology questionnaires will determine how volunteer systems (recruitment, intake, placement, training, support and recognition) need to be customized to ensure that the needs of volunteers are met so that each has a successful service experience.
Making it happen
The tools and recommendations resulting from this assessment are being used by Next Chapter members as they seek to capture the experience of baby boomers. The Seattle Foundation is supporting its partner’s plan to implement by:
- Sharing insights with its donors and the philanthropic community
- Supporting further development of the portals matching volunteers with community organizations that need them
- Advocating for changes that reduce barriers for older volunteers
- Monitoring progress the community makes in implementing assessment report recommendations
