idealist.org

Everyone has a different preference for how they like to be contacted. For some, a phone call is best. For others, just send an email, please. Either way, as technology advances, it offers more and more innovative ways for volunteer management professionals to stay in touch with their volunteers. Here are a few tips on communications, including suggestions on how to best use technology:

• Using Technology to Communicate with Volunteers

Also see Online/Virtual Volunteering

• Communicating Effectively – Monika Penner @ Charity Village
• Communication Challenges – Merrill Associates
• Communication Skills – The Resource Center, Corporation for National and Community Service
• Developing Media Messages for Volunteer Programs – The Points of Light Institute
• Listening to Volunteers – Merrill Associates
• Strategically Communicating Your Message to the Media – The Points of Light Institute
• Supervision, Delegation and Communication – Merrill Associates

Using Technology to Communicate with Volunteers

• Internet Discussion Groups for Volunteers – Jayne Cravens, Coyote Communications
• Learning Center – TechSoup.org (How-to articles and tutorials on a number of different web-based communications tools)
• Online Culture & Communities of Volunteers: Realities and Benefits of Connecting Volunteers (and all humans) Online – Jayne Cravens, Coyote Communications
• Online Mentoring: How to Make it Work for You – Jayne Cravens, Coyote Communications
• Online Volunteering and Email – ServiceLeader.org
• Recognizing Online Volunteers and Using the Internet to Honor ALL Volunteers – Jayne Cravens, Coyote Communications
• Recruiting and Supporting Your Volunteers (Videos) – Jayne Cravens, Coyote Communications
• Shared Wisdom: Recruiting and Managing Volunteers – Brian Satterfield @ TechSoup
• Technology and Long Distance Leadership – Merrill Associates National
• Tools, Thoughts and Things one can Do with a little Time and Hardly any Resources – Michael Ambjorn
• Using Instant Messaging to Work with Volunteers: Benefits and Suggestions – Jayne Cravens, UN Volunteers
• Using Online Video: Broadcast Your Cause – Idealist.org and YouTube
• Using Real-Time Communications (VoIP, Chat, Instant Messaging, Etc.) With Volunteers – Jayne Cravens, Coyote Communications
• Volunteers and Technology - TechSoup (An online forum discussing how to best use technology to engage and communicate with volunteers)

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Let us know and consider checking out the following sites:
Energize, Inc.
The Resource Center (CNCS)
Volunteer Canada
Volunteering Australia
Volunteering England
World Volunteer Web