HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US
YOUR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE
REALTOR.ORG/realtormag
.







Good Neighbor Tool Kit: Leading a Charity
Recruiting Volunteers and Keeping Them Happy

 


Nonprofit Nuts and Bolts

The Art of Fundraising

Recruiting Volunteers and Keeping Them Happy

Marketing and Public Relations

Leadership and the Board



Good Neighbor Tool Kit Main Page

Good Neighbor Home Page
  Virtual Volunteering

Our nation’s computer literacy increases every day, which has opened a new world of nonprofit service—virtual volunteering. This allows volunteers to fulfill their tasks in full or in part via the Internet or e-mail. See if you can put virtual volunteering to work.

People volunteer virtually for all sorts of reasons.

  • They have computer skills that they want to offer.
  • They have other skills that don’t require being physically present at your organization.
  • They have limited time, or time that is difficult to schedule.
  • They’re distant from your organization but interested in its work.
  • They have disabilities that make it difficult to get to you.
  • They have time but need to be at home for business or family reasons.


Virtual volunteers can save your organization plenty. They might:

  • Design or update your Web site.
  • Create databases or PowerPoint presentations.
  • Provide technical consultation via e-mail or chat setup.
  • Conduct online research.
  • Review and comment on materials sent to them electronically.
  • Write or design communications materials.


Tip: Don’t forget that people interested in your organization and services may be searching the Internet for you. Be sure to use your own Web site to recruit virtual volunteers.

Virtual volunteers can extend your reach and impact by contacting the people you serve. They might:

  • Check electronically on clients who are homebound or ill to determine their well-being and alleviate loneliness.
  • Provide online mentoring or homework assistance via e-mail.
  • Convey important reminders and advisories to your clients.
  • Answer questions related to the purpose and service of your organization.


There are organizations that specialize in building virtual volunteerism.

  • The Virtual Volunteering Project www.serviceleader.org enhances knowledge and skills of volunteers in this comparatively new service.

  • VolunteerMatch at www.volunteermatch.org allows volunteers to search for virtual assignments in specific zip codes.


  • CompuMentor at www.compumentor.org matches professional volunteer computer experts in California with nonprofits that need their assistance. A similar program exists in the Chicago area. Check to see if such an organization covers your area.

Marketing and Public Relations Introduction >