Course Description

Learn volunteer management best practices and review proven techniques for effective program design, recruitment, and volunteer retention.

This 4-week course is the first in a series of five Volunteer Management Specialist Certificate courses.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will:

·         Perceive clearly how your current volunteer program measures up – where your program strengths are, what areas need improvement, and how to make such improvements

·         Understand why planning for a volunteer program is crucial to its success and learn how to plan effectively

·         Recognize the crucial role all employees in an organization play in developing a successful volunteer program.

·         Learn ways to strengthen your program by involving the organizational leadership specifically, as well as ways to encourage mutual respect between line staff and volunteers

·         Have all the tools that you need to develop a solid foundation from which your volunteer program will operate.

Required Textbook

Volunteer Management for Animal Care Organizations (Humane Society Press, 2005) is included in the course fee.

Class Format: Online

There are no scheduled lecture times; instead, you log on at your convenience to participate in weekly discussions and submit assignments. Expect to spend at least 2-4 hours per week reading materials, completing assignments, and discussing issues.