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

What do the stars mean? Click here to learn more!

Also see Online/Virtual Volunteering

• 12 Tips for Effective, Low Cost Presentations – Don Blake @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• Communicating Effectively – Monika Penner @ Charity Village
• Communication Challenges – Merrill Associates
• Communications - VolunteerResource.org
• Developing Media Messages for Volunteer Programs – The Points of Light Institute
• How to Write Volunteer Success Stories – Nan Hawthorne @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• Listening: Are You Missing the Moment? – Rhody Bosley @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• Listening to Volunteers – Merrill Associates
• Spreading the Good News: Six Simple Steps to Promoting Your Volunteer Program on TV News – Miles M. Needer @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• Strategically Communicating Your Message to the Media – The Points of Light Institute
• Supervision, Delegation and Communication – Merrill Associates
• The Volunteer Manager's Guide to Media Work: Part I – Mary Eileen Wood @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel (Part II) (Part III) (Part IV) (Part V)

Using Technology to Communicate with Volunteers

• About Online Volunteering: Information Non-Profits Can Use – Macdonald Youth Services (Topics include how to manage email folders, thank volunteers with a recorded message, and use Skype to communicate with volunteers; also offer audio and video tutorials)
• Blogging. A Primer for Volunteer Program Managers – Joan Perry, CAVS @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• E-Tools for Managing Volunteers – Tammy Vega @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• Internet Discussion Groups for Volunteers – Jayne Cravens, Coyote Communications
• Master Internet Volunteer Program – University of Minnesota Extension Service
• 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 – VolunteerResource.org
• 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
• New! 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
• The Virtual Event – Trent Wheeler @ Volunteer Management Review, CharityChannel
• 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