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goodcompany online workshop oct11
GoodCompany is a not-for-profit organization that connects skilled professionals with community groups in need of volunteer support, offering a free service across several Australian cities. They facilitate effective skilled volunteering by helping participants identify their skills, define project needs, and match them with suitable opportunities. The document outlines the process for applying to be a volunteer, managing projects, and sustaining volunteer relationships.
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goodcompany online workshop oct11
- 1. goodcompany Community groupon-line training Effective skilled volunteering experiences
- 2. Topic menu Clickon any of the buttons below to find out about goodcompany, how you can use us & applying for a volunteer About goodcompany Who are our volunteers? How can we help you? What volunteer projects can I request? Applying for a volunteer Tips, considerations and next steps Step 4: The first meeting Tips and advice Take action! Who is goodcompany? Step 1: Understanding your skill gaps Step 2: Creating a good project Step 3: Obtaining a volunteer Things to consider…
- 3. Who is goodcompany?A small, dynamic, web-based, not-for-profit founded in 2001 An organisation that matches the skills of professionals with the needs of community groups – skilled, not general volunteering. Operates in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth with reach into other states A FREE service available to hundreds of registered not-for-profit community groups, and thousands of registered volunteers and employees of corporate partners A resource for community organisations wanting to : reduce reliance on fundraising, build capacity, exchange knowledge, expand networks and opportunities. Topic menu Next > < Back
- 4. Who is goodcompany?Small executive team spread across three offices One full time Executive officer, the remainder of the team works part-time Board, committee and regular volunteers help run the organisation goodcompany is grateful for the past, current and future support of our corporate partners, state governments, philanthropic trusts and foundations, individual donors, and in kind support from Hall & Wilcox and Moon Design. With this support, goodcompany is able to offer their service free of charge to our volunteers and registered community groups. Topic menu Next > < Back
- 5. How can goodcompanyhelp you? goodcompany can help you by working together with your organisation and making us aware of your skilled volunteering needs. Through – Online matching – posting & updating the status of your volunteer projects Events - attending & networking with volunteers Community group workshops – meeting other Community Groups, sharing insights, answers to your questions, & scoping volunteer projects eNewsletters – reading our up to date resource on our service for community groups and volunteers. Content includes volunteer and community group profiles, articles, useful links and volunteering news. Community groups that are active and utilise our services can be profiled to all our volunteers and community groups. Volunteer information sessions Click to hear more about how we can help you. Topic menu Next > < Back
- 6. Who are ourvolunteers? Most are time-poor, white collar professionals looking for one-off projects, with the exception of ongoing board/committee roles They work full-time or are self-employed in diverse industries and are Individuals who come to our website that want to ‘give back’ Employees of our corporate partners – both individuals and small and large teams – with access to paid volunteer leave Checking volunteering opportunities every 1-2 months - not daily or weekly Topic menu Next > < Back
- 7. Who are ourvolunteers? They are looking for, and respond well to: An interesting, detailed, well scoped volunteer project (the same as for a paid job) Project/s that utilise their skills, whether it be skills they use at work, or skills in a hobby outside of work A chance to connect and impact the community – point out how their skills make a difference! Specific requirements (time, location, skills, experience) so they can determine if they are suitable/available or not Click to hear from a volunteer. Topic menu Next > < Back
- 8. What skills dovolunteers have? Topic menu Next > < Back Other Web/IT Strategy/Mentor Media/PR/Comms Marketing Legal/Governance Human Resources General/Admin Fundraising/goods Event Management Design/Production Accounting/Finance Skill categories
- 9. 1. Understand yourskill gaps Topic menu When initially scoping your needs, follow these consideration points: Your strategic vision, aims and goals and compare these to your existing operations Identify any gaps and determine what you need in terms of people, capacity and resources Concentrate on your ‘people’ gap. Don’t forget to check the 12+ categories we cater for. Could a skilled professional fill this job? Can it be broken down into smaller projects or tasks? And if so, how? How would you approach this project if you were paying a contractor to complete it? Can a volunteer teach others in your organisation (skills transference) Next > < Back
- 10. Some questions tohelp brainstorm opportunities for skilled projects What have you often thought “it would be great to ….” but have never done, or didn’t know where to start? What processes/systems are “clunky” and would make life easier if they were different? What training do you, your staff, your volunteers need to help you work better or more efficiently? If you were starting from scratch, what would you do differently or better? Do you have a business plan? Do you need strategic business planning advice? Is your organisation keeping up with technology – are there new technologies that could help you work/communicate with your customer base better? Are you asked by your client base for new/different support, programs, activities to what you currently provide? What would be needed to implement this? How well known is your organisation? Would you like to increase your profile? Are you planning an event that could be supported by skilled volunteers – would you like photographers to capture the event, graphic design for posters or a press release for media coverage? Do any of your staff, committee or board members need advice/mentoring so they can perform their role better? Next > < Back
- 11. 2. Creating agood project Address the following questions, and include the information in your project description and you will increase your chances of success: Does the volunteer need to complete the project: face to face? during business hours? Can some or all of the project be done over phone/email (there are lots of volunteers who may be out of your area) What support are you able to give the volunteer? Has any work been done on this project before? Are you starting a process from scratch? Does the project have a deadline? Or do you have a preferred finish date? How many hours will a volunteer need to commit to the project a week/month or in total? Don’t forget most volunteers are looking for, and can contribute successfully to your organisation, a one-off, defined, project. . Topic menu Next > < Back
- 12. 2. Creating agood project Listed below are the sections to be covered in a submission and some examples of what to include in each: About your organisation – The group’s mission, who or what to you help and how Volunteer project description and responsibilities – Activities and tasks, objectives Expected outcomes – Specific deliverables, and how will these be measured Required skills – Specific skills and attributes the volunteer will require Resources – what physical resources will be provided, and any unusual working conditions Timeframe and milestones – Starting date, deadlines, number of hours Topic menu Next > < Back
- 13. 3. Obtaining avolunteer Over the next pages, you will see the next steps in the process of obtaining a volunteer. Don’t forget, when filling in your submission, you want to ensure potential volunteers are inspired by your organisation and the role, and how they will make a difference. Topic menu Next > < Back
- 14. Be written well(remember our website is public and the information you upload will be a published document from your organisation – check spelling, grammar and readability before you submit) Have an informative and enticing title – catchy ones help! Inspire the volunteer to act by including: Several sentences on the organisation - what it does, who it helps and how Detail on the role so volunteers can assess if they will be a ‘good match’ and determine if they have the time, skills and availability to complete the project/role How doing this project will make a difference to the organisation and the people you help, and what the specific difference will be A good project description will < Back Next >
- 15. Responding to anapplication Acknowledge and respond to an application (after all, it’s an interest in your project and organisation) in a timely manner. How and when you communicate will often determine the success of the volunteer relationship. Feel free to ask for a resume, or portfolio before inviting them to progress Accept = volunteer and community group contact details are exchanged by goodcompany Reject = goodcompany will notify the volunteer that it is not a good fit and the project will be republished (unless you notify us) Click to read the email goodcompany sends to volunteers Next > < Back
- 16. If the applicationisn’t suitable goodcompany doesn’t screen volunteers from the public. Use your application process to screen your volunteers. If the volunteer is not “a good fit”, they might be suitable for another project. If not, don’t despair and give up sourcing skilled volunteers for your organisation. Try again! You may not have made your expectations clear in your original request for help. Reconsider the project brief and rewrite the description incorporating the changes. Next > < Back
- 17. During your firstmeeting or communication Share your organisation – what you do, how their work will help the community – they might become an ambassador for you! Find out all you need about the volunteer/s - request more information if necessary Discuss the volunteer(s) availability Agree on the project scope, objectives & expectations, deliverables, process, and timelines so you are working towards a common goal Next > < Back
- 18. During the relationshipAlways treat the volunteer as you would a paid professional employee, contractor or consultant Ensure there is clear, open & honest communication throughout Acknowledge and appreciate the volunteer(s) Next > < Back
- 19. Remember before youmeet You need to consider there are risks in engaging any volunteer. Take action to manage these, starting with using your standard practice to vet volunteers as goodcompany does not formally do this. Make sure your volunteer and public liability insurance is current. To acknowledge and respond to interest from a volunteer in a timely manner. How and when you communicate will often determine the success of the volunteer relationship. If the volunteer is not “a good fit”, they might be suitable for another project. If not, don’t despair and give up sourcing skilled volunteers for your organisation. Try again! If application quality is not up to expectations, consider that you may not have made your expectations clear in your original request for help. Reconsider the project brief and rewrite the description incorporating the changes. Next > < Back
- 20. Tips from thosewith experience We have lots of feedback and suggestions from our volunteers. Click to read a selection of their tips Click to listen to a community group with extensive experience working with skilled volunteers Next > < Back
- 21. Our website hasa Tools & Support section that includes: Documents Templates Links to helpful organisations Tips & advice from experienced skilled volunteers and registered community groups Tools & Support Next > < Back
- 22. More information canbe found at www.goodcompany.com.au For assistance please contact us: [email_address] Melbourne: 03 9603 3533 Sydney: 02 8094 7554 Perth: 08 9449 6124
- 23. Email subject: Thankyou, however the match is not quite right “ Firstly, thank you for responding to the goodcompany volunteer project. Your offer to help is greatly appreciated however this volunteer project match is not quite right. This could be for a few reasons… the group has found help elsewhere, they require a different level of expertise, would prefer someone in a different location or have had to change the timing for the project. Don’t let it deter you from doing good. We hope you’ll dive back in and see if there’s another volunteer project that’s right for you. www.goodcompany.com.au” Back
Editor's Notes
- #4 Video notes goodcompany is a not-for-profit organisation working to create an Australia where professional workers volunteer their skills to organisations that strengthen our communities. goodcompany started in Melbourne in 2001 and expanded to Sydney in 2003 and Perth in 2009 with plans to move into other states in the future. With a small team of less than 3 FTE staff, goodcompany is able to work with hundreds of community groups and thousands of professionals due to a web-based matching tool/service and email newsletter and communications. Our work is possible because of our own skilled volunteers. We have a 25-person Board of Directors and state-based committees, who are leading individuals from diverse professional and community backgrounds. They broaden our expertise and support us with events, marketing and other operations. goodcompany has thousands of registered volunteers and works with hundreds of community organisations and groups, as well as offering skilled volunteering services to its corporate clients. Since 2001 we have facilitated more than 2000 skilled volunteer project outcomes, worth over $12 million to the community. Each dollar that goes through goodcompany’s innovative model generates $8 worth of pro bono services to the community sector. Founded when young professionals wanted to donate their skills to the community but didn’t the time or connections to find the right project. We are now the leading skilled volunteering service and trusted partner for many community organisations that recognise pro bono services not only save them money, but build their capacity and help them better achieve their objectives.
- #5 Video notes goodcompany relies on the support of…..
- #6 Video notes goodcompany utilises the internet, email and face-to-face interactions to successfully match professional skills with community needs. By using our online matching service, representatives of a registered community group can login to the goodcompany website and submit a skilled volunteer project. Once approved for publishing by goodcompany, the public and our registered volunteers can search for projects by skill category and location. Registered volunteers, and corporate partner employees via goodcompany, can apply for those that they are interested in. Goodcompany’s processes allow community groups and volunteers to track, monitor and report on the project activity. goodcompany hold different events throughout the year where groups can network with volunteers and secure their help through face-to-face interaction. Events help to raise awareness and educate groups and volunteers about the opportunities and challenges of skilled volunteering. By coming along to our Community Group workshops, attendees can learn explore how to effectively utilise skilled volunteers in their organisation, meet other community groups, ask questions and get tips and tools to get the most out of skilled volunteering and goodcompany’s services. Through e-newsletters, groups will receive updates on opportunities, event invitations, articles and reminds to submit new volunteer projects. We encourage community groups to suggest content and try to profile volunteering projects You will also be able to invite your volunteers to attend our regular information sessions.
- #7 Video notes (for this whole topic) Most people give something back to the community by donating money. Our volunteers however, have chosen to give something much more valuable, their skills and experience. They have registered on our website because they want to make a positive contribution to the community. A typical goodcompany volunteer is an individual, they are not sponsored by their employer. In fact, many of the volunteers are actually self employed. Our volunteers generally work full-time and are likely to be professionals. However, we may also come across small professional groups, part-time or contract workers who want to volunteer their time. A growing number of Corporate companies offer volunteering opportunities through their intranet, and often offer paid volunteer leave. Many of our volunteers fall into this category. These volunteers may have no experience in skilled volunteering and may be cautious about long term commitments and large projects. Our volunteers are generally time-poor and are looking for a one-off project. On average, they will tend to look for new volunteering opportunities every 1 to 2 months. So what are our volunteers looking for? They are looking for a project that sounds interesting, and provides quite a bit of detail about the task and what is expected of them. So the key for you is to make your project sound fantastic! Our volunteers are also wanting to apply their own skills, whether it be skills they already use in their careers or skills from a hobby outside of work. They are looking to give back to the community, so what better way than to use their own knowledge and expertise! It is important that there is open and timely communication between you and the volunteer, and that you give the volunteer an indication of how long you think the project will take.
- #9 Video notes ‘ So what types of projects can you request? There are quite a wide range of different opportunities.’ (Display each category on a slide with examples being talked to) Accounting and Finance ‘ Do you need help with book keeping, asset management or drafting a business plan? Design/Production ‘ How about assistance with the design of a brochure or a photographer to take photos at your next event?’ Event Management ‘ You could use a volunteer to help with the planning, direction, execution and running of your next event’ Fundraising/Goods ‘ Do you need help with a fundraising strategy or finding some second hand furniture from a company?’ Human Resources ‘ How about advice on HR processes and policies, training, or advice from someone in a health service like a social worker?’ Legal/Governance ‘ Could you use a volunteer to advise on tax status or a board review?’ Marketing ‘ How about assistance with a marketing campaign?’ Media/PR/Comms ‘ Do you need help drafting press releases or interviewing techniques?’ Strategy/Mentoring Could you use some help with developing your company’s long term vision, or finding a business mentor?’ Web/IT ‘ How about a redesign of your website or IT advice?’ goodcompany has volunteers in all these skills!
- #10 Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
- #12 Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
- #13 Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
- #14 Video notes So you think you would like to enlist the services of goodcompany to assist you with some skilled volunteer work? Before you proceed, it is important to understand a bit more about your skill gaps and some questions you should ask yourself before you submit the project. Have a think about your strategic vision, aims and goals, and compare them to your existing operations. Then have a think about any gaps that may exist in working towards your vision, aims or goals and determine how you need to fill these gaps. Think about the people that are needed to fill these gaps, the capacity for your company to support and the resources needed. To use goodcompany, you will need to focus on the gaps that can be filled by people, as this is what we do! Have a look at the 12 categories listed in the previous topic and see if your gap fits into any of those categories. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself before submitting a project are if a skilled professional is the right person to help you fill the gap, if the project can be broken down into smaller projects or tasks, meaning you may need a few skilled volunteers with different areas of expertise, and how would you approach this project if you were paying for a contractor to do it? This is because you should be approaching the project in the same way, regardless of whether the person is being paid or is a volunteer! (Show these above questions on a slide?)
- #18 either in person or via phone either during meeting or otherwise via e-mails Community group’s responsibilities to the volunteer Should each of the following points when managing the volunteer experience: P roject information: Background information, clear project scope with boundaries, KPI's, expectations, deadlines, resources available, potential pitfalls, how the job will be evaluated, reporting back to goodcompany. Communication of organisations’ mission, culture, values Demonstrate that the task/activity contributes to organisation’s purpose and benefits the community. Infrastructure: allocation of adequate equipment, desks, computers, etc? Introduction to and provision of, contact details for key people in project. Suitable training/induction including relevant reporting, emergency procedures, grievance resolution, potential discrimination & abuse, building layout, and any other relevant policies. They should take care to prepare volunteers for their duties and for any physical or psychological stresses that may be involved. OH&S and working conditions: suitable hours, accommodated around work commitments. Do their current policies and procedures adequately cover volunteers? If not, what do they need to change? To provide adequate supervision, if required.
- #19 either in person or via phone either during meeting or otherwise via e-mails Community group’s responsibilities to the volunteer Should each of the following points when managing the volunteer experience: P roject information: Background information, clear project scope with boundaries, KPI's, expectations, deadlines, resources available, potential pitfalls, how the job will be evaluated, reporting back to goodcompany. Communication of organisations’ mission, culture, values Demonstrate that the task/activity contributes to organisation’s purpose and benefits the community. Infrastructure: allocation of adequate equipment, desks, computers, etc? Introduction to and provision of, contact details for key people in project. Suitable training/induction including relevant reporting, emergency procedures, grievance resolution, potential discrimination & abuse, building layout, and any other relevant policies. They should take care to prepare volunteers for their duties and for any physical or psychological stresses that may be involved. OH&S and working conditions: suitable hours, accommodated around work commitments. Do their current policies and procedures adequately cover volunteers? If not, what do they need to change? To provide adequate supervision, if required.