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Finding the right volunteers for your organization – Why it pays NOT to pay!

At some point in time we have all volunteered. High school seniors looking to enhance their college applications, college graduates looking to expand on their resumes, parents wanting to be involved in their children’s education and extracurricular activities, and even senior citizens wanting to enrich their lives after retirement, volunteer.

Whether to fill time or give back to the community- volunteers are the glue that holds many organizations together. Without them, many organizations would fail as, quite frankly, they are run by volunteers because their budgets are small and do not allow for full-time paid staff. According to the National Council of Non-Profitsthe vast majority of charitable nonprofits are governed by a volunteer board of directors and according the IRS, 85% of all charitable nonprofits have no paid staff are run entirely by volunteers.” Because they come from different educational, cultural and economic backgrounds, volunteers are beneficial and valuable.

Why volunteers are better than paid employees:-

– (Unless court mandated) volunteers volunteer because they want to. Because they are passionate about the cause for which they have offered their skills, labor, education and or knowledge for free

– Volunteers are typically people who are close to the organization and understand its’ operations and mission, which puts them at an advantage over a paid employee, who, doesn’t necessarily require in-depth knowledge about the org for whom they are working.

– Volunteers last longer than employees as they are committed to their organization, thus fostering longevity. If an opportunity should arise for an employee to make more money or attain a promotion with a different organization, they may take advantage.

Just because volunteers essentially work free, doesn’t mean any one will do! The proper precautions should still be taken when “hiring” a volunteer, as would be taken for a normal employee. This includes checking references, background screenings, and if an organization where being in the company of or interacting with children is required, child safety training.

Protect My Ministry can help you reduce risk by filling the gaps in your risk management strategy. With thousands of ministries served across all fifty states we are committed to helping faith-based organizations maintain a safe environment. Don’t put your children or organization at risk! Contact us today to learn more about how a partnership can help. Focus on your ministry’s mission and let us focus on its’ peace of mind!