Featured: Tips for Volunteering as a Group

May 11, 2011   //   by Libby   //   Featured Story, How To, Volunteering  //  No Comments

At Volunteer Kalamazoo, we love hearing from groups that want to volunteer! Groups may decide to serve the community together for many reasons: team-building purposes, to get to know each other outside of the regular environment (work, class, church, etc), to learn about nonprofit organizations in the community, or to have fun!

Below are some tips for planning a Group Volunteer Project, but the first thing to remember when beginning to plan: start early! Give the group plenty of time to figure out details, but remember that nonprofit organizations will also need time to plan. Do not expect to schedule a group project in one or two weeks.

Here are some other great tips taken from Ehow.com:

How to Plan a Group Volunteer Project

  1. Talk to your group to find out what type of project they would like to do. Group volunteering project ideas include packing food boxes at a food bank, preparing and serving a meal, painting, neighborhood clean up, hosting or providing entertainment for a children’s party at a family shelter and walking dogs at an animal shelter.
  2. Gather logistical details. Ask volunteer group members about the dates they are available, the number of hours available for the project and special needs or limitations.
  3. Begin your search for a project. Volunteer Kalamazoo can help you with a couple of options:  Group Volunteer Opportunities. If your group is large or has a specific date or activity in mind, contact us at 269.492.3723 or via email, to get assistance with connecting your group to an appropriate organization.
  4. Talk with a representative from the agency for which you choose to volunteer. Ask a lot of questions about the project to make sure it is a good fit for your group. Ask about the reason for the project, number of people needed, specific tasks, skills required, recommended clothing, provided materials and tools and if refreshments will be available.
  5. Prepare a written communication for your volunteer team with important information such as the event date, start time, end time, agency name, full address of the project site, directions to the site, description of the agency and project, suggested clothing, supplies to bring and any other helpful details.
  6. Confirm all of the volunteering project details several days in advance. Call the nonprofit organization to verify the project. Contact all of the volunteers in your group to confirm that they will attend. Some projects require a minimum number of volunteers. If you have cancellations, you may need to adjust the game plan, recruit more volunteers or change the project scope.
  7. Plan to arrive at the project site at least 20 minutes early to ensure that everything is set up. Be at the entrance to greet volunteers and direct them to their task. Ask the agency if a representative can give a brief talk about the agency and how your project will help. Also plan to get feedback from the volunteers after the project. Have fun.

Other things to remember:

  • If you are planning a large volunteering project, schedule a visit to the agency in advance so you can see the project site and review the logistics in person. This will help you feel more prepared on the day of the project.
  • Be prepared for potential glitches during the project such as running out of supplies or volunteers arriving late or not at all. Try not to get discouraged and use the challenges as a learning experience for your next group project.
  • If the project will involve physical work or you live in a hot climate, plan to have water available to keep everyone hydrated.
  • If there are children in the group, ask the agency’s representative if there is a minimum age requirement for volunteers.
  • Take photos to document your group’s good work!
  • Be sure to evaluate and document the findings of the day by speaking to your group, taking a formal survey and/or talking with the nonprofit agency to get agency feedback. This will help you to plan for your next project.

Volunteer Kalamazoo will also be getting in the group volunteering spirit by holding large community-wide Days of Service, as a part of our Kalamazoo Neighborhood Safety Initiative, at a variety of locations. We also assist the Greater Kalamazoo United Way with their Day of Caring program for corporate/business groups.

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