The Nonprofit FAQ

NOTE: Compiled by Susan J. Ellis, of http://www.energizeinc.com">Energize, Inc., in the Fall of 1996.

During the past decade there has been a steady increase
in the number of publications related to volunteer
management. The majority of these titles are directed
at the person who is developing a "volunteer program"
within an agency that also has paid staff. However,
some books address the specific concerns of leaders in
all-volunteer or predominantly-volunteer organizations.
Many of the books about nonprofit agency "boardsmanship"
will also be helpful to the officer of a less formal
organization as well.

The following is a starting point for a collection of
basic books about being a leader of volunteers either in
an agency or in an all-volunteer group. All are
available through mail order. The two major sources of
materials are the annual "Volunteer Energy Resource
Catalog" from Energize, Inc. (5450 Wissahickon Avenue,
Philadelphia, Pa 19144; call 1-800-395-9800 for the free
catalog) and the "Volunteer Community Service Catalog"
from the Points of Light Foundation (1400 I
Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, 1-800-272-8306).

• Brudney, Jeffrey L. Managing Volunteer Programs in the
  Public Sector. Jossey-Bass, 1990.
  One of the few books to address the fact that
  volunteers are integral to government agencies as well
  as to nonprofit organizations. Introduces the basics of
  volunteer program development in the public arena.
  
  
• Campbell, Katherine Noyes and Susan J. Ellis. The
  (Help!) I-Don't-Have-Enough-Time Guide to Volunteer
  Management. Energize, Inc., 1995.
  Outlines the responsibilities and tasks of a
  leader of volunteers and suggests ways to share the
  work, particularly for someone running a volunteer
  program on a part-time basis. Shows how to build a
  volunteer management team.
  
  
• Dalsimer, John Paul, CPA. Self-Help Accounting: A
  Guide for the Volunteer Treasurer. Philadelphia:
  Energize, 1989.
  Written for the non-accountant who is the treasurer
  of a small- to medium-size organization. Covers the
  basics of what the job entails, how to keep financial
  records and make financial reports.
  
• Devney, Darcy Campion. Organizing Special Events and
  Conferences: A Practical Guide for Busy Volunteers and
  Staff. Pineapple Press, 1990.
  Comprehensive guidebook for how to plan and run
  just about any type of event. Many checklists and
  practical pointers.
  
• Devney, Darcy Campion. The Volunteer's Survival Manual:
  The Only Practical Guide to Giving Your Time and Money.
  The Practical Press, 1992.
  Helps anyone looking for volunteer work to assess
  his or her needs, wishes and skills and to locate the
  best volunteer position to match them.
  
  
• Ellis, Susan J. The Board's Role in Effective Volunteer
  Involvement. National Center for Nonprofit Boards,
  1995.
  Outlines why and how the board of directors of a
  nonprofit organization should involve itself in planning
  for and decision-making about volunteer participation.
  
• Ellis, Susan J. From the Top Down: The Executive Role
  in Volunteer Program Success, revised edition.
  Energize, Inc., 1996.
  Only book addressed to the top decision-makers of
  an organization and covering the things necessary to lay
  a foundation for successful volunteer involvement.
  Includes budgeting and resource allocation,
  employee/volunteer relationships, liability and legal
  issues.
  
• Ellis, Susan J. The Volunteer Recruitment Book, 2nd ed.
  Energize, Inc., 1996.
  Comprehensive discussion of how to plan and carry
  out an effective volunteer recruitment campaign for any
  type of organization or target population. Has a
  complete chapter on membership development for all-
  volunteer groups.
  
  
• Flanagan, Joan. The Successful Volunteer Organization.
  Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1984.
  Guidebook for setting up and running an all-
  volunteer organization or the beginning of a new
  nonprofit organization. Covers a wide range of topics
  from legal issues to running meetings.
  
• Fisher, James C. and Kathleen M. Cole. Leadership and
  Management of Volunteer Programs: A Guide for Volunteer
  Administrators. Jossey-Bass, 1993.
  Written as a textbook, this is also a manual for
  practitioners. Systematically examines and explains the
  functions of volunteer management.
  
• Graff, Linda L. By Definition: Policies for Volunteer
  Programs. Volunteer Ontario, 1993.
  Although Canadian, this manual provides universal
  pointers for how to determine areas of volunteer program
  development needing policy formation and how to
  articulate those policies.
  
• Graff, Linda L. Policy Development for Volunteer
  Services AudioWorkshop. Graff & Associates, 1996.
  A follow-up piece to By Definition (above), this
  audiotape and accompanying guide provide more in-depth
  discussion of how to develop policies for volunteer
  programs.
  
• Grubbs, Arlene and Evelyn Levine. The Volunteer
  Recognition Skit Kit. Energize, Inc., 1992.
  Seven ready-to-produce skits created for volunteer
  recognition events. Full scripts with reworked lyrics
  to well-known songs.
  
• Kilpatrick, Joseph and Sanford Danziger. Better than
  Money Can Buy: The New Volunteers. Innersearch
  Publishing, 1996.
  Presentation of the experience of the Human Service
  Alliance in North Carolina in running a self-sustaining,
  all-volunteer hospice program. Provides insight into a
  different non-hierarchal way of organizing volunteers.
  
• MacKenzie, Marilyn and Gail Moore. The Group Member's
  Handbook. Partners Plus, 1993.
  Guide to being both a successful leader and an
  effective follower in an all-volunteer organization.
  Emphasizes techniques of shared leadership.
  
• MacKenzie, Marilyn and Gail Moore. The Volunteer
  Development Toolbox. Partners Plus, 1993.
  Overview of the elements of running a volunteer
  program with many suggestions and resources.
  
• McCurley, Steve and Rick Lynch. Volunteer Management:
  Mobilizing All the Resources of the Community. Heritage
  Arts Publishing, 1996.
  Comprehensive discussion of each of the functions
  of volunteer program development and management.
  Extensive appendix with hundreds of books and
  organizational resources.
  
• Patterson, John with Charles Tremper and Pam Rypkema.
  Staff Screening Tool Kit: Keeping Bad Apples Out of
  Your Organization. Nonprofit Risk Management Center,
  1994.
  Guidebook for how to screen and select appropriate
  employees and volunteers, particularly in situations in
  which an organization needs to protect vulnerable
  clients. Covers legal and ethical issues.
  
• Scheier, Ivan H. Building Staff/Volunteer Relations.
  Energize, Inc., 1993.
  Discussion of how and why volunteer/employee
  relationships can deteriorate and what to do to build
  teamwork. Practical suggestions for analyzing paid and
  volunteer work in order to develop the best volunteer
  assignments.
  
• Scheier, Ivan H. When Everyone's a Volunteer: The
  Effective Functioning of All-Volunteer Groups.
  Energize, Inc., 1992.
  Written for the small, often informal volunteer
  group, this book goes against conventional wisdom and
  suggests ways to share ownership and leadership,
  maximize resources, and prevent burnout.
  
• Stallings, Betty. The 55-Minute Training Series:
  Training Staff to Success with Volunteers. Stallings &
  Associates, 1996.
  Ten training modules on key elements of volunteer
  management with full designs, trainer instructions, and
  camera-ready handouts. Accompanied by the book,
  Training Busy Staff to Succeed with Volunteers, which
  explains how to approach staff training from an adult
  education model.
  
• Tremper, Charles and Gwynne Kostin. No Surprises:
  Controlling Risks in Volunteer Programs. Nonprofit Risk
  Management Center, 1993.
  Concise and practical handbook explaining the
  possible risks in each step of volunteer program
  development and management, with suggested ways to limit
  or manage those risks.
  
• Vineyard, Sue. Beyond Banquets, Plaques and Pins:
  Creative Ways to Recognize Volunteers and Staff!
  Heritage Arts Publishing, Revised 1994.
  Guide to the different motivations of volunteers
  and how recognition should match individual needs.
  Includes lists of ideas for showing appreciation.
  
• Vineyard, Sue and Stephen McCurley, eds. Managing
  Volunteer Diversity: A Rainbow of Opportunities.
  Heritage Arts Publishing, 1992.
  Collection of essays by various authors on working
  with volunteers of all types: different racial and
  ethnic populations, people with disabilities, and other
  aspects of diversity.
  
• White, Barbara J. and Edward Madara. The Self-Help
  SourceBook: Finding and Forming Mutual Aid Self-Help
  Groups, 5th edition. American Self-Help Clearinghouse,
  1995.
  Comprehensive listing of self-help organizations in
  the United States, now including those in cyberspace.
  Provides a full section on how to create and run a self-
  help group.
  
• Wilson, Marlene. The Effective Management of Volunteer
  Programs. Volunteer Management Associates, 1976.
  The first book to outline the elements of volunteer
  program management. While dated in many respects, still
  provides relevant insight and advice.
  
• Wolfe, Joan. Making Things Happen: How to Be an
  Effective Volunteer. Island Press, 1991.
  Helps leaders of all-volunteer groups to increase
  their skills at motivating fellow members. Chapters on
  recruitment, media relations, and de-mystifying Roberts
  Rules.
  
• Wroblewski, Celeste J. The Seven Rs of Volunteer
  Development. YMCA of the USA, 1994.
  Large manual with hundreds of questionnaires and
  checklists to guide any organization through the
  decision-making and planning necessary to establish an
  effective volunteer program. Includes an audiotape on
  barriers to volunteering and a brief video about YMCA
  volunteers.

• Charles, Jeffrey A. Service Clubs in American Society:
  Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions. University of Illinois
  Press, 1993.
  
• Ellis, Susan J. and Katherine H. Noyes. By the People:
  A History of Americans as Volunteers. Revised ed.
  Jossey-Bass, 1990.
  
• Scott, Anne Firor. Natural Allies: Women's
  Associations in American History. University of
  Illinois Press, 1992.