Do you want to involve volunteers in computer and Internet-related tasks at your nonprofit organization? This webinar, to celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 19-25 2009), focuses on ways nonprofits and libraries can recruit and screen such volunteers, identify suitable tech-related assignments for them, and ways to support volunteers in these assignments successfully.

Nonprofit staff members can feel a sense of both awe and fear about tech volunteers, and this can lead to misunderstandings and frustrations on the part of both parties. Presenter Jayne Cravens helps you understand how to stay in control of tech volunteering tasks so that the finished assignment meets your organization’s needs and the tech volunteer has a satisfying experience.

This work is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License. If you have any questions regarding redistribution or use of this work, please contact webinars@techsoupglobal.org.

Jayne Cravens is an internationally-recognized professional with more than 20 years experience working with nonprofits and NGOs in various countries. She was an early evangelist regarding nonprofits using computer and Internet tools to meet the goals of their missions, and recently authored a history of nonprofits and the Internet. Her Web site, Coyote Communications, is frequently cited by various media, organizations (UNDP, USAID, nonprofits, etc.), and researchers.

She is a frequently-invited presenter, and has provided training regarding communications and community involvement/volunteer support on site in the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Egypt and Afghanistan, as well as online training for audiences in the USA and Australia.

Resources

• Finding a Computer/Network Consultant
• Short-term assignments for tech volunteers
• Donated Services for Mission-Based Organizations: When, Why & How?
• Energize Inc. : volunteer management books & other resources

Recruiting Sites

• VolunteerMatch
• Idealist
• Craigslist
• United Way
• Charity Village (Canadian)

Guides

• Working with Technical Volunteers: A Manual for NPOs