From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Volunteer Program Success

This book changed everything I think and do regarding volunteering, and I still use it for reference when I'm writing anything about volunteerism, whether developing a policy or writing a funding proposal or just blogging some opinions on the subject. Susan J. Ellis frames volunteer engagement in a completely different way than most others, talking about volunteer engagement as an essential for transparency and community buy-in, not as something nice to do, and moving the value of volunteers far, far beyond money saved (by not having to pay staff). This is the book that will challenge you to be able to say why you involve volunteers WITHOUT saying anything about a monetary value. This is the book that will challenge senior executives and board members to value the staff person responsible for volunteer engagement at an organization on the same level as the fundraising manager or the marketing manager. This book may even inspire volunteers to start asking tougher questions of the nonprofits, charities, NGOs, government programs, schools and other programs where they serve. It's also a must read by corporate executives and business leaders that think they know anything about volunteering - if they haven't read this book, they don't! The first five chapters are my favorite: Why Volunteers?, Considerations in Planning, Budgeting and Allocating Resources, Staffing the (management of the) Volunteer Program and Understanding the Volunteer/Employee Relationship. She also has chapters on Executive Level Volunteers, Evaluation and Legal Issues. And she has an Executive Role Checklist that every Executive Director of any organization that involves volunteers should have to use to evaluate THEMSELVES regarding valuing the volunteering program. I really cannot gush about this book enough. It is USA-Centric, but there is a UK version as well.

This book puts forth ideas and resources that are changing the ways people view, value and involve volunteers. It represents the growing profound shift in how organizations should think about volunteer contributions and support for those volunteers. If you are part of an organization that involves volunteers, whether or not you yourself work with them directly, this book is ESSENTIAL for your bookshelf. Written by one of the most respected authorities on volunteersim and volunteer management in the world, Susan Ellis outlines the key executive decisions necessary to lay the foundation for effective volunteer involvement: policies, budgeting, staffing, employee-volunteer relationships, legal issues, and the value of volunteers beyond financial. Prepare to be challenged, and prepare to have traditional ideas about what volunteers represent swept away. This is an empowering and practical read, and a book you will reach for again and again.