Eliminate Charitable Deduction?

Should charitable deduction be eliminated?  One former foundation president thinks so.

Jack Shakely, who ran the California Community Foundation for 25 years, recently wrote an opinion piece in The Los Angeles Times that is sure to cause some controversy in the nonprofit sector.  He proposes that the best way to reduce the national debt is to completely scrap the charitable-giving tax deduction.  If you've been following politics lately, you already know that capping charitable giving at 28% for the nation's highest earners has been a priority of the Obama administration.  They have tried it four times already, most recently in the American Jobs Act.  Each time it has failed after major backlash from nonprofits. 

Yet even with the administration's proposal, charitable deduction would remain in place.  If Shakely's suggestion was to be put into place, the deduction would completely disappear.  His reasoning comes down to this: After nearly a century of existence, nobody can say for sure whether it truly stimulates giving.  The argument has been put out there, most recently by Brian Gallagher of United Way of America, that capping charitable deduction for high earners at 28% would cause donors to "withhold the difference to cover the tax."  But is that really the case?

Shakely argues that it isn't.  He cites what happened when the cap on deductions for the top tax brackets was reduced in the past.  In 1980, it went from 70 percent to 50 percent, and then from 39 percent to the current 35 percent in 2003.  If stood to reason that giving should have declined as the cost of giving increased.  But according to the Giving USA Foundation, charitable donations over the last 25 years have remained consistent, staying around 1.7-percent and 1.95-percent of personal income.  If giving didn't decrease then, he argues, why would it decrease now?

All these examples are when the deduction was reduced.  Shakely's suggestion, however, is to get rid of it entirely.  Would that have any significant impact on giving?  It's hard to say because, as he argues, it's hard to pinpoint how much it really stimulates giving.  Regardless, the article is a great read, and we suggest you check it out if you have the time.

Creating A Start-Up Nonprofit Isn't Easy

If you were ever thinking of starting your own nonprofit, take a step back: It's not as easy as it sounds.

In a piece written for The Huffington Post, Marty Zwilling, a start-up expert, explains the complications of starting your own nonprofit.  He explains that although most people looking to create a start-up company see nonprofits as the easy route to success, there's a lot that goes into the process.  This includes a healthy business model, which was recently outlined in an article on The NonProfit Times website.  A nonprofit still has to make money on everything it sells in order to maintain its operating expenses.  This is true even if it relies totally on donations.

All this is not to say that you shouldn't try to make your own nonprofit.  You just need to be aware of some of the challenges that come with it.  Zwelling listed five reasons creating a start-up nonprofit can be a challenge.  Here are a few I found most compelling:

• You know that 501(c) form you have to fill out to become tax-exempt?  It requires a lot more than just filling out a form, and it can take a long time to be approved.  The form has to be accompanied with a $850 fee, and it can take as long as two years to completely finish.
• Start-ups require willing investors, and it can be a challenge to get them interested in a nonprofit since it will be hard to guarantee an excellent return on investment.
• Private start-up companies don't have to disclose their salaries or spending practices to anyone other than the IRS.  Nonprofits, on the otherhand, undergo trememndous public scrutiny.

Make sure to read the rest of Zwelling's points on The Huffington Post.

World Giving Index Ranks U.S. Number One

People often claim that the United States is the most charitable country in the world.  Now there is some hard data to back that claim up.

The World Giving Index (WGI), a yearly report released by the United Kingdom-based Charities Aid Foundation, ranked the U.S. first overall for the first time, with an overall score of 60 percent.  It's quite a turnaround from last year, when it ranked behind Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada.  Here are the top 10 countries from this year's report:

• United States
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• Netherlands
• Canada
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Laos

And here are some highlights from the report:

• The percentage giving money for the U.S. was 65 percent, tied for 10th with Malta.  Thailand was first with 85 percent.
• 43 percent of respondents in the U.S. said they volunteered.
• 73 percent of Americans said they helped a stranger this year, up from 65 percent last year.
• Ireland increased its overall score from 56 percent to 59 percent.

The news from WGI is very consistent with what we learned from Giving USA's data for 2010.  Given the number of natural disasters that have happened over the past year, it isn't entirely surprising that Americans are giving more, even during this time of economic uncertainty.  To read the rest of the data from the report, check out our article on The NonProfit Times.

Should You Use A Prospect Database?

Looking for fundraising prospects is a lot like looking for gold: It's better to have a systematic process in place to find it rather than just hoping you find it where you look.

Part of that systematic process involves using something called a prospect database.  This technology is a virtual warehouse in which data is linked and aggregated to help enhance your campaign.  It contains an organization's own donor data, compiled data, transactional data, prior mail history and response lists in their entirety  Not all nonprofits use them, but the ones that do have experienced success. 

One of these organizations is Smile Train, a children's charity based in New York City.  Priscilla Ma, executive director of the organization, spoke about their use of the prospect database at the DMA Nonprofit Federation conference.  The NonProfit Times recorded her suggestions on what types of organizations should use a prospect database.  You should consider using one if:

• You’re a high-volume mailer, and your costs are increasing.
• You want to be a high-volume mailer and you need to cut your costs to get there.
• Direct mail drives your revenue. 
• You use a wide variety of lists.

You can read the rest of Ma's suggestions on our website.

Writing A Great Nonprofit Job Description

Is your nonprofit interested in posting a job with our online career center?  Great!  But before you get started, you must know how to write a nonprofit job description that will attract potential candidates.

Some employers make the mistake of believing that describing a job is as simple as saying what the position entails.  That's part of the equation, but the best job descriptions offer a lot more than that.  If you are going to attract the top job seekers, you are going to have to get way more in-depth about your job.  Before you start writing, gather some employees in the organization who are familiar with the position in question.  They will be able to best tell you the kinds of characteristics that an ideal candidate should possess.  The biggest mistake you can make is assuming the applicant knows the kind of personality they need to possess for the job.  Information like this should go in the "requirements" section of your job posting.

Finally, there is the issue of length.  How long is too long?  It's a hard question to answer, but it's a balance you are going to have to strike.  If you submit a job posting that is too long, you run the risk of job seekers missing important information.  Your description must be concise and easy to read.  Consider using bullet points to highlight the most important information, or bolding important words.  Whatever you do, avoid what I like to call "walls of text."  You've probably seen what I'm referring to: It's those really long paragraphs that never seem to have any breaks.  Make sure you are including paragraph breaks in your posting!

To view samples of typical nonprofit job posting, visit our job search page and see what other organizations have done.

Online Giving On The Rise

Large nonprofit organizations led the way as online giving saw a significant surge, according to findings from The Blackbaud Index.

The Index, which is updated on the 15th of each month, showed that online giving was up more than 10 percent for the quarter ending in October while overall charitable giving increased more than 2 percent, all noticeable increases from the same three-month period in 2010.  Larger nonprofits were the clear winners, as they saw a 16.6-percent surge in online giving.  Let's give some love to the smaller nonprofits, though; they weren't too far behind with a 15.9-percent increase.

The only organizations to report declines of any kind were those in the environmental/animal welfare and healthcare sectors.  Those two groups reported declines in overall giving of 4.2 and 2.3 percent, respectively.  Environmental/animal welfare did see an increase in online giving, of 6.2 percent.  Make sure to read the other findings over at The NonProfit Times. 

Nonprofit Mailers Ask USPS To Drop Rate Increase

The United States Postal Service (USPS) submitted another request to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) last month for a 5.6-percent exigent postal rate increase after its initial appeal was rejected.  Nonprofit mailers have a message for the USPS: Give it up.

In the latest update on this issue from The NonProfit Times, we learn that four nonprofit mailing organizations have sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe requesting that they drop their continued appeal for an exigent rate increase.  Postal officials have publicly stated that they do not want an increase, and the mailers want them to act on those words.  "If you do not want an exigent increase and you do not want mailers to plan for one," they wrote, "withdraw the case. Actions speak louder than words.”  They also argue that even the possibility that mailers may face an above-Consumer Price Index increase has cast "a pall of uncertainty" over the industry, making budgeting and mailing plans difficult.

The letter was signed by Jerry Cerasale, senior vice president of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA); Tony Conway, executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers; Jim Cregan, executive vice president, government affairs, for The Association of Magazine Media, and Gene Del Polito, president of the Association for Postal Commerce.  To read the full story, head over to NPT's website.

Ideas For Your Major Gift Ask

Every nonprofit fundraiser's dream is to have a conversation with a major donor that goes so well, that the person writes you a check immediately.  Too bad it's rarely that easy.

Yes, the major gift ask is one of those things that gets even experienced fundraisers a little antsy.  It's all too easy for nerves to lead you to a critical error that can ruin the whole process.  And then there's the second guessing.  Did you ask too much?  Too little?  You'll drive yourself crazy if you allow these thoughts to take control.  The reality is it's totally natural to have a little fear before prospecting for a major gift.

According to Rachel Muir, client strategy executive at Austin, Texas-based Convio, how you handle that fear will determine your success.  She let The NonProfit Times in on some tips on how to better prepare for major gift asks:

• Make sure the prospect in question has been properly cultivated before asking for a major commitment.  Think of it this way: You could ask someone to marry you on the first date, but it would be creepy and desperate.  The same applies with your donors.  You should be stewarding your donors with seven unique touches annually: a visit, a tour, prompt thank you’s, personal stories about your successes, newsletter, annual report, personal calls, etc.  It's all about the courtship!
• Find out everything you can about your prospects.  What are their interests?  Where did they go to school?  What are their giving patterns?
• Re-connect with your organization's mission.  Why are you asking for money in the first place?  Having a strong passion and commitment for your cause is a major selling point for donors.
• Consider doing your asks in pairs.  Two is better than one, right?
• When it's time to make the ask, make sure it's in a setting where there will be minimal interruptions.  You will want 20 to 30 minutes of the prospect's undivided attention.  Suggestions for meetings spots could be their office or somewhere at your organization.  Whatever you do, do not ask at a restaurant.  This will guarantee you multiple interruptions.
• Describe the impact of your organization through the use of personal anecdotes.  Focus on the benefit, impact, and vision.
• Do not use acronyms.
• Here's the most important thing to remember: After you make your ask, be silent.  Give the prospect time to think.  Continuing to talk after making your ask is a great way to talk yourself out of a gift.

What happens next is hard to say.  They'll either say yes, no, or ask for more time to think.  If that's the case, make sure you make a return appointment, and thank them for their time.  If they say yes, make sure to thank them for their generosity.  If they say no, ask if it is the amount of the gift or the timing. You can offer to stretch their gift out over time. If that doesn’t work ask them if they will renew at their current gift level.

We hope you have found these tips useful for your organization's prospecting efforts.  Head to The NonProfit Times for more articles like this.

Holiday Giving A Challenge For Some Nonprofits

It may be the season of giving, but that doesn't mean nonprofits will be seeing a lot of that this year.

The holidays have traditionally been a major source of revenue for organizations and, in recent years, holiday giving has actually done fairly well.  Yet giving suffered during the summer according to the most recent Blackbaud Index of Giving and, The Durango Herald, many La Planta County, Colorado nonprofits are already facing major challenges for the winter holidays.

Many of the nonprofits in this county make a big portion of their budget during this time of the year.  Their success during the holidays could determine a years worth of work.  And with donors' wallets shrinking because of the economic downturn, nonprofits in the area are competing for dollars.   The situation has grown even more dire as the demand for the services of these organizations have increased.  For example, the Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross has seen holiday giving decrease significantly during the last few years.  This is despite the fact that house fires erupt more frequently during the holidays due to candles and other lightings.

Despite all of this turmoil, some charities have collaborated.  For example, Music in the Mountains raffled off 25-year ski passes to Durango Mountain Resort.  So while it looks like this holiday season may be tough for some Colorado nonprofits, they are hopeful they will be able to get through the season intact.  Make sure to read the full article on this subject in The Durango Herald.

Five Important Hiring Tips

Cross Posted From The Nonprofit Job Seeker

Although jobs may be scarce in this economy, this doesn't mean that job candidates are going to take the first position that is offered to them. This economy could make people more picky than normal. Because times are tough, they are going to not only want a position that pays well, but also one in which they feel comfortable. If you are going to attract the best candidates for your nonprofit job, you would do well to follow these five hiring tips:

• As I have mentioned in the past, make sure the description in your job listing is informative yet concise. This is a hard balance to strike, but it can be done. The key to reaching this balance is to use specifics. The more the applicant knows about the position, the less chance you will get resumes from unqualified candidates.
• When you conduct an interview, make sure you allow time for the person to say what they want out of the position. It's all well and good to explain what you are looking for in an ideal employee, but you should make sure that the candidate can express their expectations as well. This is helpful because it establishes that this will be a job where the employee's views are important. And that is an important factor when people decide where they want to work.
• Just because someone performs well in an interview doesn't mean they will be the right fit for your organization. Test your applicant's skills to see if they are up to the task. How you do this depends on the type of job you are looking to fill. If you are looking to hire a web content editor, for example, you can have them take a writing test after the interview. If you mention that you will be performing writing tests in your application, this has the added benefit of weeding out less serious candidates.
• Your office should be tidy at all times, but make sure it is especially presentable during the interview. And I'm not just referring to your desk; the entire office should look as impressive as possible. A relaxing workplace makes for a better working environment, and that will be on the top of the list of things top candidates will be looking for.

Interviews can be very tiresome, especially if you have already been through many that day. Still, you are going to have to find some way to remain engaging to your prospective employee. There is no bigger turn off than an interviewer who seems uninterested. So even if you have to take an extra shot of coffee, make sure you are friendly and lively when you interview a job candidate.

Zurich Webinar Highlights

UPDATE 12/12/2011: The slides and recording are now online.  You can see them in our online library.

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Thanks to everyone who attended today's webinar on risk assessment and designing internal controls.  We once again send our thanks to Zurich, as they were instrumental in getting this webinar done.  We also want to send special thanks to our three speakers, Peg Jackson, Tom McLaughlin, and Susan Ellis.  They were all fabulous today.  If you were not able to attend the webinar, here are some of the things that participants learned:

• Boards must review Form 990 before it is submitted to the IRS.
• All boards should have an audit committee.
• The most functional board size is no more than 15 individuals.
• CEOs shouldn't receive compensation that is 25 percent more than the next highest paid executive at the nonprofit.
• If a volunteer does something seriously wrong--something that could put the organization at risk--it is within the rights of an organization to remove them.
• Make sure a volunteer can perform all tasks necessary before hiring.  They should be able to back up the skills they claim to have.

We will also be posting the slides and audio of the webinar on our online library within the next 24 hours.  Stay tuned.

Student Philanthropists

How's this for a homework assignment: Find a way to give away $100,000.  If you were a student at University of Pennsylvania, it's not too outlandish of a proposal.

According to a report on NewsWorks.org, UPenn students who took a course covering the economics of the nonprofit sector in Philadelphia were given quite a shock when they were asked to distribute $100,000 given to the class by an anonymous donor.  And this was only 10 days before the class even started. 

Here's how it worked: The 30 students in the class were split into groups of five, each given $20,000.  They students then had to create a mission statement, seek out local organizations that fit with the mission, and vet them as potential recipients.  One organization that was considered by some of the students was Play On! Philly, an after-school music program.  They were rejected by one of the student groups because they didn't think the organization had sufficient community engagement.  On the other hand, one of the other groups gave them the money because they felt the nonprofit proved it had educational influence beyond music.

The decisions the students had to make highlight the challenges that nonprofits face raising money, especially during the Great Recession.  NewsWorks notes that Greg Goldman, who has taught nonprofit economics at UPenn for 14 years, said that the recent economic downturn has affected nonprofits like no other recession has before.  That doesn't mean it's impossible--especially when it comes to capital campaigns--but people do have to be more careful with money these days.  And UPenn students learned that first hand during their philanthropic exercise.

Make sure to read the full article over on NewsWorks and let us know your reactions to it.

Donor Acquisition Strategies

What separated the nonprofits that had their fiscal house in order during the recession from those that didn't?  More often than not it was one thing: A solid donor acquisition strategy.

Acquiring new donors is key to keeping a steady stream of revenue coming into your organization.  But you can't go donor prospecting on the fly; you need a plan first.  During the 2011 National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC), Bryan Terpstra, VP of fundraising, and Robin Riggs, chief creative officer at LW Robbins, discussed some ways nonprofits could update their acquisition programs.  The NonProfit Times was there to hear these tips, and they are:

• Brand Positioning: Make sure your mission is described clearly through your direct mail.  Donors who are hearing from you for the first time might have no idea what your organization is trying to accomplish.  Never assume that someone has done research beforehand.
• Brand Awareness: Once you have defined your mission it's time to make sure it's promoted in as many channels as possible.  Remember that potential donors use many different forms of media, so don't be afraid of diversity.
• Identify Your Best Prospects: Make use of lists to see which donors contribute to similar organizations.  These will be some of the best prosepcts for your nonprofit.

Want to learn even more about topics like this?  Check out our management tips page for advice on a wide array of nonprofit topics.

Busy Employees Are Happy Employees

If you sat a few employees down in a room and told them that they would be doing less work but receiving the same pay, what do you think their reaction would be?  Jumping for joy, right?  Wrong.

In an article on The Nonprofit Jobseeker, NPT's home for nonprofit jobs, we learn that employees are most happy when they are busy.  This is according to a recent report by Sirota Survey Intelligence, a Purchase, N.Y.-based research company.  This flies in the face of what some bosses might think.  Wouldn't employees like having less stress on a daily basis?  It turns out that most workers would prefer to accomplish as much as possible during a given day, rather than just getting by on their job.

This makes all the sense in the world, especially when you apply it to nonprofit organizations.  One of the big attractions of working at an NPO is getting the chance to do work that can make a difference for a cause.  Why wouldn't a nonprofit employee want to be accomplishing more for a cause they presumably care about?  The survey results indicate that "Overworked people, in a sense, are getting feedback from the organization that their contributions are important.”

The results also make sense from a practical standpoint.  What would you rather be doing during a long workday?  Having a lot to do, or sitting on your hands doing nothing?  Make sure to read the full article on the Nonprofit Jobseeker.

Nonprofit Jobs: New Jersey Nonprofit To Create 800 New Jobs

Cross-Posted From NPT Jobs

On the heels of the good job news from last month, one New Jersey nonprofit expects to create twice the number of jobs as originally expected.

According to a report in The Asbury Park Press, the New Jersey Technology Solutions Center estimates it will be able to create 800-1,000 new jobs over the next five years. That's a far cry from the 200 to 300 positions the center was originally expected to create when it launched last year. It's also a dose of good news for an organization that had an uncertain future after earmarks--a major source of funding for the center--were discontinued by Congress earlier this year.

The new jobs are expected to arrive once the nonprofit receives contracts in a number of areas, including engineering, software development, management, and business development. If all of these new jobs are created as predicted, it will go along way towards making up for the loss of 5,000 high-technology jobs when Fort Monmouth, one of the army's installations in Monmouth County, closed earlier this fall. These jobs will not only get people much needed employment, but are also expected to pour millions of dollars into the local economy by 2017.

Read The Asbury Park Press story for more information. You should also be sure to check out our career center for other New Jersey nonprofit jobs.

Nonprofits Facing Fiscal Stress

The latest fundraising survey by The Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC) was a mixed bag for nonprofits.

The survey, which was released yesterday, showed that 41 percent of organizations reported increased charitable receipts for the first nine months of the year.  On the other hand, there were signs that a significant number of organizations were feeling increased fiscal stress.  Among signs of fiscal stress, the primary concern was flat or declining contributions, cited by 52 percent of organizations, followed by 48 percent each who said low cash reserves and limited number of funders. Nearly as many, 46 percent, said flat or declining non-contribution revenue was a concern.

These problems are of even greater concern to smaller organizations.  While NRC reports that only 8 percent of NPOs fear they are in danger of closing because of financial reasons, that number increases to 20 percent for organizations with less than $3 million in expenditures.

But let's get to some good news, shall we?  Aside from the increased charitable receipts--up from 36 percent last year--half of responding organizations saw an increase of new donors.  This included new corporate funders (37 percent) and foundations grantors (16 percent).  Still, prospects look bleak for 2012.  All organizations expect they will start 2012 with reduced revenue from multiple sources.

What is your reaction to these numbers?  Has your organization experienced any of the fiscal problems mentioned?  Be sure to read the full report on the survey on The NonProfit Times.

Changes To First Class Mail Coming?

UPDATE, 4:00 PM EST: We have updated the story with more reactions from nonprofits.

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In a story that we posted on our website this morning, the USPS announced plans to close half of its processing facilities in an effort to shift First Class mail to a two- to three-day standard for destinations in the continental United States. 

The Postal Service says this change will allow them to save $2 billion, which will help in their efforts to reduce operating costs by $20 billion by 2015.  Despite it being the most profitable category of mail, First Class mail is on the decline.  Volume was down to 78 billion pieces last year, with projections of 53 billion in 2016 and 39 billion by 2020.  They insist that the changes to First Class mail, which is also scheduled to receive a postage increase in January 2012, will have only a small impact on the "average postal customer." 

Most nonprofits use Standard Nonprofit mail for their direct mail solicitations, so it's unclear what the response will be from the nonprofit community.  Tony Conway, executive director of the Association of Nonprofit Mailers (ANM), said the USPS has “all these plants to handle all this mail that’s declining every year."  He went on to say: “They need to downsize the network. That drove the whole decision.”  We are continuing to check the pulse of nonprofits, and will update our story when we get more reaction.  Stay tuned.  In the mean time, let us know what you think of this news.

Nonprofit And For-Profit Newsrooms Working Together

Nonprofit organizations partnering with for-profit corporations is nothing new but in recent years they've become more commonplace.  When there is a common goal, these partnerships can be very fruitful.  And now, for-profit and nonprofit newsrooms are discovering they need each other.

The PBS website MediaShift, in conjunction with the Investigative Reporting Program, conducted a roundtable discussion with local media experts on this subject.  With budgets tightening at newsrooms across the country, established media outlets are finding they don't have the resources for extensive investigative reports.  Spending six months on a story isn't exactly the best way to make money.  That's where nonprofit news organizations come in. 

Sites like the Voice of San Diego and the St. Louis Beacon have been popping up, filling the gap in investigative journalism.  Major news outlets, not wanting to lose this area of reporting entirely, have found that working with these nonprofit news sites makes for a partnership that benefits both sides.  This benefit can be seen in a recent project by Frontline, an investigation show hosted on PBS.  They worked with PBS, The Guardian, and CBC on a project, and found that they were able to accomplish a lot more by sharing resources.

It's not all roses and sunshine, though.  Mary Walter-Brown, who works at the Voice of San Diego, spoke to the roundtable discussion about her experience partnering with a local NBC affiliate.  They would often have people from the Voice as experts, but Brown says they still have trouble getting them to explain their mission to viewers. It seems some fledgling news organizations seeking nonprofit status also are having difficulty explaining their mission to the IRS.

We recommend that you read the rest of the roundtable discussion on PBS's website.  What do you think of the stories they shared there?  Has your organization had similar experiences in their partnerships with for-profits?

MBA Programs Pair Students With Nonprofit Boards

Nonprofit boards are trying to get an influx of youth.  That goal may be within reach thanks to help from MBA programs.

According to an article in Bloomberg Business Week, schools with MBA programs in nonprofit management are teaming up with local nonprofit boards.  The article cites the example of Columbia Business School's Nonprofit Leadership Program, which pairs 30 MBA students with a local nonprofit board each year.  Ryan Bell, who attended the school in the Fall of 2010, was assigned to the board of Friends of the Children of New York.

Bell didn't just attend meetings while serving as a Board Fellow; he also assisted the board's fundraising committee by analyzing the organization's five-year strategic plan.  His assistance played a key role in developing a new evaluation system for students, which ultimately resulting in $275,000 in additional funding.  All this was done at the end of his one-year term.

Programs like the one at Columbia are becoming more popular as nonprofit boards are seeing it as an opportunity to connect with a younger audience.  We had written an article a couple of years back that showed that only 2 percent of nonprofit boards have members younger than 30.  Make sure to check that out to get a better sense of the age disparity at nonprofit boards.

If you want to read the full article on Board Fellow programs, check out the Bloomberg Business Week website.

Accommodating Your Youth Volunteers

The job market is proving difficult for everybody, and college students are no exception.  That's why the amount of time they volunteered increased from 2009 to 2010, according to USA Today.  Volunteering remains a popular way for young people to keep themselves busy while they are looking for work.  It also looks great to nonprofits on a resume.  With the number of youth volunteers increasing, nonprofits need to come up with ways to accommodate them.

In his book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Recruiting and Managing Volunteers, John L. Lipp offered some ways that nonprofits can accomplish this goal:

• It all starts with flexibility.  If the volunteer is still taking classes, it might be tough for them to commit more than two hours.  This is especially the case near the end of the semester, when work loads typically increase.
• Lipp says that most young people like working together, so pair up students to promote teamwork skills.
• Keep your volunteers engaged by making mundane tasks more fun.  For example, have an envelope stuffing party with pizza and videos.
• Involving youth volunteers not only addresses short-term needs of an organization, but also long-term needs. Try to engage these volunteers as best as possible so they will turn to your organization in the future when they have disposable income.

Make sure to read the full article on this subject over on our website.  This is a very valuable subject in this day and age.