Infrastructure to Support Volunteering

The term "infrastructure" is often used to describe the various national and local resources established to support volunteers, volunteer-involving agencies, and managers of volunteer resources.  These include "peak bodies" such as National Offices or Centers for Volunteering, professional associations of VRMs, university programs teaching about the field, and more.

21st-Century Networks, Sarah J. Butler
Advocacy for Volunteer Involvement: The Role of Funders, Susan J. Ellis
The Big Merger: Many Unanswered Questions, Susan J. Ellis
A Call to Action on Behalf of Our Profession, Susan J. Ellis
Chicken or Egg: Why Are Our Professional Associations Weak?, Susan J. Ellis
Continuous Learning Is Not Optional, Susan J. Ellis
The Division of Labor between Volunteer Centers and Volunteer-Involving Organizations, Susan J. Ellis
Educating Other Professions about Volunteers: Starting at the Source, Susan J. Ellis
Find the Money for Priceless Conferencing, Susan J. Ellis
Global Connections - International Volunteerism, Susan J. Ellis
If Google Can’t Find the People Who Lead Volunteers, No One Can, Susan J. Ellis
I'll help with that, but don't ask me to lead it!, Susan J. Ellis
Let's All Resolve..., Susan J. Ellis
Let's Commit to International Exchange, Susan J. Ellis
Mixed Messages from Government: Lessons from Minnesota, Susan J. Ellis
The More We're Different, the More We're the Same, Susan J. Ellis
Moving on from 2001, Susan J. Ellis
Mystifying Data: Can America's Promise Get Away with It?, Susan J. Ellis
The Need for Institutional Memory, Susan J. Ellis
The Presidents' Summit One Year Later, Susan J. Ellis
Reinventing Conferences, Susan J. Ellis
Seeking Funder Support for Volunteer Engagement? Assess Your Approach!, Betsy McFarland
Should Volunteer Program Managers Be Volunteers, Too?, Susan J. Ellis
Some Nagging Questions..., Susan J. Ellis
Statistics, Bikinis and Volunteers: The New Independent Sector Study on Giving and Volunteering, Susan J. Ellis
Three Great Days: Reflections after the Summit on Volunteer Engagement Leadership, Susan J. Ellis
Turbulence at the State Level, Susan J. Ellis
Turning a Gift into a Powerful Tool: The Internet-related's Impact on the Volunteer Field, Susan J. Ellis
United Way is Not the Way for Volunteer Centers, Susan J. Ellis
A Utopian View of Volunteerism Professional Organizations, Susan J. Ellis
Warning! We're about to Waste an Opportunity!, Susan J. Ellis
What I Learned about Online Resources for Volunteer Management (While Updating the New Energize, Inc. Web Site), Susan J. Ellis
What's Gender Got to Do with It?, Susan J. Ellis
What's the Mystery about Motivation?, Susan J. Ellis
Who is Celebrating IYV? Connecting the "Streams of Service", Susan J. Ellis
Why a New Association Should Serve the USA, Susan J. Ellis
Wishes and Resolves for the New Year, Susan J. Ellis
Wouldn't It Be Nice to Really Know, Susan J. Ellis

A "State of Volunteering Report" for 2014, produced by the Institute of Project Management for Volunteering Tasmania, Australia. Looks at the "value" of volunteers beyond financial.

, 2014, pp. 125

Produced by the Institute of Project Management for Volunteering WA. Comprehensive look at the "value"--beyond financial--of volunteer services. Report has nice infographics at the start and an executive summary.

, 2015, pp. 164

In 2012 the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration (MAVA) conducted its first study on volunteerism in rural Minnesota. The purpose of the survey was to learn what was changing in rural volunteerism, strategies being used to address the changes and current perspectives on rural volunteerism. The site offers a summary of findings, the report itself, and related articles.

, 2012

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the United Nations-declared "International Year of Volunteers," United Nations Volunteers (UNV) conducted an extensive research project to produce this unique overview of volunteering in 80 countries around the world. Sub-titled "Universal Values for Global Well-being," the report examines the important contributions of volunteers in diverse fields such as sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion, social cohesion and disaster risk reduction. By suggesting how volunteerism can be taken forward, the SWVR also provides an alternative vision of a better society.

Download chapter by chapter or the entire document.

, 2011, pp. 148
By Susan J. Ellis. Provides a complete discussion of the role of a volunteer center and how to plan strategically for one. When the United Way of America let this book go out of print, Susan received permission to make it available online free of charge. Despite the dated title, the material is still very pertinent today for anyone starting or re-assessing a volunteer center. , 1989, pp. 97
Campus Compact

Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. As the only national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, Campus Compact promotes public and community service that develops students’ citizenship skills, helps campuses forge effective community partnerships, and provides resources and training for faculty seeking to integrate civic and community-based learning into the curriculum. Campus Compact’s membership includes public, private, two- and four-year institutions across the spectrum of higher education.

National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE)

A nonprofit membership association of educators, businesses, and community leaders. Founded in 1971, NSEE also serves as a national resource center for the development and improvement of experiential education programs nationwide.

ServiceSpace Blog

"ServiceSpace was conceived by volunteers, was built by volunteers, and is run by volunteers -- all for the benefit of volunteers. Our projects range from a daily positive news service, to an acts-of-kindness portal, to a gift-economy restaurant." The blog is an exchange of reflections among volunteers about inspiration and service.

Vantage Point Blog

This community blog from Vancouver, BC focuses on voluntary sector issues, leadership, organizations, and people engagement.

VM Voice Blog & Comment

Blog written by members of the Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM) in the UK- "a voice, a resource and a network in volunteer management."

Volunteer NOW - Developing Volunteering

Free downloadable publications, checklists, and tools for volunteer management from this Northern Ireland peak body.

Volunteering Australia - Volunteer Managers

Range of articles (PDFs) on various aspects of volunteer management.

Volunteering England Employer Supported Volunteering Resource Hub

Wide range of articles, guides, reports, and more for those running workplace volunteer efforts -- both for the companies and for the volunteer-involving organizations.

Volunteering England Good Practice Bank

For volunteers and volunteer managers looking for advice and information about how to support volunteering -- find articles, information sheets, case studies and links to other helpful guidance or external websites

World Volunteer Web - UN Volunteers

As a follow up to the International Year of Volunteers 2001, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) has created a comprehensive Web site offering continuing news of worldwide volunteer efforts, including government actions, research reports, and links to international volunteer resources.

Print and e-Books in Our Store

Book cover for From the Top Down

From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Successful Volunteer Involvement

Outlines the key executive decisions necessary to lay the foundation for successful volunteer involvement: policies, budgeting, staffing, employee-volunteer relationships, legal issues, cost and value of volunteers, and more.