Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration

Lessons from Faith Communities on Engaging and Empowering Volunteers

Martha Frickert and Steve Booth gave an inspiring and informative talk titled Lessons from Faith Communities on Engaging and Empowering Volunteers. The presentation focused on three key points: Understanding the Faith Community; Identifying and Cultivating Volunteers; and Strategies for Recruiting Volunteers.

Steve and Martha shared the importance of understanding faith communities, and the language they use. They advised that congregations are emotional systems. Many of us were introduced to Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, and emotional triangles. To cultivate leadership, it is important to understand the emotional “call” of your volunteer. Why are they volunteering? What do they hope to get out of the experience? Steve Booth explained that when reaching out to churches as a source for volunteers, it is important to know the congregation’s collective emotional “call”. That “call” is influenced by their local church culture. This includes their faith tradition, the history of their church, and their decision-making process. What is important to the church? What are their informing beliefs, principles and values? What is their mission/purpose? He stressed the importance of understanding their language. Steve went on to explain understanding what informs their faith helps to understand their “calling”, and how best to pair it with your corporate “calling” and mission.

Steve suggested that knowing what informs an individual’s faith is important for identifying and cultivating volunteers. Martha elaborated on this thinking by suggesting conversation with volunteers about which gifts (faith speak) they bring, or which skills, talents or interests (corporate speak) they have helps both parties find the best fit, or use of volunteers.

To best recruit volunteers from churches it is important the organization’s mission lines up with church’s mission. It was suggested that the best way to find churches with potential volunteers was to locate a volunteer in your organization who would champion your organization within their church. If they believe in your cause, and already volunteer, they will be a powerful advocate on your behalf.

Steve and Martha concluded their presentation by advising churches can also be a source of funding. Many larger churches have Endowment Funds, from which they draw scholarships or grant funding. They are usually smaller amounts, but have fewer restrictions.

Steve closed with dialogue suggestions to spark conversation at our April meeting. They are:

1. Bring a faith community’s mission or purpose statement.
2. Think of one or two faith communities that might be complimentary partners with your nonprofit.
3. Who might be a “champion” to approach in those faith communities?

Here is a link to their presentation.

March 1, 2018;
8:30-10:30am
First Baptist Church
2709 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220

Location & Parking: We will meet at First Baptist Church (FBC-Richmond) which is located at Monument and Boulevard. Parking is available at Robinson and Monument in the church parking lot. Then a short walk through the alley, cross Mulberry Street, and in the door with the awning. I believe we will be in Suite 220 on the 2nd floor. There is an info booth just inside which can offer directions.

Presenters: Martha J. Frickert, Founding Executive Director, Communities In Schools of Chesterfield (retired) and Ordained Elder, Salisbury Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Dr. Steve Booth, associate pastor, Christian Formation, Richmond’s First Baptist Church.

Drawing from more than 40 years of serving and leading with volunteers in multiple faith communities, Martha and Steve’s presentation will offer insights and strategies gleaned over their extensive experience as faith community leaders of volunteers. The presentation will highlight the uniqueness of a faith community context, how volunteers are identified and cultivated for mission and service, and strategies for recruiting volunteers from faith communities.

Martha J. Frickert was the founding executive director for Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chesterfield (retired), a non-profit public/private partnership serving at-risk youth and their families. She is skilled in strategic planning, program and board development, operations, funding, expansion, and evaluation, and has secured several awards for organizations with which she is affiliated. She is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond and has served on several nonprofit organizations in leadership roles. She currently serves on the YMCA Richmond Board of Directors, Salisbury Presbyterian Church Foundation Board of Directors, St. Francis Hospital Board, and Brandermill Rotary Club. She is an ordained elder at Salisbury Presbyterian Church and has led their Generosity Campaign. She is knowledgeable in establishing and maintaining linkages with national programs, state and local human services agencies plus the private sector including businesses, citizens, and volunteers developing 70+ partnerships within the business community as well as local/state government agencies

As the Associate Pastor for Christian Formation, Dr. Steve Booth leads a group of gifted
ministers and lay leaders in facilitating opportunities for learning, contemplation, and service designed to address and facilitate the formation of the whole person: head, heart, and hands. He provides leadership and direction in the areas of Bible study; discipleship, small groups; spiritual direction, individual and group retreats, new member orientation and assimilation, and the equipping of ministry leaders.

February Workshop “Engaging Youth & Young Professionals in your Nonprofit”: February 1, 2018

At our May meeting, we learned from our GRAVA member Marcos Martinez, Volunteer Coordinator at Higher Achievement, who wowed us with his innovative presentation discussing his hands on experience to streamline the volunteer data collection process to improve the volunteer program for Higher Achievement.

Marcos began with a brief Introduction and History of their efforts to get feedback from the volunteer mentors about their weekly experience. The challenges included a lengthy feedback form requested to be completed weekly, a lot of incomplete surveys, and too many variables to measure effectively.

He walked us through the Activities he pursued to address the challenges, and how he approached reducing the variables by connecting each question to the organization’s mission and the mentor’s role, to distill 20 questions down to just six.

Finally, Marcos presented the Action undertaken to use Excel to track the now streamlined feedback form, ongoing plans to leverage the data to improve volunteer satisfaction and retention, and future plans to further leverage technology and the survey data.

Marcos relied on these tools which he highly recommends:  Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring and the Youtube series: Excel Is Fun.

Marcos’ excellent presentation can be found here.

(If you are not familiar with viewing a Prezi presentation, click the arrows in the black band near the bottom of your screen to navigate through the presentation, or skip around to sections of interest.)

Many thanks to LaMont Sledge and Saint Paul’s Baptist Church, Creighton Campus, for so graciously hosting us in one of their classrooms on their beautiful campus!