Creating a Volunteer-Friendly Church Culture (Book)
Marlene Wilson, Author. Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, 2004.

Creating a Volunteer-Friendly Church Culture is the first in Marlene Wilson’s latest "volunteer leadership" series. This volume focuses on those most-needed elements for voluntarism to thrive in congregations. Wilson’s many years of experience as a volunteer management educator and consultant richly inform this series, which also includes these books: How to Energize Your Volunteer Ministry; Volunteer Job Descriptions and Action Plans; Volunteer Recruitment, Interviewing, and Placement; Volunteer Orientation and Training; and Volunteer Encouragement, Evaluations, and Accountability. Volumes may be purchased individually or as a set.
 

The Effective Management of Volunteer Programs (Book)
Marlene Wilson, Author. Boulder, CO: Volunteer Management Associates, 1976.

Marlene Wilson's classic guide, written nearly thirty years ago, distills best practices in volunteer management and is still highly relevant. From this and similar resources for non-profit organizations, congregations continue to learn a great deal about the field. Readers new to volunteer management will find a thorough introduction and ready resource here. Wilson discusses motivation, interviewing, setting goals, designing jobs, evaluation, and awareness of organizational climate. Readily accessible worksheets and easily understandable diagrams add to the usability.
 

Energize, Inc. (Organization)

Energize is an international training, consulting, and publishing firm specializing in voluntarism. Its Web site includes the latest news about volunteer management—as well as articles, a library, a bookstore, descriptions of job opportunities, and a set of downloadable resources to support volunteer management. In the library section, there are links to specific faith-based articles and resources.

How to Take Care of You . . . So You Can Take Care of Others (Book)
Sue Vineyard, Author. Downers Grove, IL: Heritage Arts Publishing, 1989.

Sue Vineyard believes that workers and volunteers in a variety of venues are at high risk of physical, emotional, and spiritual depletion. Their own self-care is often sacrificed while they endeavor to meet the needs of others. Drawing on her experience as a trainer and consultant in volunteer management, Vineyard interweaves illustrative stories with self reflection tools and practical suggestions as she explores change, stress, and methods of gaining balance in our lives. The book will be of interest for people seeking greater self-care and leaders seeking to build healthier systems for volunteers and caregivers.
 

In It for the Long Haul: Building Effective Long-term Pastorates (Book)
Glenn Ludwig, Author. Bethesda, MD: The Alban Institute, 2002.

Although the book as a whole is aimed at the challenges and opportunities of ministers engaged in long-term pastorates, chapter 7 ("Where Two or Three Gather: Supervising and Nurturing Church Staffs and Volunteers") focuses on how leaders can encourage volunteers to develop their gifts while making sure that important congregational tasks are completed.
 

Planning It Safe: How to Control Liability and Risk in Volunteer Programs (Book)
St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Office of Citizenship and Volunteer Services, 1998.

Planning It Safe—co-sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and an office of the Minnesota Department of Administration—is billed as offering "concrete suggestions for managing legal risk and liability concerns of volunteer programs." Despite its state-based sponsorship, the suggestions will be of value to organizations nationwide (including faith communities) that employ volunteer services.
 

Volunteer Management Associates (Organization)

Dedicated to providing volunteer management training and resources, Volunteer Management Associates leads workshops on topics such as mobilizing church volunteers, delegating responsibility, collaborative team building, and stress and time management. It also publishes and distributes books. Its Web site gives complete information about products and services. Whether seeking a few helpful tips on volunteer management or guidelines on revamping a volunteer program, congregational leaders can benefit from this organization's offerings.

Volunteer Management Capacity in America's Charities and Congregations: A Briefing Report (Report)
Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 2004.

Conducted by the Urban Institute for the UPS Foundation, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the USA Freedom Corps, this study explores the use of volunteers by charities and congregations, the challenges to volunteer mobilization, volunteer management practices, and the potential for growth offered by volunteers. Click here for a print-ready version of the report, using the free download, Adobe Acrobat.
 

The Volunteer Recruitment (and Membership Development) Book (Book)
Susan J. Ellis, Author. Philadelphia, PA: Energize, Inc., 2002.

Susan Ellis provides an overview of general strategies and techniques for recruiting volunteers. Any good recruitment effort requires preparation—including organizational assessment, the design of volunteer roles and responsibilities, and knowing where to look for volunteers. The book's appendix features an "Outreach in Cyberspace" section that discusses ways to use your Web site for attracting volunteers and ways to use various Internet tools (such as e-mails and listservs) for volunteer recruitment.
 

Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them (Book)
Helen Little, Author. Naperville, IL: Panacea Press, 1999.

Helen Little makes the case that all volunteers and volunteer leaders share twelve basic needs that must be met if they are to serve effectively and remain with the service organization for an extended period of time. Among these needs: a specific, manageable task; a task that matches a volunteer's interests; a good reason for doing the task; and an opportunity to provide feedback when the task is finished. The author also discusses how to plan for leadership succession. Descriptive examples and useful tools (including a self-evaluation checklist) fill this easy-to-read manual.