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=**Online resources regarding volunteer management**=


 * The //Last// Virtual Volunteering Guidebook is available for purchase as a paperback and an ebook from Energize, Inc. ** It is the most comprehensive publication available regarding virtual volunteering, including online microvolunteering (micro tasks completed by online volunteers), virtual teams and crowd sourcing for the benefit of nonprofits, government agencies and other mission-based programs. The book is filled with case studies and guidelines regarding engaging and supporting volunteers using Internet / networking tools that are based on the work of many different organizations across the USA and around the world. The purpose of the book is to be a practical guide for programs that want to involve online volunteers, or want to expand that involvement, but it also has a great deal of information that will be of use to those researching issues related to virtual volunteering, online civic engagement, online mentoring, microvolunteering, remote volunteers, crowd-sourcing for good, etc.

This wiki is not meant to be a substitute for the book. Rather, it is a supplement to what is provided in the book, and focuses on information that changes rapidly, such as web sites and online resources.

Understanding the basics of volunteer management is essential to success with online volunteers. This is an index of of online resources the guidebook authors consider most essential, and it is broken into three categories:


 * **Web sites (not interactive)**
 * **Blogs**
 * **Online discussion groups (interactive)**


 * Web sites (not interactive)**

Coyote Communications Volunteerism Resources Author Jayne Cravens' own frequently-updated Web site with information about supporting and engaging volunteers, among other subjects that are a focus of her work. The site includes an extensive list of research that has been done by various people and institutions regarding online volunteering, a comprehensive list of volunteer management software, and links to her blog, Facebook account, Twitter feed, and whatever new online tool she thinks looks promising.

Energize, Inc. Author Susan Ellis is president and founder of Energize, Inc., which offers the largest Web site in the world focused exclusively on information for leaders of volunteers in any setting. With over 1200 free site pages, it provides an extensive online library and annotated lists of links, directories of volunteer-related resources around the globe, visitor-contributed quotes and stories, and much more. There is also an Online Bookstore with dozens of titles, most available as e-books. Subscribe to the free monthly Update and follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. National Service Resource Center

nationalserviceresources.org/ Site created for USA national service programs (Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, etc.) but with resources that can be helpful to any service/volunteering initiative. There is an extensive online library of sample forms and policies, as well as articles, profiles of suggested practices, and lists of conferences, online discussion groups, print materials and other related Web sites.

Nonprofit Risk Management Center The Center offers: books on volunteer risk-related subjects; free online tutorials, including a volunteer risk management self-assessment tool; an e-newsletter; and answers risk and insurance questions.

ServiceLeader.org A project of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs of the University of Texas at Austin. ServiceLeader.org offers a range of practical and research information about volunteer management and keeps the original Virtual Volunteering Project archives available for access.

Volunteer Canada volunteer.ca Though produced for Canadians, Volunteer Canada’s Web site is currently the most useful source of good volunteer management information of any of the world’s national “peak body” sites—and is available in French as well as English. VolunteerMatch

www.volunteermatch.org One of the most established and largest online registries of volunteer opportunities in the United States, VolunteerMatch also offers many free webinars and other training resources to agencies and individual volunteers alike in its Learning Center. Under its original name of Impact Online, the organization pioneered the Virtual Volunteering Project in the early 1990s and remains the only volunteer matching site to offer listings and searches for virtual volunteer positions alongside onsite opportunities.

MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership www.mentoring.org Includes extensive information regarding the elements of effective practice for a mentoring program, all of which are appropriate and necessary for online mentoring programs.


 * Blogs (interactive web sites)**

Note, as well, that blogs (and, increasingly, micro-blogs) concerning volunteer issues are proliferating and provide a new source of valuable collegial exchange. Energize maintains an updated listing of the field’s blogs


 * Online Discussion Groups for Leaders of Volunteers**

Leaders of volunteers can easily interact online in wonderful ways, no matter their type of setting or where it is located. Energize maintains a list of these online discussions on its web site.


 * //The// Last //Virtual Volunteering Guidebook// ** has complete, detailed information on how to create and manage all kinds of online volunteers. ** //The// Last //Virtual Volunteering Guidebook// ** is ** available for purchase as a paperback and an ebook from Energize, Inc. **

This wiki is a collaborative space for sharing resources regarding virtual volunteering. Jayne and Susan would like to maintain this wiki in partnership with a nonprofit or university.