You are eager to bring more staff to your not-for-profit organisations. Currently you have twelve people of which only two have a degree in business. What characteristics would you look for in potential business candidates? What would you advise?

You are eager to bring more staff to your not-for-profit organisations. Currently you have twelve people of which only two have a degree in business. What characteristics would you look for in potential business candidates? What would you advise?

Volunteer is defined as a person who performs or offers to perform a service voluntarily. Volunteerism is a key component for most of the non-profit organisations and the board of governors is often a group of volunteers who are not paid. Volunteers also fill numerous roles at non-profit organisations, serving in a range of capacities from administration to fundraising and serving at events. Further, Volunteer commitments can be a matter of hours or lifelong commitments and are often valued more than monetary donations. Volunteers bring professional expertise and personal experiences which enhance these organisations. (Bussell and Forbes 2002, 244-257).  Currently, the organisation has only twelve people and the leader more staff is needed to bring into the not-for-profit organisation. The following list outlines four characteristics of potential volunteers that the organisation can look for.

First of all, leaders need to search for volunteers who have a giving spirit. It is important to remember that volunteers are giving to the organisations every time they serve. Time is one of the most valuable commodities people possess and when they volunteer, they are adding value to the organisations (McGarity 1997, 116-124).

In addition, the most important characteristic of an effective volunteer is their sincere empathy for other people. Individuals who have a genuine desire to help those in need are the most effective volunteers because their good intentions are evident through their manner of interacting with others (Dickinson, et al. 1998, 11-12). Penner (2002, 447-467) found that persons high in other-oriented empathy are more likely to volunteer, and to persist longer in volunteer role, than are other.

Moreover, leaders must find volunteers that will give the organisations a commitment. Commitment is the key to accomplishing great goals and making a difference. Before anything can be accomplished through a volunteer, there must be a commitment. Volunteers must commit to the organisations and the leader needs to commit to the volunteers. Finding people who are willing and able to make a commitment can take the organisations to higher levels (Allahyari 1996, 35-69).

Furthermore, leader should find the volunteer who has characteristic of optimism. A spirit of optimism is almost priceless in our modern society. One positive attitude volunteer can add the value of ten people just with their spirit alone. Volunteers who are optimistic add incredible value to the organisations and help raise the organisations to new levels (Totterdell, Wood and Wall 2006, 63-84).

On the other hand, due to the not-for-profit organisation only have two have a degree in business, therefore, it is suggested to recruit more staff that has business degree into the company. Volunteer with business degree often has the expertise in project management and budget management that can help a non profit manage complex projects involving social development and alleviating poverty, raise funds and more accurately measure program effectiveness. Also, they are able apply sophistically analysis to foundation performance and help the nonprofits organisation to develop processes and structures that allow the company to grow quickly (Perry 2007, 31). Therefore, it is important to hire more volunteer with business degree into the company.

Overall, without volunteer’s nonprofits organisations will never move forward. Recruiting the right volunteers and putting them in the right place makes all the difference. Leaders should look for specific qualities characteristic in volunteers:  giving spirit, dependability, commitment, and empathy. When leaders find volunteers that match these characteristics it will assist them in adding value to the organisations and allows them to move to a higher level.