The Nonprofit FAQ

List of Books on Volunteerism
Susan Ellis of Energize, Inc., compiled this annotated list of more
than 30 titles for the Internet Nonprofit Center in 1996.

NOTE: Compiled by Susan J. Ellis, of http://www.energizeinc.com">Energize, Inc., in the Fall of 1996.

During the past decade there has been a steady increase
in the number of publications related to volunteer
management. The majority of these titles are directed
at the person who is developing a "volunteer program"
within an agency that also has paid staff. However,
some books address the specific concerns of leaders in
all-volunteer or predominantly-volunteer organizations.
Many of the books about nonprofit agency "boardsmanship"
will also be helpful to the officer of a less formal
organization as well.




The following is a starting point for a collection of
basic books about being a leader of volunteers either in
an agency or in an all-volunteer group. All are
available through mail order. The two major sources of
materials are the annual "Volunteer Energy Resource
Catalog" from Energize, Inc. (5450 Wissahickon Avenue,
Philadelphia, Pa 19144; call 1-800-395-9800 for the free
catalog) and the "Volunteer Community Service Catalog"
from the Points of Light Foundation (1400 I
Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, 1-800-272-8306).


  • Brudney, Jeffrey L. Managing Volunteer Programs in the
    Public Sector. Jossey-Bass, 1990.
    One of the few books to address the fact that
    volunteers are integral to government agencies as well
    as to nonprofit organizations. Introduces the basics of
    volunteer program development in the public arena.

  • Campbell, Katherine Noyes and Susan J. Ellis. The
    (Help!) I-Don't-Have-Enough-Time Guide to Volunteer
    Management. Energize, Inc., 1995.
    Outlines the responsibilities and tasks of a
    leader of volunteers and suggests ways to share the
    work, particularly for someone running a volunteer
    program on a part-time basis. Shows how to build a
    volunteer management team.

  • Dalsimer, John Paul, CPA. Self-Help Accounting: A
    Guide for the Volunteer Treasurer. Philadelphia:
    Energize, 1989.
    Written for the non-accountant who is the treasurer
    of a small- to medium-size organization. Covers the
    basics of what the job entails, how to keep financial
    records and make financial reports.
  • Devney, Darcy Campion. Organizing Special Events and
    Conferences: A Practical Guide for Busy Volunteers and
    Staff. Pineapple Press, 1990.
    Comprehensive guidebook for how to plan and run
    just about any type of event. Many checklists and
    practical pointers.
  • Devney, Darcy Campion. The Volunteer's Survival Manual:
    The Only Practical Guide to Giving Your Time and Money.
    The Practical Press, 1992.
    Helps anyone looking for volunteer work to assess
    his or her needs, wishes and skills and to locate the
    best volunteer position to match them.

  • Ellis, Susan J. The Board's Role in Effective Volunteer
    Involvement. National Center for Nonprofit Boards,
    1995.
    Outlines why and how the board of directors of a
    nonprofit organization should involve itself in planning
    for and decision-making about volunteer participation.
  • Ellis, Susan J. From the Top Down: The Executive Role
    in Volunteer Program Success, revised edition.
    Energize, Inc., 1996.
    Only book addressed to the top decision-makers of
    an organization and covering the things necessary to lay
    a foundation for successful volunteer involvement.
    Includes budgeting and resource allocation,
    employee/volunteer relationships, liability and legal
    issues.
  • Ellis, Susan J. The Volunteer Recruitment Book, 2nd ed.
    Energize, Inc., 1996.
    Comprehensive discussion of how to plan and carry
    out an effective volunteer recruitment campaign for any
    type of organization or target population. Has a
    complete chapter on membership development for all-
    volunteer groups.

  • Flanagan, Joan. The Successful Volunteer Organization.
    Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1984.
    Guidebook for setting up and running an all-
    volunteer organization or the beginning of a new
    nonprofit organization. Covers a wide range of topics
    from legal issues to running meetings.
  • Fisher, James C. and Kathleen M. Cole. Leadership and
    Management of Volunteer Programs: A Guide for Volunteer
    Administrators. Jossey-Bass, 1993.
    Written as a textbook, this is also a manual for
    practitioners. Systematically examines and explains the
    functions of volunteer management.
  • Graff, Linda L. By Definition: Policies for Volunteer
    Programs. Volunteer Ontario, 1993.
    Although Canadian, this manual provides universal
    pointers for how to determine areas of volunteer program
    development needing policy formation and how to
    articulate those policies.
  • Graff, Linda L. Policy Development for Volunteer
    Services AudioWorkshop. Graff & Associates, 1996.
    A follow-up piece to By Definition (above), this
    audiotape and accompanying guide provide more in-depth
    discussion of how to develop policies for volunteer
    programs.
  • Grubbs, Arlene and Evelyn Levine. The Volunteer
    Recognition Skit Kit. Energize, Inc., 1992.
    Seven ready-to-produce skits created for volunteer
    recognition events. Full scripts with reworked lyrics
    to well-known songs.
  • Kilpatrick, Joseph and Sanford Danziger. Better than
    Money Can Buy: The New Volunteers. Innersearch
    Publishing, 1996.
    Presentation of the experience of the Human Service
    Alliance in North Carolina in running a self-sustaining,
    all-volunteer hospice program. Provides insight into a
    different non-hierarchal way of organizing volunteers.
  • MacKenzie, Marilyn and Gail Moore. The Group Member's
    Handbook. Partners Plus, 1993.
    Guide to being both a successful leader and an
    effective follower in an all-volunteer organization.
    Emphasizes techniques of shared leadership.
  • MacKenzie, Marilyn and Gail Moore. The Volunteer
    Development Toolbox. Partners Plus, 1993.
    Overview of the elements of running a volunteer
    program with many suggestions and resources.
  • McCurley, Steve and Rick Lynch. Volunteer Management:
    Mobilizing All the Resources of the Community. Heritage
    Arts Publishing, 1996.
    Comprehensive discussion of each of the functions
    of volunteer program development and management.
    Extensive appendix with hundreds of books and
    organizational resources.
  • Patterson, John with Charles Tremper and Pam Rypkema.
    Staff Screening Tool Kit: Keeping Bad Apples Out of
    Your Organization. Nonprofit Risk Management Center,
    1994.
    Guidebook for how to screen and select appropriate
    employees and volunteers, particularly in situations in
    which an organization needs to protect vulnerable
    clients. Covers legal and ethical issues.
  • Scheier, Ivan H. Building Staff/Volunteer Relations.
    Energize, Inc., 1993.
    Discussion of how and why volunteer/employee
    relationships can deteriorate and what to do to build
    teamwork. Practical suggestions for analyzing paid and
    volunteer work in order to develop the best volunteer
    assignments.
  • Scheier, Ivan H. When Everyone's a Volunteer: The
    Effective Functioning of All-Volunteer Groups.
    Energize, Inc., 1992.
    Written for the small, often informal volunteer
    group, this book goes against conventional wisdom and
    suggests ways to share ownership and leadership,
    maximize resources, and prevent burnout.
  • Stallings, Betty. The 55-Minute Training Series:
    Training Staff to Success with Volunteers. Stallings &
    Associates, 1996.
    Ten training modules on key elements of volunteer
    management with full designs, trainer instructions, and
    camera-ready handouts. Accompanied by the book,
    Training Busy Staff to Succeed with Volunteers, which
    explains how to approach staff training from an adult
    education model.
  • Tremper, Charles and Gwynne Kostin. No Surprises:
    Controlling Risks in Volunteer Programs. Nonprofit Risk
    Management Center, 1993.
    Concise and practical handbook explaining the
    possible risks in each step of volunteer program
    development and management, with suggested ways to limit
    or manage those risks.
  • Vineyard, Sue. Beyond Banquets, Plaques and Pins:
    Creative Ways to Recognize Volunteers and Staff!
    Heritage Arts Publishing, Revised 1994.
    Guide to the different motivations of volunteers
    and how recognition should match individual needs.
    Includes lists of ideas for showing appreciation.
  • Vineyard, Sue and Stephen McCurley, eds. Managing
    Volunteer Diversity: A Rainbow of Opportunities.
    Heritage Arts Publishing, 1992.
    Collection of essays by various authors on working
    with volunteers of all types: different racial and
    ethnic populations, people with disabilities, and other
    aspects of diversity.
  • White, Barbara J. and Edward Madara. The Self-Help
    SourceBook: Finding and Forming Mutual Aid Self-Help
    Groups, 5th edition. American Self-Help Clearinghouse,
    1995.
    Comprehensive listing of self-help organizations in
    the United States, now including those in cyberspace.
    Provides a full section on how to create and run a self-
    help group.
  • Wilson, Marlene. The Effective Management of Volunteer
    Programs. Volunteer Management Associates, 1976.
    The first book to outline the elements of volunteer
    program management. While dated in many respects, still
    provides relevant insight and advice.
  • Wolfe, Joan. Making Things Happen: How to Be an
    Effective Volunteer. Island Press, 1991.
    Helps leaders of all-volunteer groups to increase
    their skills at motivating fellow members. Chapters on
    recruitment, media relations, and de-mystifying Roberts
    Rules.
  • Wroblewski, Celeste J. The Seven Rs of Volunteer
    Development. YMCA of the USA, 1994.
    Large manual with hundreds of questionnaires and
    checklists to guide any organization through the
    decision-making and planning necessary to establish an
    effective volunteer program. Includes an audiotape on
    barriers to volunteering and a brief video about YMCA
    volunteers.



For those of you who have a special interest in history,
here are three unique titles:



  • Charles, Jeffrey A. Service Clubs in American Society:
    Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions. University of Illinois
    Press, 1993.
  • Ellis, Susan J. and Katherine H. Noyes. By the People:
    A History of Americans as Volunteers. Revised ed.
    Jossey-Bass, 1990.
  • Scott, Anne Firor. Natural Allies: Women's
    Associations in American History. University of
    Illinois Press, 1992.


For additional references to publications about nonprofits, see the relevant section of The Nonprofit FAQ at
http://www.idealist.org/en/faqcat/77-99 .




Posted 1/21/99; list moved here 2/14/05 -- PB