Professional Development

Manager Training

Training is an important key to effective volunteer management. See below for volunteer manager training opportunities in Iowa.

Through Community Colleges

• DMACC Community Leadership Certificate Program in Volunteer Management

This specialist certificate program is designed for anyone interested in improving their management skills when working with volunteers and volunteer programs. Areas covered include starting a volunteer program, recruiting and recognizing volunteers, evaluating and supporting volunteers and developing your program. Completion of the certificate program includes successful completion of the six core courses in the series along with additional training.

For more information, visit DMACC’s site at http://www.dmacc.edu/conteddesc/

• Kirkwood Community College Continuing Education Classes on Working with Volunteers

Among the Business Careers courses in the Business & Professional Development section are classes on Recruiting, Screening, and Placing Volunteers; Orientation and Training of Volunteers; and others dealing with the development and management of volunteer programs. Check in with Kirkwood to find out the most recent course schedule.

For more information, visit Kirkwood’s site at http://kirkwood.augusoft.net/

Through Local Volunteer Centers

Iowa currently has several Hands On Network Member Action Centers. While Iowa has many volunteer connector organizations, the centers on this list have received the affiliation from the national organization. Often, these centers offer their own Volunteer Management training. You may find out more information on each by visiting their websites or contacting them using the information listed below. To find a complete list of affiliated centers across the country, visit the Hands On Network website at: http://www.handsonnetwork.org/actioncenters/find.

• Volunteer Center of Story County
  130 S. Sheldon Avenue
  Ames, Iowa 50014-7287
  (515) 268-5323
  Visit web site

• Volunteer Center of Johnson County
  1150 5th Street, Ste. 290
  Coralville, Iowa 52241
  (319) 337-8657
  Visit web site

• United Way of Central Iowa Volunteer Engagement
  1111 9th Street, Suite 100
  Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2527
  (515) 246-6519
  Visit web site

• Voluntary Action Center of the Iowa Great Lakes, Inc
  800 21st Street
  Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360
  (712) 336-4444
  Visit web site

• Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley
  2101 Kimball Avenue, Suite 142
  Waterloo, Iowa 50702-5052
  (319) 272-2087
  Visit web site

ICVS trainings

The ICVS often sponsors sessions on professional volunteer management at our annual conference. Visit the Training and Recognition section of our website to learn more.

Volunteer Manager Networking/Associations
DOVIAS (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies). Many local communities have associations that serve to link volunteer managers to discuss best practices and network.

• Contact the ICVS at icvs@iowa.gov or 1.800.308.5987 to find out about local associations in your area.

Volunteer Training
Training and professional development opportunities should not be limited to volunteer managers, but should be offered to volunteers themselves. Many people volunteer as a way to improve their skills, or develop their abilities in a new area.

All volunteers at your organization should be offered an initial orientation. Beyond the initial orientation, however, you should also offer ongoing training opportunities. You can be creative—not all training sessions must be provided on-site or in-person. Make use of your partners, online resources, and the skills of other volunteers in order to provide opportunities to enhance and develop the skills of your volunteers.

For more volunteer training resources, visit the National Service Resource Center at: http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/volunteer-training