Nonprofit leaders who oversee volunteers are the backbone of countless community initiatives, ensuring that social, cultural, and health-related programs flourish. These dedicated professionals manage, coordinate, and inspire volunteers, driving mission success and making a tangible difference in the lives of many. Yet, despite their vital contributions, volunteer resource professionals often feel undervalued and overlooked. Recognizing their work through an official occupational job code is a crucial step toward providing the acknowledgment and support they deserve.
Certifications, professional associations, and journals exist to validate the expertise and professionalism within this field. However, formal recognition by the Department of Labor's US Bureau of Labor Statistics is still lacking. A current advocacy effort, spearheaded by the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (ALiVE), aims to change that. This post highlights their efforts and calls for collective action to elevate the profession and gain the recognition volunteer management professionals rightfully deserve.
The Value of Volunteer Leadership
Volunteer leaders are in possession of a unique skill set, personality, and leadership ability that enable them to effectively manage a large unpaid workforce across a variety of industries.
Those who lead volunteers have a diverse and complex role, involving the recruitment, training, coordination, supervision, and leadership of financially uncompensated community members, often done while also navigating the rigors of a regulated system. Volunteer labor is contextually different than paid labor.
Leaders of volunteers are often some of the most resourceful and aware problem-solvers within their organizations. They are community relationship builders, adept at outreach to both external and internal stakeholders, and excel at inspiring and continually motivating their unpaid workforce to embrace the mission. Creative problem solvers by nature, leaders of volunteers produce low-cost solutions to meet community needs by leveraging limited budgets and small staff resources.
Professional credentialing, such as the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential and the Certified Administrator of Volunteer Services (CAVS) credential already help to underscore this expertise, but further recognition at a federal level is essential.
The Importance of a Nonprofit Volunteer Management Job Code
The absence of an occupational code for volunteer administration professionals means that their full impact and value are not adequately recognized. This is a huge gap in the world of occupational data collection. Without a code, the nonprofit volunteer management job does not exist in the world of data economics.
The recently published 2024 Volunteer Management Progress Report by VolPro, reporting on the state of the profession, made note of the challenges that volunteer leaders have in defining strategic focus and garnering buy-in. The lack of a formally recognized occupation may be partly to blame for these collectively expressed feelings of being undervalued and overlooked.
An official occupational code would provide formal recognition, validating the profession and acknowledging the abilities required to manage volunteer resources effectively.
Creating clearer career pathways is another significant benefit. An occupational code would help standardize job titles, roles, and responsibilities, making it easier for professionals to advance in their careers and for organizations to recruit and retain talent. This standardization would provide a structured framework for career development, enabling professionals to navigate their paths with greater clarity and confidence.
Moreover, recognizing volunteer administration as a formal profession would elevate its importance in the eyes of policymakers, funders, and the public. This increased awareness could lead to greater advocacy efforts and a broader understanding of the vital role these professionals play in our communities. The formal recognition would serve as a testament to the essential work carried out by volunteer administration professionals and their societal impact.
Steps to Advocate for an Occupational Code
Advocating for an occupational code requires a collective effort from all stakeholders in the volunteer administration field.
ALiVE has made this effort really easy to support. They recently held a webinar specifically focused on this initiative that sparked my interest. You do not need to be a member of ALiVE to access the resources available on their advocacy page.
Here’s how to get involved:
1. Access the Resources.
Download the prepared comment that has been written. You’ll need to upload this when you add your own comment in support of it.
Use the advocacy template that provides already prepared written comments for you to use to voice your support.
Watch the webinar that was recorded on August 1. You can access the recording and slide deck on the resource page.
2. Submit Your Commentary: Submit your feedback directly to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics by August 12 at 11:59 AM Eastern.
Go to Regulations.gov and submit your comment in support of this initiative. Enter docket # BLS-2024-0001 in the search bar to bring you to the initiative.
To demonstrate how quick and easy it is to add your voice of support, I've provided a walkthrough:
3. Get Others Involved: The more voices advocating for this cause, the stronger the impact will be. Spread the word and share resources and templates with colleagues and other stakeholders.
Summary
Those in nonprofits who lead volunteers deserve recognition for their indispensable role in fostering community engagement and organizational success. By advocating for an official occupational job code through the Bureau of Labor, we can help ensure nonprofit volunteer management professionals receive the support, resources, and acknowledgment they deserve. As an advocate for leaders of volunteers, I am in support of this initiative to elevate the field, creating a more structured and recognized profession that continues to inspire and drive positive change in our communities.
Roseanna Galindo is Principal at Periscope Business Process Analysis, specializing in organizational learning and development. She is dedicated to advancing data literacy, enhancing healthcare experiences, and empowering volunteer leaders. Explore Roseanna’s expertise and insights on her blog, The Periscope Insighter, starting with the opening post, "Venn the Time is Right."
Roseanna offers a range of professional development services, including training workshops, keynote speaking, and executive coaching.
Visit PeriscopeBPA.com for more information or click on the button below to schedule a time to talk.
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