With the world being connected at every turn it is now possible for your NFP to utilise volunteers who you may never meet. Virtual volunteering will never replace traditional volunteers that are needed for day to day functions, but it can alleviate a lot of financial stress on organisations by providing online and virtual support in roles that are not traditionally considered as volunteer roles.

Virtual volunteers can be utilised in ways that are not normally considered by organisations such as handling all social media requirements, online marketing and website design and maintenance. By embracing the fact that these types of roles do not need to be based in your office, you can not only save your organisation the cost of providing the infrastructure needed for these roles, but can also open your organisation up to receiving support from people who want to volunteer but are unable to physically attend your organisation.

Those willing to volunteer in these types of roles are usually people who are very computer literate, have their own equipment and enjoy the anonymity of helping a good cause without having to leave home. These roles are suited to people from all walks of life and perfect for those who have a disability that precludes them from physically taking part in volunteer roles.

If handled correctly from the outset, these roles can be as beneficial as traditional volunteer roles for both the volunteer and the organisation.

Before you decide to recruit virtual volunteers, you need to ensure the following:

1. That you put in place job/role descriptions detailing exactly what is expected from a virtual volunteer and what equipment they need to have to fulfill the role;

2. That you treat virtual volunteers no differently than in person volunteers in that they must undergo the necessary security clearance/checks before being tasked with any role within the organisation;

3. Allocate specific contacts within the organisation for them to liaise with regularly so you can ensure they are on track with what you require. They may not be in your office but you still need to monitor their work to ensure your organisation standards are being upheld.

If everyone is working to the same standard and procedures, virtual volunteers can support your organisation as well as in person volunteers.

If you are already using virtual volunteers, we would love to hear from you about how you find it works for your organisation and any advice you have for our readers who are considering embracing this new wave of volunteers.