**Volunteer Management Practices and Retention of Volunteers

• This is the executive summary of research done by the Urban Institute on volunteer management practices. They isolated 9 practices that most large nonprofits adopt to recruit, train, and retain volunteers, to great success. The recommended practices include screening of potential volunteers and written job descriptions for volunteer positions. Written by Mark Hager and Jeffrey Brudney.
  
  Source: Urban Institute   |  Published: 2004

**Successful Strategies for Recruiting, Training, and Utilizing Volunteers

• This guide was put together by the Faith-Based and Community initiative of the department for Health and HumanServices. Detailed explanations of the systems required for successful engagement of volunteers in your organization. Very, very highly recommended. 60-page PDF.
  
  Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services   |  Published: 2005

Sample Job Descriptions for Members of Board of Directors

• Short job descriptions for chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer, and committee chair on the board of trustees. By Carter McNamara.
  
  Source: Free Management Library   |  Published: 2000

How to Keep Boomer Volunteers Coming Back

• With education, civic sentiment, and experience, baby-boomers are the backbone of most volunteer programs. This article explains what organizations can do to keep their skilled boomer volunteers challenged and involved. From Jennifer Kalita.
  
  Source: Jennifer Kalita   |  Published: 2008

Providing a Sense of Control to Volunteers

• Volunteers are energized by a sense of empowerment. Good volunteer programs allow volunteers enough autonomy to ensure that their skills are being fully tapped. This article explains the importance of building in "resistance" to your volunteer program, giving them enough leeway for independent thought and action. By Steve McCurley & Rick Lynch.
  
  Source: Energize, Inc.   |  Published: 2005

Corporate Volunteer Development - Steps to Success for Small and Medium-Sized Business

• This 6-page article explains the why and how of building a corporate volunteer program. Many corporations are looking to give back to the community to improve their image and harness community support. Volunteerism in the corporate world is on the rise, and can be a powerful resource for nonprofits.
  
  Source: Points of Light Foundation   |  Published: 2008

Best Practices -- Human Resources Management

• This is a large document that lists all the "best practices" for nonprofits, including human resources management. Very cool.
  
  Source: Whatcom Council of Nonprofits   |  Published: 2002

Sample Employee Handbook

• Here’s a sample employee handbook that can be adapted for personal use.
  
  Source: Nat. Assoc. of Veteran’s Research and Education Foundations   |  Published: 2002

Sample Personnel Policies & Employee Evaluation Forms

• Some sample personnel policies for a nonprofit to use as a template. Covered areas include harassment policies, sick leave, and performance reviews. Also included are some sample evaluation forms for employees.
  
  Source: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits   |  Published: 2008

Developing & Maintaining Employee Documentation

• Lack of proper employee documentation can transform disciplinary measures and firings from uncomfortable to nightmarish. This article discusses what should be documented, how to set up a three-strike disciplinary system, and the importance of "always writing it down." By Paul A. Munoz.
  
  Source: HR Group, Inc.   |  Published: 2005

**How to Discipline & Document Employee Behavior

• This is a concise HR resource prepared by an attorney, that highlights the importance of a written disciplinary policy, explains how to create a written discharge procedure, demonstrates how internal investigations should be run, discusses proper discplinary actions that avoid discrimination and retaliation claims, and tips on getting your employee job descriptions just right. By Anne H. Williams, a 20-page PDF. Highly recommended.
  
  Source: M. Lee Smith Publishers   |  Published: 2002

Nonprofit Layoffs and Furloughs: Do Them Right

• Layoffs and furloughs are always thorny issues, perhaps especially so in nonprofits. This is a guide for planning your personnel policies for these inevitable occurances. By Pamela Fyfe.
  
  Source: blueavocado.org   |  Published: 2009

The Nonprofit Board's Role in HR

• Guide to a board’s role in nonprofit HR. The day-to-day operations of HR is often left to the staff, but the board does need to be involved in setting larger policies and occasionally maintaining compliance and integrity with those policies. Written by Jan Masaoka.
  
  Source: blueavocado.org   |  Published: 2009

Nonprofit Organizations, and Human Resources Management

• Nonprofits need a solid work force as much as their for-profit counterparts. This article explains the importance of recruiting, screening, hiring, and orienting new employees. It also discusses compensation issues.
  
  Source: Inc. Magazine   |  Published: 2005