Jayne Cravens: As a Volunteer

Many people know me as a consultant regarding volunteer engagement, a speaker and trainer on volunteer engagement issues and as a manager of volunteers for nonprofits I work for. But I am also a volunteer myself. It's one of the things I think distinguishes me from other consultants: I regularly volunteer, and I take on a variety of roles, with a variety of organizations, so that I can experience volunteer management from the "other" side.

I also volunteer for personal reasons - I would volunteer even if I wasn't a nonprofit consultant researching for work. I guess I'm a typical Gen Xer in regards to why I volunteer: I don't volunteer primarily out of a sense of duty to my country, nor because I think I have to in order to pay society back, or nor because I think it's "nice"; I volunteer to make a difference, to have impact, in the causes I believe in, and for what I personally and professional gain out of doing so.

Since returning to the USA in 2009, my emphasis in volunteering has been to put into practice what I encouraged United Nations agencies, national governments and other entities via my international work to do regarding building community trust, engaging local communities in local governance and supporting efforts that empower women and girls as leaders. Spoiler alert: it is way harder to live it than it is to teach it.

Some of my volunteer activities were undertaken simply because someone asked me , and I liked the idea of being associated with the particular organization or activity. And for some I thought, after being asked: hey, this will look great on my CV. Some volunteering activities I sought out specifically, because the organization is one I am a fan of, or because there was a particular type of volunteering activity I wanted to do.

I believe that there is nothing wrong with any motivation to volunteer, as long as the motivation isn't something destructive, the volunteer wants to do quality work, and the volunteer always puts the mission of the organization first when engaging in his or her activities (and priorities regarding, say, CV development or feeling good about yourself, second). I think it's important to remember that different people volunteer for very different reasons, and to respect and appreciate these differences -- and even to leverage these differences for the benefit of the organization. I do not believe that saying you want to help because the activity will look good on your CV or because you need the class credit means you give up the right to being called a volunteer.

What has kept me volunteering longer term for some organizations?

feeling that my contributions are valued by the organization and those it serves (which is rare among organizations)
regularly hearing from the organization about the difference my contributions have made (again, rarely do I hear about this)
working with other volunteers (very energizing)
getting the opportunity to do things I don't get to do in my professional work (participating in trainings outside of my area of expertise, for instance)
learning more about the cause and the conditions that have lead to the need for the organization or initiative: why don't some people register to vote? why don't many voters actually vote? what causes a disconnect between police and the communities they are supposed to serve? what challenges do Latina youth face, in particular?
having fun while volunteering
receiving regular communications; always feeling a part of the organization (never isolated or left out)

Here is a selected list of my advisory board experience, pro bono work, and other volunteer contributions to various organizations:

Serving on the Cultural Coalition of Washington County, Oregon. The CCWC is one of the Community Boards and Commissions of Washington County. It serves as an advisory body to the Board of County Commissioners to promote the cultural identity, quality of life and economic vitality of the county and its arts, heritage and humanities organizations. The CCWC is also the re-granting board of the Oregon Cultural Trust in Washington County. The Oregon Cultural Trust receives its funding from donors who receive a generous state tax credit for giving as long as their contribution to the Trust is matched by equal or greater charitable gifts to any number of Oregon’s 1600 cultural non-profits. Washington County is home to over 100 heritage, humanities and arts nonprofits. I applied to be on this county commission and was appointed by the board. We meet quarterly. 2019 and 2020.

Serving as moderator of the subreddit on volunteering and the subreddit on inclusion on Reddit.

Contributing essays and commentary on WorldPulse. "We are a worldwide sisterhood speaking out and lifting each other up." Here's my profile there. And here is an example of what I have contributed to the community: My Journey to Virtual Volunteering, the United Nations & So Much More.

Helping as a member of the League of Women Voters Oregon - Washington County Unit. I managed the @LWVWashcoOR Twitter account (I blogged about this experience here), helped register voters at public events where the League has a table and helped register voters and in other ways I could at public League events, such as candidate debates / issue forums. I suggested refinements to the web site that moved it to the top of a search for washington county league of women voters oregon (it didn't before) and increased the number of Twitter followers from about 30 to more than 200, and those followers included local elected officials, government offices and even the President of the national league. 2018-2019.

Serving on the Forest Grove, Oregon Public Safety Advisory Commission (PSAC), a council of residents (volunteers) and city staff members (police department, fire department, school district, etc.), which advises the Forest Grove City Council regarding public safety concerns, service levels, fiscal budgetary impacts and other issues that affect the safety and livability of neighborhoods. I applied to be on this commission and was appointed by city council. I tried to elevate the commission's focus to include bicycle and pedestrian safety, but I'm not sure I really did (Oregonians, contrary to their reputation, really do not like bicyclists nor pedestrians). I also asked a lot of questions - and these weren't welcomed. After I left, the group was disbanded. 2017-2019

Volunteered as an overnight host at a local temporary family shelter and advised a new, local coalition set up to help the homeless regarding communications and volunteer recruitment. I did this three times. Never once got asked by anyone if a shift had gone okay (one didn't), if there were any challenges (there was), if I had any suggestions (I did). Never got training on appropriate and inappropriate things to say to clients or appropriate or inappropriate activities to engage with them. Never got told I was expected to provide childcare for two hours as a part of my shift. On and on... I quit. 2018.

Helping Adelante Mujeres, a nonprofit here in the city where I live in Oregon, on an ad hoc basis: thinking through the database/record-keeping/reporting needs for different aspects of the organization (volunteer support/tracking, event attendance, funders, etc.), strategies for using social media, and whatever else they might want me to do that I would have time for. This is a combination of onsite and online volunteering. I'm hoping to help with the Adelante Chicas program, supporting the empowerment of Latina girls, and Adelante Empresas, a small business development program - my availability, as well as my expertise (or lack their of?) will determine how much I can help. I wanted to help this organization because it's an organization doing what organizations like the United Nations, CARE International, MADRE and BPEACE are trying to do in the developing world - and it's right in my "back yard." 2014 - 2018.

Moderator of the Volunteers and Technology" online forum for TechSoup.org, an organization that helps nonprofit organizations regarding computer and Internet technology. 2002 to 2010. Then I became a paid manager for management of the forum, and served in that role until 2013, when I took a break of almost an entire year. Went back in the summer of 2020 as a volunteer and got hired again as a moderator.
Online tutoring, mentoring and advising a colleague in Afghanistan. First I mentored her while she was at Kabul University when she was completing her Master's Degree project regarding the lack of women leaders in community and government organizations in Afghanistan, and why women's leadership in such is essential for development success in Afghanistan, as well as regarding her work at an Afghan government agency and her own career development. From 2008 - Spring 2013, I mentored her while she was in Australia studying for a second Master's degree at a university in Brisbane, helping her to understand assignments, recommending online resources for her assignments, reading her assignments before submission and asking questions to prompt her to do more research, and helping her to understand how to link what she was learning to her work in Afghanistan or any developing country. Now, I help her in her work at the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, mostly regarding reports she's writing and how to use social media to promote water and sanitation issues. I also flew to Chicago when she visited in 2019 as part of a State Department program so I could show her around a couple of evenings.

As an online volunteer, I regularly contributed career advice via Goodwill Industries' GoodProspects program, advising people who are looking for a job or a career change. 2012-2016.

Member, Canby Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, 2010 - 2012. This government committee is made up of volunteers who work to keep informed about current trends in bicycle and pedestrian services and administration, to contribute to plans for bicycle and pedestrian services and facilities in Canby, and recommend policies related to the bicycle and pedestrian transportation system in our city. I initiated participation of the city in Clackamas Co. Tourism & Cultural Affairs' 'Bicycle Tourism Studio' in Nov. 2011; created & manage a Facebook page to announce activities & information related to bicycles & pedestrians in our city, & allows any Canby-area citizen to offer information and comments regarding bicycling and walking in our community; and directed events of the Walk+Bike to School Day for a local school when the original organizer was unable to do so at the last minute.
Various duties for Bpeace (Busines Council for Peace), a UNIFEM partner and non-profit organization that mobilizes business professionals as volunteers to help entrepreneurs in countries emerging from war, like Rwanda and Afghanistan, to expand local businesses and create employment (and thereby build a peaceful, properpus future). I've detailed my volunteering with BPEACE on a web page of its own. 2008 to 2013 (though I still do stuff here and there, as asked).

In November 2010, I received a VERA (Volunteer Excellence Recognition Award) from Business Council for Peace (BPEACE), a USA-based nonprofit that recruits business professionals to help entrepreneurs in countries emerging from war, like Rwanda and Afghanistan, to create and expand businesses and employment (particularly for women). I received the award as recognition for my online volunteering work with BPEACE. I then posted a photo of myself holding the award online, posted it to my Facebook page, to my blog, etc. So in addition to making me feel a part of BPEACE and feeling appreciated for my contributions, I got to help further build excitement for an organization I care about.

And in addition to that fabulous trophy pictured at left, I also got the fabulous DOSTI soccer ball pictured here as a thank you (made by women in Afghanistan - women that received support from other BPEACE volunteers!)

Girl Scouts of the USA. From September 2009 to the summer of 2011, I was the volunteer communications coordinator for Service Unit 12 (includes all troop leaders and other Scouts volunteers in Canby, Colton, and Molalla, Oregon - South Clackamas County, Oregon), part of the Girl Scouts Oregon and Southwest Washington (a regional office of the Girl Scouts of the USA). Most of my volunteer service was performed online, from my home - while Girl Scouts counted that as volunteering, they do not keep track of how many people are providing online volunteering service with the organization (they probably have no idea that there are several hundred, even thousands, of online volunteers supporting Girl Scouts!). I also did some very traditional volunteering, so I could feel more connected to the Girl Scouts program and so I could relate to traditional volunteering in my consulting and trainings, including helping at event registration/welcome tables and helping at a weekend camp - yes, I lead groups of girls on daily hikes, something most of my friends have a really hard time imagining, as well as cooking one of the evening meals for about 100 girls (yikes). I left because the troop leaders in my area weren't interested in things like STEM-related activities for girls - they wanted to stick to jewelry-making and spa days.

Contributor and original author of various topics on Wikipedia, including the entries for Online Volunteering San Francisco Women on the Web. You can see my Wikipedia contributions to date. Also serving as a member of the Enhance community health and culture task force, part of the Wikimedia Strategic Planning process , in 2009.
Volunteer Coordinator, Advice Page Editor and Forum Moderator for Aid Workers Network (AWN). Dec. 2007 - Dec. 2008. Advisory board member for AWN, providing information about board governance and nonprofit management to the organization behind the forum, as well as a frequent poster to the forum to answer questions about volunteerism and civil society capacity-building. 2004-2006.
Online mentor for new women bloggers in Kenya, through Fahamu and the Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), to help them learn to use blogs as a method of democratic expression and empowerment. 2008.
Online mentor for the inaugural Blogs for African Women (BAWo) Mentoring Project, focused on women living in Nigeria, to help them learn to use blogs as a method of democratic expression and empowerment. 2008.
One-on-one career counseling volunteer (online) for students interested in careers in international development work, through Open University (where I completed my Master's Degree). 2004-2007. Also a participant in the OU's Careers Quick Queries Forum, advising OU undergrad students regarding volunteering for career experience and working in international development. 2011.
Online mentor for the Young Caucasus Women Blog Project, for small group of young women from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia living as exchange students in the USA. January - March 2006.
Online volunteer, contributing volunteer management resources and commentary, to CYBERVPM. 1998-2006
Providing advice regarding board development and management for Pearls of Africa. 2005.
Through onlinevolunteering.org: advisory board member/online volunteer regarding increasing volunteer involvement for the Youth Resource Center of Guria, in Georgia (formerly part of the Soviet Union). 2004
Advisory board member and onsite event volunteer for Knowbility and its Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR) events in Austin, Texas. 1998-2004
Facilitator of the soc.org.nonprofit / NONPROFIT online discussion group, 1997 - 2000 (I think those dates are right... it seems so long ago...), and frequent poster to the group to answer questions about volunteerism and civil society capacity-building. 1995 - 2005
Online mentor with a fourth grade girl in Austin Texas, part of the Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program, to help build students writing abilities and to reinforce good practices in online safety (2000)
Online and onsite volunteer with HerDomain, based in Austin, Texas, advising on membership outreach and staffing the booth at SXSW, as well as actually working at said booth, and serving food at one of the evening events. 1997-1999.
Organizing committee member advising on online mentoring for the Governor's Mentoring Initiative (Texas). 1999
Judging panelist for the Governor's Volunteer Awards (Texas). 1999
Online volunteer advising on nonprofit creation and management, and web master, for Twangfest. 1998-1999
Board member in charge of communications for the Austin DOVIA chapter (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies). 1997-1999
Judge for the National Volunteer Awards by Women in Community Service (WICS). 1998
Member of the Nonprofits' Policy and Technology Working Group, sponsored by OMB Watch. 1997-2000
Onsite volunteer helping with online communications for the Texas Freedom Network. 1996 - 1997
Onsite volunteer helping with database issues for the Texas Abortion Rights Action League (TARAL). 1996
Onsite and online volunteer with Impact Online (now VolunteerMatch) from 1994 - 1996, helping to support organizations using this pioneering volunteer-sign-up service (to see how the Impact Online site looked in those early days, go to www.archive.org and type in www.impactonline.org into the "Way Back" machine.
Member of the 1995-96 San Jose (California) Festival, Parade and Celebration Grant Review Committee. That included reading all of the proposals submitted by various community groups, then spending a day giving feedback to representatives of these groups regarding their proposals and telling them how much funding we were recommending the city give them in support. It was, at times, very tense - many community representatives were not happy with our findings. The range of quality in proposals was massive - it was amazing how some of the most well-written were light on facts and figures and specific goals, while some of the more poorly-written proposals, in terms of grammar, had specific details on what they were trying to accomplish and what city funds would pay for.
Compiling, editing and coordinating production and distribution of the newsletter for the South-Bay chapter of the California Abortion Rights Action League, staffing public information booths for the chapter, conducting a workshop for all Northern California chapters regarding creating effective newsletters, and participating in an intensive two-day training by the National Abortion Rights Action League for North Western state offices regarding countering campaigns by religious fundamentalists, then training South Bay grass roots volunteers, including from the local chapter of Planned Parenthood, in a mini-workshop later. 1992-1994
Member of the first technology advisory committee for the Nonprofit Support Center in San Francisco (1993?)

You can also read a long list of causes I actively support as a volunteer or donor.

Did I volunteer as a child? Indeed! As a teenager, I stuffed envelopes for St. Anthony's Hospice in Henderson, Kentucky and helped in the radiology department as a candy striper for what was then Henderson Community Methodist Hospital. Also as a teen volunteer, I escorted kids from Henderson, Kentucky participating in the Kentucky State Special Olympics in Bowling Green. As a pre-teen (way back in the 70s), I was a Junior Girl Scout (and before that, a brownie) but, sadly, my troops never engaged in volunteering activities.

If you have read this page in its entirety, then here's a fun tidbit for you: my volunteering, and attempts at volunteering, have lead to a LOT of blog posts. A LOT. You can find a list here of all of the blog posts these experiences inspired, through 2012. Many of the blogs are about, or inspired, by my own negative experiences with volunteering. What you won't see as you read these blog posts is the name of the organization I'm talking about. I've done my best to keep out information that would immediately identify organizations to a reader. All of the organizations I volunteer with are informed that I blog, but they either don't read my blogs or don't realize I'm talking about them in these blog posts. All organizations I volunteer with are informed in a conversation or email communication regarding any negative experience I have; it is often their lack of response that leads to a blog. Only one organization I've volunteered for has written to ask if any of these blogs were about them, and I was so happy to tell them, no, not at ALL - of course it's one of the organizations that does such a great job of supporting volunteers that would worry a volunteer wasn't happy, while those that do a poor job probably haven't even read these blogs! I'm not at all trying to be passive-aggressive; I'm trying, as a consultant and trainer, to give real-world examples to help those that work with volunteers or those charged with communications for their agency to do the best, most responsive job they can.

Return to my volunteer-related resources

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