Big November 8, 2007

Brother
Fiona Chiu, Jennifer McKenzie, Ashleigh Currie & Natalie Pinto
MISSION: To provide guidance, support and care to young
boys who, by no means of choice, lack a male role model or figure
from male volunteers

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To match a young boy with a male

figure in order to …
 keep them on the right track in life
 be an outlet of fun and experience
 encourage positive behaviour and development

MOTIVATORS: Sense of achievement (“making a

difference”);
the work itself;
recognition; 1
responsibility;
STRATEGIC
ISSUES TITLE
PROBLEMS AND ROOT CAUSES:
 Each committee has different goals and objectives

 Despite increased marketing and changes to BB

commitments, volunteer numbers did not increase

 New recruitment techniques need to be designed

as previous and current techniques do not have the
desired effect (recruiting students from UWO, info.)

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STRATEGIC
ISSUES

WHAT WE CAN DO:

Same goals and objectives and share in the same mission throughout

Negotiate term and extent of volunteer commitment

Reputation and foundation of values

Increased face-to-face recruitment

Volunteers can be used to solicit volunteers

Use of statistics to display and prove the impact

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STRATEGIC
ISSUES

PROS CONS
 Awareness of expectations and what the  Time consuming. Time is taken away from
organization stands for busy schedules and from other projects
 Awareness of money distribution and how  Speculation over not-for-profit
organizational objectives organizations’ usage of money may have a
 Boost volunteerism through personal negative impact on donations and
contacts reputation
 Face-to-face recruitment is an opportunity  If someone does something unethical
to pre-determine the right fit (person- within the organization, reputation is
organization or person-job) damaged
 Allow volunteers to decide schedule, this  Face-to-face recruitment does not
can boost volunteer morale. guarantee honest personality or concrete
credentials
RECOMMENDATION:  Have very little control over volunteers
Identify key people who are willing to come up with a goal and objective provide
them with the necessary tools they may need – give a time line when they
need to come up with the objective e.g. 3 weeks. Review the goal and objective and
once is accurate implement. Recognize people who give their time either by
donations or becoming a BB – volunteer recognition and proper training.

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VOLUNTEE
R
RECRUITM
ENT &
RETENTION
PROBLEMS AND ROOT CAUSES:
 Media attention to sexual abuse

 Lack of time to volunteer - more established men are

married and preoccupied with their own children. Some
men are spending all their time looking for work

 Economic situation – high level of unemployment and

volunteers lack finances for outings

 Transient population

 Jobs being transferred to other locations

 Waiting list of up to 2 years before matches were made

 High maintenance little brothers/boys with disabilities 5

 VOLUNTEE
R
RECRUITM
ENT &

WHAT WE CAN DO:

RETENTION

 Education on sexual abuse awareness

 Reputation and thorough application process

 Volunteer work onto resume, along with references

 Fundraisers increase face-to-face contact and interaction with potential volunteers

 Partner with social service organization

 Local marketing and advertising tailored to particular society

 Increased volunteer interaction between Big Brothers for support

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VOLUNTEE
R
RECRUITM
ENT &
RETENTION
PROS CONS
 Knowledge is gained through information  Informative pamphlets on sexual abuse is
and communication time consuming; may further scare any
 A thorough application process ensures potential volunteers
the best possible screening of candidates  A thorough application process is time
 The possibility of a positive reference for consuming as it requires the completion of
prospective employers lots of paperwork
 Fundraisers provide cheap advertisement  Fundraisers may be costly and premature
while chance to interact with the interaction with Little Brothers is risky
organization and possible Little Brothers  Big Brothers do not have the time to be a
 Tailored advertising retains choice part of a support system
volunteers
 Increased interaction between Big
Brothers gives the men a support system
RECOMMENDATION:
Because of the recent media attention to sexual abuse, education on sexual
abuse should be on-going and evaluated. Ensure the application process from
start – finish is accurate it should be clear and concise - review it with other
key people managers, supervisors or any other people who is part of the
interviewing process. After the interview, volunteers should not be
wondering what their role is or if they need training before/during their Mentorship.
Recognize sponsors externally especially those who donate monetary it shows you
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value the organization’s mission
INFORMATI
ON

PROBLEMS AND ROOT CAUSES:

 Volunteers are unclear of expected role
(candidates/possible volunteers not receiving
enough information)

 Half of people surveyed indicated lack of confidence

to make decision to get involved

 In 1994, 213 men inquired about becoming a BB but

only 41 men volunteered

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INFORMATI
ON

WHAT WE CAN DO:

 Job Analysis / realistic job preview (RJP)

 Questionnaires about experience and expectations

 Critical-Incident Technique

 Open House

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INFORMATI
ON

PROS CONS
 A clear identification of what the role  Job analysis is a thorough, time consuming
entails what is expected of each volunteer process; potentially costly if outsourcing is
 Potential Big Brothers can understand the necessary
responsibilities and rewards more  Questionnaires can be time consuming for
thoroughly from questionnaires creator and the person filling it out
 An open house is an excellent, free way to  Critical-Incident Technique is time
provide information to the general public consuming

RECOMMENDATION:
Open house is an excellent way to demonstrate the mission, goal and objectives
of the organization. People who attend can ask questions and get
feedback from those who made a difference to the boys’ life. The general
public may offer suggestions or comments that were not thought of originally
which can be used in the future.

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NEED TO
REACH
MORE
GROUPS
PROBLEMS AND ROOT CAUSES:
 Majority of people who joined BB knew existing
Big Brothers or heard through “word of mouth”

 Participation rate increases with age and

education

 Only 17% sought out organization on their own

 Half of volunteers became involved when

someone in the program approached them
WHAT WE CAN DO:
 Promote to a particular demographic

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NEED TO
REACH
MORE
GROUPS

PROS CONS
 Organization is appealing to the desired  Particular demographic is limited in scope,
candidates missing potential, worthwhile candidates
 Open House or Recruitment drive display  It can be costly print pamphlets –
the positive impact on the community especially with limited resources
 Provide pamphlet indicating programs and  Training may not be effective
activities and the areas where they can
get involved
 Provide training, volunteer recognition
show you value one another
RECOMMENDATION:
Do a survey asking a certain demographic what will influence them to be a
volunteer or explain what the organization expects and aims to accomplish
and provide necessary material for them to think of – ask if they know
anyone to refer. Look at similar organizations – market research. Talk with
University and College students in Social Services/Social Work program offering
internships or co-op work.

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FUNDING

PROBLEMS AND ROOT CAUSES:

 United Way allocates funds according to results of
the program (BB relies heavily on United Way
funding)

 Expenditures are greater than revenue

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FUNDING

WHAT WE CAN DO:

 Shift dependence on conditional funds

 Continue to accept donations from social service

organizations (United Way) and private donations

 More fundraisers can collect more money,

promotion and contact

 Partner with another social service organization

 Sponsorship from businesses

 businesses with potential volunteers can be

targeted

 Local marketing and advertising with stores, 14

newspapers and individuals
FUNDING

PROS CONS
 Shift dependence away from conditional  Amount of the donation can never be
funds and become more open to potential certain or -accurately forecasted, therefore
donors making it difficult to implement a realistic
 A combination of both public and private budget
donations ensure future monetary  Fundraisers can be costly and difficult to
expansion plan because they take time
 An increased amount of fundraisers will  Getting businesses to become affiliated
help shift the promotion of the with Big Brothers may be difficult
organization  Many large businesses already have
 Encouraging local businesses to fulfill groups that they donate to or donations
some aspect of Corporate Social are not within their budget
Responsibility  Local marketing may be too limited in
 Local marketing and advertising is often scope
inexpensive and readily available
RECOMMENDATION:  Companies may become suspicious of
money to
Be patient. Do not go around asking local business allocation
donate a and not amount.
dollar want to donate
Be
able to answer any questions they may want to know – how the money is being
allocated, etc…If a local business promised you $500 within (2) weeks and
for some unforeseen circumstance they can only give $200 at the present time work
with them to come up with the rest of the money – maybe you can arrange a
payment plan or offset the cost
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PLAN OF
ACTION

IMMEDIATE ACTION (next six weeks):

 Management should agree upon appropriate plan

 Consult the Board of Directors with proposition

 Appoint a spearheading committee and enlist existing

employees or volunteers

 Create brochures, mailing ads, phone lists of potential

volunteers

 Encourage existing volunteers to spread the word

 Make appointments with corporations, universities,

organizations to either post ads or set up information
sessions in order to recruit volunteers
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PLAN OF
ACTION

SHORT-TERM ACTION (seven to fifty-two

weeks):
 Facilitate information sessions

 Have executed all desired marketing/advertising

plans
LONG-TERM
 Follow-up withACTION (greater
any individuals whothan one year):
expressed
 interest in the opportunity
Evaluate whether or not methods were effective

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