Services

Volunteer Training

With institutional needs continuing to escalate and development staff and budgets being squeezed to their limits, volunteers are being relied upon more than ever to raise substantial sums for nonprofit organizations.

Are your volunteers prepared for this important task? Are they comfortable with the process - and are you comfortable sending them out on calls?

In a comprehensive four-hour training session for volunteers and Board members, The Sheridan Group will take the mystery and fear out of the solicitation process, explain the dynamics of a solicitation visit, and give your volunteers the confidence to represent your organization more successfully.

Experienced Sheridan Group professionals will review the following subjects in depth:

    • Overcoming volunteer fears of asking
    • Donor motivation
    • The theory behind the capital campaign, i.e. the chart of gifts
    • Volunteer feelings about money and asking
    • Good and bad solicitations
    • Comfort levels
    • Elements of a successful solicitation
    • Getting the appointment
    • Successful phone techniques
    • Elements of persuasion
    • Dealing with objections
    • Closing techniques

If you rely on volunteers to raise any portion of your gift income, this session is a must for your organization.

Sessions can also be tailored to focus on strategic planning, board development, planned giving, or how to improve overall nonprofit fiscal, volunteer and administrative management.

Fees for this service of The Sheridan Group are based on the special training needs of each organization and travel costs to the training site.