Pet Haven’s Volunteer Guiding Principles
According to Marilou Chanrasmi President of Twin Cities based Pet Haven Inc. of Minnesota, volunteers are the reason they were able to find homes for 240 dogs and cats in 2007. Chanrasmi sites Pet Haven’s 5C Volunteer Guiding Principles as central to how the organization has been able to grow in 18 months from a volunteer base of 100 focusing primarily on operations, to a base of 200+.
“As an all-volunteer foster-based animal rescue, we rely entirely on our volunteers. They are the life’s blood of our organization assisting in everything from the day-to-day operations of our adoption program to fundraising, marketing, writing, event planning and sending thank you notes.”
New volunteers have also been added in the areas of development/fundraising, humane education/outreach, advocacy and spay/neuter initiatives. In fact, the organization hasn’t just added one volunteer to each
area - in many cases they’ve added several. “Pet Haven is as much about the people as it is about the animals. If any one of us should choose to walk away from Pet Haven, the organization must have an infrastructure in place to continue on.”
Chanrasmi along with her team of passionate volunteers seem to have the magic touch when it comes to attracting, engaging and retaining skilled volunteers. Chanrasmi shares their principles for success here.
Pet Haven’s 5c Guiding Principles
Communication:
• Let your volunteers know what is going on in all areas of the
organization. Be transparent. Share as much information as possible.
Volunteers want to know how their role is making a difference in the
larger picture. Volunteers want to know things like where our
animals come from, what their story is, how much we spend in
veterinary expenses and where we get our funding.
• Utilize your website and other forms of communication such as
newsletters and blogs to get the word out and to engage volunteers,
your partners and the public.
Compassion:
• Showing compassion for people is as important as showing
compassion for animals. Mentor volunteers to suspend judgment.
“Being advocates for the dogs and cats we love so much sometimes
means finding compassion for the humans we often don’t understand.
We have to work with both if we are to make a difference.
Community:
• Make volunteering with your organization an opportunity to join a
community. Welcome new volunteers with enthusiasm and excitement.
Have fun - passion and excitement are contagious! Recognize and
reward your volunteers and nurture environments where friendships
can be developed.
Collaboration:
• Provide opportunities for volunteers to step into leadership roles
while encouraging teamwork and collaboration.
• Build partnerships. Collaborate with pet-friendly businesses such
as doggie daycares, veterinary clinics and dog training facilities
to cross promote. Remember that partnerships are about helping
each other. Treat partners with the highest level of respect and
integrity and they will do the same for you.
Creativity:
• Challenge your employees to “think outside the crate”. Welcome
diverse and opposing opinions and perspectives, and be sure to
listen and be open to new ideas.
• Explore all forms of creative expression to engage volunteers to
be a voice for the animals.
Marilou Chanrasmi is the President Pet Haven Inc. of Minnesota. She can be reached at Marilou@PetHavenMN.org.
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