Volunteers and Nonprofit Success

Many of us are involved with or connected to some type of charity. We volunteer our time and give of our talents and treasures because somewhere along the way, charity was given to us and we are better because of it. In the wake of proposed funding cuts to national community service programs, organizations like AmeriCorps will be directly impacted. How will these organizations make up for the loss in funding?

In the event that federal funding is cut, the nonprofits I tend to work with will not feel the crunch. However, the same question applies. In the wake of declining and ever competitive institutional based funding across the board (federal, state, local, and foundation), how can nonprofits increase the funding base? My answer is volunteers.

Now, this is more than a notion. Implementing the perfect formula of attracting and retaining volunteers in support an organization's ongoing mission has been a challenge to nonprofits since the beginning of time?  Yet, organization's have done it. Relief nonprofits like Red Cross can undoubtedly count on people to respond in moments of crisis. We see it time and time again with a flood, fire, or other natural disaster. Remember Haiti. There was an unprecedented global response by individuals who recognized the need and responded. 

What are these nonprofits doing that make them successful? How can this be done at the community level?  What can smaller, grassroots nonprofits do to attract and retain committed, value-adding board members and volunteers?