Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

Information for Agencies
(Consulting/Training for Managing Volunteers)

RSVP assists public and nonprofit agencies to meet urgent social needs in New York City by recruiting older people for volunteer positions. In addition to providing long- and short-term volunteers for a wide range of responsibilities, we offer technical support, consultation, and training for managing and running volunteer programs.

Starting and Managing a Volunteer Program

Senior Volunteers: Making the Most of a Growing Resource
Volunteers over 55 work long hours and stay at their assignments for many years. Retirees also give daytime hours and a lifetime of personal and professional skills. Learn how to find retirees, design assignments for them, and place them in the right ones. "Seniors" span three generations. Learn about their differing needs and expectations and how to effectively use retirees of all ages!

Getting Started: Planning Volunteer Jobs That Work
Preparation is essential to successful volunteer programs. This training helps you to assessing your need for volunteers. Tips for developing creative assignments that attract a diverse volunteer force. We review the elements of assignment descriptions -- the foundation of effective volunteer management -- and how "transferable skills" can help you find the right person for the job.

Staffing Up: Recruiting, Interviewing, and Placing New Volunteers
Learn what attracts people to volunteering and how you can successfully recruit the kind of volunteer you need. This training will review interviewing techniques Î to match the right person with the right job. The concept of transferable skills will help you in finding the qualified volunteers and making successful matches.

A Winning Team:
Motivating, Supervising, and Recognizing Volunteers
Understanding volunteer motivations is the key to retaining volunteers. Learn about the "volunteer lifecycle" and supporting volunteers through it. Review the principles of successful supervision as well as handling varied challenges like "firing or retiring" volunteers. Find out how to integrate formal and informal recognition into your program. Share creative ideas with your colleagues.

What can an RSVP volunteer do?

• Mentor a troubled teenager
• Prepare and/or serve meals in a soup kitchen
• Provide entitlement counseling
• Assist a nonprofit agency with special events
• Help other seniors with income tax forms
• Lead activities in a child care center
• Bring a meal to a person with AIDS
• Teach adults to read
• Tutor school children
• Provide management assistance to a nonprofit agency
• Conduct tours at museums
• Participate with Special Projects
• And much more!

What Benefits Does RSVP Provide to Your Volunteers?

• Accident and liability insurance coverage
• Partial transportation reimbursement
• Membership in a national network which supports their volunteer activity
• Training for specialized projects and participation in recognition events and activities

For more information on how RSVP can help provide training and technical assistance to your agency, please call (212) 614-5563 or e-mail gsimonovski@cssny.org.