Key Roles of the Volunteer Sector

Every organization, no matter its size or scope, has a crucial role to play in the movement to strengthen families and transform neighborhoods into healthy places to live. Whatever role your organization can fill to make the connections that matter within your community, start by considering the following questions.

• How are you partnering with and engaging residents from tough communities?
• What role do community members play in shaping and leading local initiatives?
• How are you investing in initiatives that support social change to improve the lives of low-income children and families?

You may see yourself among the following categories that make up the volunteer sector. Whatever your role, ask yourself how you might incorporate neighboring concepts into your business practices.

• Connectors - organizations that work to match volunteers to community needs
• Engagers - organizations that engage volunteers to carry out their own missions and deliver services
• Mobilizers - organizations that mobilize their own constituents, employees, members, or affiliates to deliver services
• Supporters - organizations and individuals that support volunteering
• Volunteers - individuals who currently volunteer or might want to volunteer in the future