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These items were updated as of January 3, 2000:

A New Look For Our Site
We've spent November incorporating the Virtual Volunteering Project's new logo for into our Web site (our new logo was designed with the assistance of one of our own online volunteers), as well as redesigning our site. We'll continue to revise and retool our site during December and January. Please contact us if you have any feedback to offer about our site, or if you find a broken link or quirky page design that's hard to read.

These items were updated as of November 1, 1999:

Supporting Expectant Mothers Anywhere Via E-mail
A profile of a nonprofit organization that successfully matches online volunteers with pregnant women coping with long term hospitalization or home bedrest, pregnancy complications, leaving a job or "normal" life due to pregnancy complications, etc. Testimonials from those served by this organization illustrate to the power and importance of e-mail support. This is the latest addition to Connecting Humans: Essays on the Positive Side of Online Culture, a new section of the Project web site with information, essays and examples that illustrate how cyberspace is bringing us together, not closing us off to each other.
Direct Contact: Online Volunteers Working with Clients
"Direct contact" online volunteers work with students, clients/recipients of service, and/or the general public on behalf of your organization. They can do everything from faciliate an online discussion group to mentor a student. Setting up this kind of direct contact component of a virtual volunteering program presents many special challenges. The VV Project has new resources for those considering setting up a direct contact service component involving online volunteers, and has compiled more information about various telementoring/teletutoring programs, highlighting materials that can help other agencies engage in similar activities.
Online Resources for Volunteer Managers & Service Leaders
Even more links to Internet resources that provide information on and tools for volunteer recruitment, management and recognition, program evaluation and service leadership, both on and offline. Also included are resources that promote volunteerism, sites with information and links to resources for service learning, information regarding mandatory service, and information to help volunteers already in service programs. We think this is the most comprehensive online index available for Volunteer/Service Managers.

These items were updated as of October 4, 1999:

Laying the Groundwork for a
Virtual Volunteering Program
and
Implementing a Virtual Volunteering
Pilot Program
This material has additional and revised information on the easy, key first steps to starting virtual volunteering activities at your agency. Includes tips on how to get staff buy-in and ways to become a champion of virtual volunteering within your agency.
Online Discussion Groups for Volunteer Managers & Volunteers
A revised list of USENET newsgroups, e-mail-based discussion groups, e-mail updates and web-based message boards for and by volunteer managers and service leaders. Great places to interact with other volunteer/service managers of various types of organizations, get suggestions and feedback, and ask questions.

These items were updated as of September 8, 1999:

Virtual Volunteering FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions and their answers
What is "virtual volunteering"? Who is volunteering virtually? How can an agency recruit online volunteers? Is special software needed to involve online volunteers? What's the key to success in a virtual volunteering program? What about confidentiality, privacy, security, etc.? How can a person find virtual volunteering opportunities? Is the Virtual Volunteering Project trying to get rid of face-to-face volunteering?
These and other frequently asked questions are answered in the newest section of the Virtual Volunteering Project Web site.
Safety in Online Volunteering Programs
This information, launched just two months ago, has already been updated with new resources. Just as with face-to-face volunteering programs, a virtual volunteering program needs to have guidelines in place to protect everyone involved -- volunteers, staff and clients alike -- to ensure participants safety and privacy. This section offers information to help your agency create general safety guidelines for all online volunteering programs, suggestions and examples for those managing programs involving youth as online volunteers, and suggestions for bringing together youth and adult online volunteers.

These items were updated as of August 2, 1999:

Sound Off About Virtual Volunteering
The Virtual Volunteering Project is nearing the end of its third year. As we consider our work to date and plans for the future, we would like to hear your feedback -- about how this Project has performed, about the resources this Project offers, about experiences you've had working with us, and about virtual volunteering in general.
Agencies Involving Online Volunteers
The Virtual Volunteering Project profiles more than 100 agencies involving online volunteers. In addition to adding more profiles, we've also added a new index of these organizations. You can now view agencies by the kinds of virtual volunteering programs they have (telementoring, technology-advice, involving youth, etc.), in addition to viewing them by region or alphabetically.
The VV Project no longer includes in this list every agency that we know of involving online volunteers; rather, we now concentrate on agencies that involve volunteers in virtual situations with clients or other volunteers (direct service) and have management suggestions for other groups; agencies or informal, all-volunteer groups that have provided the Project with information to help other organizations involve online volunteers effectively; and agencies or groups involving online volunteers in unique or innovative ways. The purpose of this list is to give volunteers and agencies an idea of the variety of online tasks available, and the variety of organizations -- public sector, for-profit, nonprofit, or unaffiliated all-volunteer groups -- involving online volunteers.

These items were updated as of July 5, 1999:

Safety in Online Volunteering Programs
Just as with face-to-face volunteering programs, a virtual volunteering program needs to have guidelines in place to protect everyone involved -- volunteers, staff and clients alike -- to ensure participants safety and privacy. This is information and links to resources to help your agency create general safety guidelines for all online volunteering programs, suggestions and examples for those managing programs involving youth as online volunteers, and suggestions for bringing together youth and adult online volunteers.
Connecting Humans: Essays on the Positive Side of Online Culture
A new section of the Project web site, with information, essays and examples that illustrate how cyberspace is bringing us together, not closing us off to each other. The kickoff essay is how Fan-Based Online Groups Use the Internet to Make a Difference. Many of these online groups aren't directed by any formal organization to engage in philanthropy; the fans often decide to engage in these activities on their own. Includes examples of such groups, with comments from members regarding their online philanthropic activities and what makes them successful.

These items were updated as of June 1, 1999:

Online Resources for Volunteer Managers & Service Leaders
Links to Internet resources that provide information on and tools for volunteer recruitment, management and recognition, program evaluation and service leadership, both on and offline. Also included are resources that promote volunteerism, sites with information and links to resources for service learning, and information regarding mandatory service. We think this is the most comprehensive online index available for Volunteer/Service Managers.
Suggested Computer Tools and Resources for Online Volunteers
Online volunteers use a variety of computers, software and operating systems. If an agency were to require all of its online volunteers to use the same kind of computer, operating system or software, they would have to exclude many, many online volunteers from participating (and, therefore, lose out on a lot of talent). We've gathered information on tools and shareware available to help various types of computers and software access the same files, and thereby avoid unnecessary upgrades or software and hardware changes. This resource is part of our Handbook for Online Volunteers.

These items were updated as of April 26, 1999:

Direct Contact Virtual Volunteering:
Online Volunteers Working with Clients (Including Students)
The Virtual Volunteering Project is currently compiling information from organizations who are successfully bringing together adult volunteers and clients, including students, together online in telementoring or teletutoring situations. We are reviewing suggestions and practices for creating assignments (particularly assignments that are curriculum-based), helping teachers and other supervisors stay involved, monitoring/supervising online interactions between volunteers and students, tracking progress of online collaborations, screening and evaluating volunteers that will work with clients/students virtually, guidelines for bringing together youth and adult online volunteers, and safety guidelines for direct contact volunteering.
VIRTUALVOLS, an e-mail-based discussion group
for online volunteers
This is a place for online volunteers working with any agency to ask questions of other online volunteers, share resources that have been helpful in virtual volunteering activities, etc.

These items were updated as of April 5, 1999:

Using Real-Time Communications
With Volunteers
A growing number of organizations are using real-time communications -- usually called "chats" -- to hold online meetings with volunteers, or to allow volunteers to interact with staff, clients, or each other. This resource provides more information on chats -- what they are, how agencies are using them to interact with volunteers, tips to encourage and maintain participation in chats, and where to find chat software.
Internet discussion groups for volunteers
Many agencies have created email-based discussion groups or newsgroups for their volunteers. These asynchronus online tools allow agencies to easily make announcements to volunteers, and sometimes also allow volunteers to interact with each other, get suggestions and feedback, and ask questions. They can also serve as a written record of participation, concerns, trends and issues for volunteers. Unlike chats, volunteers can participate whenever they wish, and they don't need special software to do so.
Message and Survey Archive
What kinds of people are volunteering online? Is there a particular geographic area producing more online volunteers than others? What do they say they like most about online volunteering? What opportunities are they looking for that they haven't found yet? What do agencies want most from online volunteers? What factors most contribute to the success of their online volunteering programs?
In an effort to answer these frequently asked questions, we have posted on our Web site all survey responses submitted by both volunteers and agencies about their virtual volunteering experiences in 1997 and 1998, as well as summaries of these responses. We've also posted completed applications from volunteers who wanted to participate in the VV Project (sans names and contact information) in 1997 and 1998, and summaries of this information too.
This archive was created almost entirely by our own online volunteers, and is offered via our Web site for university-based researchers, journalists and others interested in studying trends in virtual volunteering and online service delivery by nonprofit and public sector agencies.

These items were updated as of February 22, 1999:

Accommodations for online volunteers who have
learning disabilities or emotional and anxiety disorders
Most of these suggestions are fundamental to the successful management of ANY volunteer. This information explains the simple accomodations you can create to involve people as online volunteers who have learning disabilities or emotional and anxiety disorders. This information also will help you address the various learning styles and working styles of volunteers. Part of our suggestions for Working via the Internet with volunteers who have disabilities.
Examples of Experiences Involving Online Volunteers and Youth With Disabilities
More real-life examples of volunteers and youth interacting with others via Cyberspace, to give you an idea of the limitless possibilities and benefits of virtual volunteering.
More than 75 Agencies Involve Online Volunteers
The Virtual Volunteering Project has, to date, documented more than 75 organizations, with diverse missions and budgets, that are involving online volunteers in a variety of ways. These organizations are indexed both alphabetically and by region.

These items were updated as of February 1, 1999:

Recognizing Online Volunteers and
Using the Internet to Honor ALL Volunteers
Recognition of a volunteer is the act of acknowledging a person's contribution to your agency. Using feedback from online volunteers who have communicated their experiences to the VV Project, as well as feedback from collaborating organizations and our own experiences, we have developed these suggestions for both recognizing online volunteers AND using the Internet to honor ALL volunteers
The VV Project's Own Online Volunteers in 1999
More than a dozen people have already completed tasks for us as online volunteers.

These items were updated as of January 20, 1999:

Orienting and Evaluating
Volunteers for Virtual Assignments
Lots of new information and links to sample online screening policies and forms for a variety of organizations.
Marketing Volunteer Opportunities Online
New information and links to even more resources to help agencies recruit volunteers via the Internet.

These items were added or updated as of January 4, 1999:

Sample Online Task Descriptions
17 examples of online job descriptions that would be communicated to a volunteer AFTER he or she has gone through your agency's orientation and evaluation process.
Handbook for Online Volunteers
This handbook includes the text of the Project's online volunteer orientation, which covers commitments, how assignments are made, reporting procedures, code of conduct, etc. This handbook also includes a section on "Resources and Tools for Online Volunteers," developed in large part by online volunteers who assisted the Virtual Volunteering Project and with advice from various collaborating organizations in the past year; this section offers suggestions for using web search engines, shareware, freeware, learning .html, finding news articles on a particular subject, creating databases, and other resources and tools to help a volunteer undertake an online assignment successfully.

Archived What's New 1998