If your organization involves volunteers, then I believe there is certain information that MUST be on your web site regarding this volunteer engagement, no excuses!

To not have this information sends a message: it says that your organization or department takes volunteers for granted, does not value volunteers beyond money saved in salaries, or is not really ready to involve volunteers. Here is what absolutely should be on your web site regarding volunteers.

On a related note, I believe that among this information you provide on your web site regarding volunteers there should be a mission statement for your organization’s volunteer engagement (saying WHY your organization or department involves volunteers). Such a mission statement will guide employees in how they think about volunteers, guide current volunteers in thinking about their role and value at the organization, and show potential volunteers the kind of culture they can expect at your organization regarding volunteers. The page includes sample mission statements.

Unacceptable excuses for not having this information on your web site:

• I don’t have time to put this on the web site (then recruit volunteers to help you)
• I won’t be able to get approval from senior management to do this (it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission; if you are in charge of volunteers at your organization, it’s your responsibility to do this)
• The web master says there isn’t enough room on the web site for this material (this is an excuse that is complete nonsense. If your web master won’t allow the information on the web site, do your own web site – and recruit volunteers to help!)