Understanding the Volunteer Management Model

There are a number of models for describing the key processes in volunteer management. One of the most enduring ones is the ISOTURES model. This model provides a simple way to remember very important steps to a successful volunteer effort. The acronym stands for Identification, Selection, Orientation, Training, Utilization, Recognition, Evaluation and Supervision/Support.

Identification - the process of identifying the positions and finding people who have the competence and attitude essential to fill specific leadership positions. More...

Selection & Screening - the process of studying the backgrounds of prospective volunteers and determining their match with existing positions, with a specific emphasis on creating safe environments for youth.  More...

Orientation - this process serves as the initial stage in helping the volunteer understand the corporate culture of 4-H and their place in it. Orientation is the time to be sure that the volunteers understand the expectations of the role they all are assuming and how that role relates to others in the system. More...

Training - this is the process of providing volunteers with specific knowledge and skills to carry out their position successfully. Depending on the nature of the volunteer’s background and the nature of their position as a volunteer, training can be very long process or a brief conversation outlining the specifics of the task they’ve been asked to do. More...

Utilization - this is the process of arranging for the volunteer to put the skills and knowledge they had when recruited and that they received through training to good use in service to young people and to the 4-H program. More...

Recognition - this is the process of recognizing and rewarding quality volunteer efforts. More...

Evaluation - this is the process of monitoring each volunteer’s service and that of the overall volunteer program and providing helpful feedback to the volunteer and the system. More...

Supervision or support - this process is one of helping volunteers to obtain the results they wish for themselves and that 4-H wants for young people. This process includes a control function to insure that programs carried out in the name of 4-H are compatible with our educational philosophy and the various rules and regulations that guide our work. Hopefully, the majority of time spent on this process will be spent in a very positive way of supporting volunteers to increase their impact on the youth we serve. This is a more recent addition to the model and is an overarching process that is ongoing in each of the other elements. More...

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