Nonprofits rethink how they use volunteers after economy causes 40% surge in volume

The slumping economy is forcing many North Texas nonprofits to add staff and shore up their volunteer management processes to accommodate a sharp influx in volunteers.

More and more people who are having trouble finding work are choosing to volunteer as a way to serve their community while also updating skills, building résumés and networking for possible job leads, said Julie Thomas, CEO and president of the Volunteer Center of North Texas. The center acts as a clearinghouse for volunteers in Dallas-Fort Worth by playing matchmaker to thousands of nonprofit organizations and volunteers throughout the area.

To read more go to the Dallas Business Journal at http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2009/10/26/story2.html