#4
Be Flexible

Attracting boomers may require organizations to rethink their notions of volunteers, leaving behind notions of volunteers as low-level "envelope-stuffers" and embracing them as skilled managers and project leaders. The RespectAbility survey found non-profit organizations continue to have little confidence in the leadership abilities of older adults, viewing them as recipients of services or perhaps service providers, but not as leaders, project coordinators or advocates who can direct efforts and shape strategies.

Organizations that have shed such attitudes have reaped rewards. The Red Cross chapter in Montgomery County, Maryland, had $50,000 to hire a director for their emergency preparedness program, but was unable to find volunteers to help for administrative chores. So the organization instead recruited two qualified volunteers to share leadership of the preparedness effort, used $25,000 to hire an administrative assistant and was able to direct the other $25,000 to other projects.

"We have non-profits that are used to thinking about hiring a consultant to develop a strategic plan, then bring in the volunteers to do the clerical work," David Eisner, chief executive of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service, told the Chronicle of Philanthropy recently. "No one's flipping it. People haven't figured out how to bring the volunteer in to do the strategic plan, then hire at a lower cost the people to do the clerical work."

At the same time, organizations must adapt their schedules to part-time workers and make other adjustments to boomers demands for flexibility. Rosabeth Moss Kanter of the Harvard Business School proposes organizations adopt flexible work years along with flexible work hours. Parents of young children who want months off during their kids' summer vacation could match up with mature workers who want months off during the cold winter season, she suggests.

Witness Justice, a Washington organization that helps victims of violent crime with legal and psychological issues, routes each inquiry to three volunteer experts so that at least one can respond. "I feel entirely comfortable saying I'm too busy now," Roger Fallot, a 56-year-old volunteer, told Time magazine. "The flexibility is critical."