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Frequently Asked Questions for Volunteers

What is the role of a volunteer consultant?
Our consultants, be they new or seasoned veterans, retired principals, business executives, or public sector managers, work in teams on assignments for a wide variety of nonprofit clients. While the kind of assignments vary, the general approach is similar: we meet with the client, including board members, managers, key staff and constituents, to understand what the organization is attempting to do, how it works, and what are its issues. We then gather information and data about the organization and its performance, through further meetings with insiders or knowledgeable outsiders, through analyzing the financial statements of the organizations, its founding documents, board and committee minutes, or through research on the general field of endeavor. In this phase we often work with ESC specialists on organizational development, finance, marketing, insurance, or whatever specialty skill or expertise is needed. The team develops conclusions and recommendations to present to the client.

What are the most important skills an ESC volunteer needs to have?
The most important skills a consultant needs are not so much the professional background in a given field as the ability to listen, to relate to the client, to analyze and synthesize materials and information, and to communicate effectively. It is surprising to discover how easy it is to find solutions with the client to seemingly complex problems when viewed logically and analytically from the outside.

How does ESC prepare new volunteers for client projects?
Most of ESC's volunteers have experience as consultants. ESC provides offers periodic professional development programs on topics such as board development, strategic planning, and mentoring to consultants. All consultants are expected to attend an orientation session and a consulting skills workshop.

How are volunteers assigned to projects?
Volunteers are assigned to projects based on their own skills and interests, their specific ESC experience, and their interests in different sectors, such as health care, the arts, education, the environment, or human services, for example. Initially new volunteers are assigned to work with other senior ESC consultants. As they take on more projects and participate in more training they may gradually take on more responsibility on ESC projects if they choose to and have the ability needed. Completed assignments are evaluated by the client and ESC's Executive Director. Results of the evaluation are shared with each consultant.

What level of committment is expected of volunteers?
Some ESC volunteers take on several projects a year, sometimes several at one time. Other consultants prefer to work only on one project at a time and do only one or two projects a year. Either way is acceptable. The cardinal rule is that when you accept an ESC consulting project it should become a priority for you -- our clients are paying fees and expect high quality, effective consulting work.