The History of Volunteer Involvement in Seven Stages(part one)
By Susan J. Ellis
In this article, Susan Ellis looks at the recurring cycle of organizational development from a volunteer
perspective.
Just about every non-profit organization evolves from the actions of a small band of founding volunteers.
While not every agency moves through all the following seven stages, every organization can be found somewhere
on this timeline:
Stage 1: One or two people see a need before anyone else does and start shouting about it.
Major innovation and change rarely occur within established institutions. In fact, it is often those very
organizations that put obstacles in the way of visionaries. The first people who recognize what needs to
be done are often met with hostility. After all, who are they to tell us that spouse abuse is a serious
problem? that we don't know how to treat the dying and their families? that AIDS is an epidemic? that Earth
will be invaded by Venus? Welcome to the "Lunatic Fringe."
It may take a long time for pioneering volunteers to break out of isolation. It takes courage and staying
power—but not necessarily money. Passion drives the activity and these volunteers accept the role of mavericks
until...
Stage 2: Others start to see the validity of the cause and raise the decibel
and acceptance level.
Not everyone escapes the Lunatic Fringe. But those visionaries who succeed in articulating something that
others can see and accept begin to attract a few followers. This small band of volunteers support one another
and develop some synergy to move their plans forward, but they still view the Establishment as indifferent,
if not antagonistic.
The page is to continue.