Nonprofit scenario: Optimize staff and volunteer planning

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Available with: Microsoft 365 Copilot Scenario level:
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KPIs impacted

Program impact

Volunteer retention

Value benefit

Cost savings

Employee experience

Using Copilot to optimize staff and volunteer planning


1. Assess current staffing

Evaluate current staffing to understand the existing skills, roles, and gaps.

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Copilot in Word

Example prompt: Create a report that describes our current workforce across departments, roles, and skills using the information captured in the /[resource management document.docx]

2. Identify gaps

Use Copilot in Excel to help visualize current staffing/volunteer needs.

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Copilot in Excel

Example prompt: Highlight cells where staffing/volunteer hours are below required hours.

3. Develop a recruitment plan

Create a recruitment plan to fill identified gaps and meet future staffing/volunteer needs.

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Copilot in Word

Example prompt: Outline a recruitment plan to address identified staffing gaps and future needs. Include strategies for sourcing candidates, timelines, and key milestones based on past /[recruitment strategy plan.docx]

4. Create training programs

Develop and implement training programs to upskill current staff members and volunteers.

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Business Chat2

Example prompt: Create a training outline for our new development program, covering required skills and competencies.

5. Evaluate staff performance

Regularly monitor and evaluate staff and volunteer utilization to ensure alignment with organizational goals.

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Copilot in Excel

Example prompt: Tell me what data is required to calculate key performance indicators (KPIs) such as overtime hours, peak interval staffing levels, and skill utilization.

6. Evaluate and adjust

Continuously adjust staffing and volunteer plans based on feedback and data to ensure optimal staffing levels.

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Copilot in Teams

Example prompt: Summarize regular meetings to review workforce performance data and gather feedback from team members.

1Access Copilot at copilot.microsoft.com or the Microsoft Copilot mobile app and set toggle to “Web”.

2Access Business Chat at copilot.microsoft.com or the Microsoft Copilot mobile app and set toggle to “Web”.

3Copilot agents allow Microsoft 365 Copilot to access your organization-specific apps. In the past, this would have required an API call to get data from a system of record. The content in this example scenario is for demonstration purposes only. You should evaluate how Copilot aligns with your organization’s business processes, regulatory requirements, and responsible AI principles.

The content in this example scenario is for demonstration purposes only. You should evaluate how Copilot aligns with your organization’s business processes, regulatory requirements, and responsible AI principles.