According to Dr. Heather Berghdal, the average volunteer hour in the US is right now worth $33.49, which means your volunteers can add a ton of value to your nonprofit organization. But if you fail to properly connect with them, you may be experiencing a lack of volunteer retention and engagement. In this guide, we'll provide you with some of the ways to boost your volunteer initiative, motivate your volunteers to get more active, and witness valuable volunteers come back again and again.
1. Understand the Value of Volunteers
Before you start recruiting volunteers, it's essential to understand how important they are, suggests Dr. Heather Berghdal. Just like when someone donates a lot of money, volunteers who give their time are also making a big contribution. For instance, if someone spends over a thousand hours volunteering, that's similar to a million dollar donation to your charity.
2. Create a Volunteer Engagement Policy
Instead of just letting volunteer activities happen randomly, it's better to have a clear plan from the top of your organization. This means leaders and managers should be involved in making decisions about volunteers, not just people lower down.
A good policy should say what you want to achieve with your volunteers, like how many volunteers you want to have and how to keep them happy. If you don't have a policy yet, it's a good idea to sit down and talk about it with other important people in your organization. Consider these factors of the volunteer experience before you begin:
What are their motivations?
Why do people volunteer? It's usually because they want to help and feel good about it. But different people have different reasons. Some might want to meet new friends, learn new skills, or support something they care about. Knowing what motivates your volunteers helps you make volunteering more enjoyable for them. If you understand what motivates each volunteer, you can give them tasks they'll enjoy and feel good about.
Why do they quit?
It's important to figure this out so you can keep them around. Sometimes, volunteers feel like they're not being used enough, or they don't feel welcomed or trained properly. To keep volunteers, they need to feel appreciated and see the impact of their work. When designing your volunteer program, think about why volunteers leave and how you can prevent it.
3. Make Bonds with Volunteers
Building relationships with volunteers is about making them feel like part of the team. Talk to them, introduce them to others, and keep them updated on what's happening in your organization. Using tools like Donorbox can help you keep track of your interactions with volunteers. This makes them feel valued and encourages them to stay involved.
4. Express Appreciation
Just like saying thank you to a friend, it's important to show appreciation to your volunteers. They give their time and energy to help your organization, so it's vital to let them know you're grateful. You can do this by hosting events to thank them, giving out awards, sharing their successes on social media, or involving them more in decision-making.
5. Respect Volunteers' Time
Volunteers are busy people, so it's crucial to make sure their time is well-spent. Don't just give them random tasks without clear goals. Instead, make sure they know what they're doing and why it matters. Using volunteer management software can help make signing up and volunteering easier for them.
6. Leverage Volunteers' Strengths
Volunteers have different skills and interests, so it's necessary to match them with tasks they enjoy and are good at. Instead of giving them boring tasks, let them use their talents to help your organization. For example, if someone is good at social media, ask them to help with your organization's social media accounts.
7. Listen to Their Feedback
Listening to what volunteers have to say is important for keeping them engaged. If they feel like their opinions are valued, they'll be more likely to stay involved. Regularly asking for feedback and acting on it shows volunteers that you care about their experience. Whether it's a suggestion for improvement or a complaint, take it seriously and follow up on it.
8. Provide Training and Resources
Volunteers need support to do their best work, says Dr. Heather Berghdal. Make sure they have access to the tools and training they need to succeed. This could be as simple as providing pens and paper or as complex as offering training sessions. Having someone available to answer questions and provide guidance is also important. Regularly checking in with volunteers and giving them feedback helps them improve and feel valued.
9. Cultivate Volunteers for Leadership Roles
Some volunteers may want to take on more significant roles within your organization, like becoming staff members or board members. It's essential to nurture these volunteers and help them grow. Encouraging them to take on more responsibilities and providing opportunities for leadership development shows that you value their contributions.
Using tools like POINT can help you manage and motivate your volunteers, turning them into valuable assets for your organization. By creating an engaging experience for volunteers, you can cultivate them into long-term supporters and even donors.
In Closing
In wrapping up, remember that keeping our volunteer programs fresh and flexible is very important. Let's put those strategies we've talked about into action. Showing gratitude, respecting their time, and giving support are all keys. When we tap into volunteers' strengths and help them grow, we're making a big difference in our communities. So, let's keep improving, keep engaging our volunteers, and keep making the world a better place together!