A Checklist for Successful Volunteer Engagement

To attract and retain great volunteers, it pays to engage with them in the ways they value most, and it isn’t the same – or even similar — for everyone. Here’s a checklist to help your organization make volunteers feel valued and motivated.

Offer a Variety of Volunteer Opportunities, and Flexible Scheduling

This encourages busy volunteers to get involved with your organization in many different ways; for example:

• Virtual (remote) volunteering – Examples include online research and report preparation, email messaging to supporters, Website administration, and social media content.
• On-call volunteering – Have a team on standby for immediate, high-priority projects.
• Seasonal volunteering – Summer camps, Thanksgiving dinner and other holiday celebrations, for example.
• Event-focused volunteering – Many people would be willing to help out if you have a big event on a day or weekend, and they have plenty of advance notice.

Optimize Your Website As A Volunteer Tool

Start by building a dedicated landing page for your volunteer program. On that page, make sure you volunteer application is short and easy to complete. Provide carefully thought-out descriptions of volunteer opportunities and skills needed. A password-protected volunteer portal is useful for many reasons. Be sure tools are available for volunteers to share on social media, about their activities.

Invite Your Volunteers to Donate to Your Cause

An estimated three-fourths of donors give to the organizations they volunteer with. The more ways your volunteers are involved with your cause, the more invested they will be. Monthly giving programs, planned giving (including your organization in the volunteer’s legacy), in-kind donations, and programs such as Double the Donation all provide ways to encourage donations.

How is Your Volunteer Recognition Program?

Make sure volunteers know how much they matter. There are many ways to say “thank you,” and it doesn’t have to be the same way for all volunteers. Consider small gifts (not a plaque, but something appropriate for the volunteer you are honoring); recognition of milestones such as ten years of service, 100 hours of service, etc.; thank-you notes, eCards, a one-on-one lunch or just a one-on-one conversation and expression of gratitude; and volunteer-specific events.