Strategies for Keeping Volunteers Engaged
Retention Strategies for a Nonprofit Volunteer Workforce
Jul 6, 2009
An active corps of volunteers is crucial for the success of any given community service and nonprofit organization. These organizations rely on the commitment of unpaid personnel to accomplish key aspects of their work such as fund raising, clerical tasks, and direct service. A regular paycheck and benefits help keep employees on the job but how do service clubs and not for profit entities keep their volunteers working when there isn’t a steady paycheck? Here are a few strategies for keeping volunteers actively engaged and productive.
Ensure That the Expectations of the Volunteer Mesh with the Work They Are to Perform
During the recruitment phase, ask prospective volunteers what they expect to gain from their work with the organization and what type of work they would like to do. Make sure that the work to be done and the degree of involvement offered by the organization is in line with those expectations. A volunteer that expects to lead a fund raising event will not be happy doing clerical work in support of that event.
Communicate the Expectations of the Organization
While volunteers are not paid for their work, the company is relying on them to perform certain duties. A job description is essential so that the volunteer understands what is expected in terms of a time commitment and type of work to be done. This provides a good tool for comparing the volunteer’s expectations against the needs and requirements of the organization. A clear understanding as to what is required by both parties helps keep volunteers engaged.
Recognize and Reward Volunteers
This is the most basic principle. Volunteers may toil away on projects because they feel strongly about the mission and vision of the organization or service club but make no mistake everyone wants to be recognized for their efforts.
Recognition can include:
- Public acknowledgement of their hours of service, years of involvement, financial contributions and/or successful completion of a project (e.g. chairing and organizing a fund raising event) on the organization’s website, in trade publications, annual reports or special events.
- In addition, private acknowledgement is very important. Hand written thank you notes, telephone calls or invitations to lunch are important tools for recognizing the efforts of volunteers.
- Rewards for service can include certificates, pins or special jewelry that marks years of service. These rewards can be presented during an annual volunteer recognition event.
Volunteers are a committed workforce that donate their time, talents and energy for a worthy cause not for remuneration. Keeping volunteers engaged in the work of the organization can be accomplished by ensuring that their expectations match their roles and their efforts are rewarded and recognized.
