Leading Volunteers to Success 3066

Leading Volunteers to Success

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There is no question of the benefits that volunteers can bring to an organization. In 2015 the nonprofit organization Independent Sector valued volunteer time at $23.56 per hour[i]. Beyond the fiscal benefit, volunteers can help you to grow existing programs, create a more efficient workflow, and help increase your base of support. A truly effective volunteer program will help an organization better support their mission and vision—but instituting or improving a volunteer program is time-consuming and shouldn’t be done without careful thought and consideration.  

Recruit and Screen: Recruitment doesn’t mean just finding volunteers, it means finding the right volunteers. A successful recruitment process understands that not all volunteers are created alike and a targeted approach to recruitment can create better results. Determine your needs and segment your volunteer recruitment approach accordingly.

Orient and Train: You wouldn’t expect to start a job without being provided with some type of organizational orientation and job-specific training—and volunteers should be provided with the same courtesy. Your orientation should provide volunteers with an introduction to your organization as a whole, and your training needs to be task-specific, tailored to each volunteer position.

Supervise and Provide Feedback: Much like with paid staff, volunteers benefit from having someone to provide them with feedback. Providing this feedback benefits both your organization and the volunteer. Keep in mind that different volunteers have differing needs and work styles. Take time to build strong relationships, set expectations, and provide a two-way system of communication.

Recognize, Thank, and Engage: What makes volunteers want to keep coming back? Feeling valued! Engaging volunteers and formally recognizing the impact that volunteers are making is critical on the path to success. Create a sense of community by finding ways to bring volunteers together outside of their normal volunteer activities.

Measure Impact: Evaluation is a critical step in understanding the success of your volunteer program. Programs that have tangible evaluation results often attract potential funders, build community support, and recruit potential volunteers.

In our new instructor-led online course, Nonprofit Workshop: Leading Volunteers to Success, we’ll learn from each other as we explore these topics, and much more. 
News Raiser's Edge® Blog 01/06/2017 8:00am EST

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