Volunteerism can make a significant impact on your nonprofit. As a result, it’s the reason why hundreds of groups create a volunteer program for their organizations. So, before we share our tips for volunteerism, let’s see why it could make a big impact.
Did you know?
- The average volunteer time is worth $24.
- Last year, volunteers provided $184 billion worth of their time to charity.
- Many nonprofits operate entirely using volunteers.
When you recruit volunteers, you engage people to get a first-hand and personal look at the work you do. In short, a volunteer program provides prospective supporters and donors in your community an opportunity to get involved. And when people get involved, they get to know you, and want to support your cause!
If you’d like to create a volunteer program for your charity, we have a few tips to make sure you’re successful.
Tip #1: Set Manageable Goals
When you look to create a volunteer program, think about developing manageable goals. Consider your vision, goals, and organizational values. Then devise a way to communicate them concisely. Remember, you want to share the spirit of your volunteer program with your community. But you also want to get your team on board with it, and understanding the value for your organization.
Additionally, as you prepare your recruitment materials, think of how you will effectively convey the volunteer program. In other words, how will you effectively serve the community with it? Another question includes, the goals for your volunteers and the impact they will make. Remember, people want to know they belong to something that makes an impact. Moreover, they want an opportunity to make a difference. Also consider who your volunteers will help. Finally, how long will you need their assistance?
Tip #2: Develop an Organized Volunteer Database
If you will lead the volunteer program, gather the critical information for your volunteers. For instance, you want to include names, addresses, and telephone numbers. But you also want to record what volunteers will do and when they’re available to do it. Remember, you also want to keep track of the hours your volunteers provide your nonprofit.
If you have the resources to invest in a CRM, you should, because it’ll make your volunteer program more effective. Further, you’ll increase engagement and keep things coordinated. For instance, it’s essential to integrate the information with your donor information. Ultimately, it’ll only increase the chances your volunteers will become donors and ongoing supporters.
Tip #3: Recruit a Volunteer Program Coordinator
It’s essential to recruit someone who is accountable and responsible for creating your volunteer program. So, take a look at your team. Look for strengths such as high emotional intelligence and people skills. Then, see if someone could integrate hours, each week, to develop and implement a program. Ideally, this should become the sole job of one person.
However, if you don’t have anyone who could become a volunteer coordinator, think about getting an enthusiastic supporter to your program. And remember, whoever gets selected should be personable, motivated, and passionate about your nonprofit organization and the work it does within the community. Remember, that enthusiasm is infectious!
Tip #4: Streamline the Volunteer Program Process
People have short attention spans, and they expect ease when they join a nonprofit as supporters. So, make it a point to have an easy process for people to go through to volunteer. For instance, set-up a survey on your website for interested people for volunteering. Make sure it’s quick, easy and user-friendly.
If you want to vet your prospective volunteers further, schedule a conversation. Ultimately, you want to get to know the reasons why they want to get involved with your group. But you also want to learn about their skills and where they could make the most significant impact. And remember to make it a win/win for your organization and also for them within your volunteer program.
Tip #5: Establish a Volunteer Recognition Process
No volunteer program is complete without considering how to show your gratitude to your volunteers. After all, even if these individuals aren’t making financial gifts to your nonprofit, they’re still donating their time and energy to support your mission.
One of the most common volunteer recognition strategies is sending thank-you notes. These notes can be cards sent through direct mail, an email, or even a text. Simply include a heartfelt message about how volunteers’ work positively impacts your nonprofit and how grateful you are for their support. You might also send them a small gift, just like businesses will send customers gifts to show appreciation.
Another strategy is to highlight a volunteer group on social media. For example, let’s say that your nonprofit is environmentally-focused, and you decide to host a community clean-up event. After the event, take a photo of the group and post it on social media. In the post, thank your volunteers for showing up to this event and leading a successful community cleanup. That way, your volunteers receive public appreciation for their efforts.
Regardless of what recognition process you implement, take steps to make it feel meaningful for your volunteers. That could be as simple as personalizing your messages with the volunteer’s name or as involved as sending them a video message from your staff. You want to make your volunteers feel special to encourage them to continue supporting your nonprofit.
Volunteers make a big impact on nonprofits by donating their time and energy to support your mission. Ensure that volunteering at your organization goes smoothly by thoughtfully creating a volunteer program that makes it easy for volunteers to give you their time. Then, properly steward these connections to form strong, long-lasting relationships.
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