Is Volunteer Retention a Priority for Your Organisation? It Should Be!

We all appreciate those who give their time and energy voluntarily. Our members report that recruiting volunteers has become increasingly difficult in recent years, making retaining current volunteers more critical than ever. Even with an excellent volunteer recruitment strategy, these new relationships won’t thrive without significant effort in volunteer retention.

Retaining volunteers is cost-effective; recruiting and training new volunteers can drain your organisation’s time and resources. Volunteers who have been with you longer have already undergone training and developed the knowledge and skills in-house needed to make a substantial impact.

Get to Know Your Volunteers!

Understand Their Interests: Ask your volunteers about their interests, experiences, and hobbies. Learn why they chose to volunteer, why they chose your organisation, and what they hope to achieve from volunteering.

Personalise Communication: Keep it personal by using their names in communications and opting for phone calls instead of endless emails when possible.

Integrate Them into the Team: Introduce them to the rest of the team and include them in social events.

Communicate Clearly: Avoid jargon or acronyms that can exclude them.

Be Honest: Don’t sugarcoat tasks. Be upfront about the realities, even if it’s standing with a collection tin for 4 hours.

Show Appreciation: Clearly express the difference they have made through their efforts.

Empower Volunteers!

Provide Growth Opportunities: When volunteers are given opportunities for growth and development, they feel valued and are more likely to stay engaged.

Equip Them Properly: Provide the necessary resources and tools, whether it’s a pen and paper or a computer with the right software.

Offer Training: Provide training in-house, online, or through an external provider.

Develop Skills: Empower volunteers by developing their skills through coaching, mentoring, role modelling, or expanding their volunteering opportunities. These resources support their learning, and growth, and can enhance commitment.

Conduct 1:1 Sessions and Reviews: Treat volunteers as co-workers by providing one-on-one sessions and annual performance reviews to show support and a desire to see them succeed.

Be Flexible!

Flexible Scheduling: Discuss with volunteers the times and days that balance volunteering with other commitments and let them know these can be revisited as needed.

Variety of Opportunities: Offer a variety of volunteer roles that cater to different skills, interests, and time commitments. Allow for role rotation to keep volunteers engaged and motivated.

Remote Volunteering: Be open to offering remote volunteering opportunities, which is particularly useful for those with limited mobility or busy schedules.

Short-term Projects: Provide short-term and project-based opportunities. Not all volunteers can commit long-term, so offering short-term projects or event-based volunteering can attract those with limited availability, who may return for future short-term opportunities.

Recognise and Reward Volunteers!

Host Appreciation Events: Recognition is a powerful motivator and retention tool. If possible, host volunteer appreciation events to honour their hard work.

Seek Volunteer Input: Regularly ask volunteers for their input on improving their experience and act on their suggestions. This demonstrates that you value their opinions and are willing to make changes to accommodate their needs.

Personalise Recognition: Identify and praise the individual strengths and preferences of your volunteers. This personal approach can enhance their satisfaction and commitment.

Highlight Achievements: Recognise volunteers on social media and in your newsletter. Share their success stories to celebrate their contributions.

People volunteer because they want to make a difference in the world. They have busy lives and competing responsibilities, just like everyone else. They won’t continue to donate their time and energy if they don’t feel like they’re making a difference. Remember, a happy volunteer is a loyal volunteer.