Maximizing Volunteer Engagement: Key Strategies and Best Practices
stjosephunitedway.org
Harnessing the Power of Volunteers
“The happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more”
stjosephunitedway.org
What Makes a Good Volunteer?
•
If you don’t ask they won’t come
•
Be prepared - know what to ask to make the most of the volunteer experience
•
Look at volunteer’s talents, skills and background
•
Characteristics of a good volunteer
stjosephunitedway.org
Matchmaking - Finding a Good Fit
Things you need to know
•
What are their passions? (understand a little about them)
•
What do they see themselves doing as a volunteer?
•
Why did they come to you?
Remember
•
Their skills and interests need to match the needs of the volunteer opportunity
•
The skills they use at their daily jobs may not be what they want to do as a volunteer
•
Offer a chance to try new things
•
Set clear expectations
stjosephunitedway.org
Growing Volunteers
Expectations and Evaluation
•
Make sure they know and understand your organization’s mission
•
Start with a smaller job/committee and build on responsibilities
•
Like an employee, get and give feedback
Volunteers Recruiting Volunteers
•
Social media
•
Circle of friends and co-workers
•
Practice elevator speeches
•
Talk about volunteer experiences in social settings
•
Peer influence
stjosephunitedway.org
Volunteers as Board Members
•
Not every volunteer makes a good board member
•
It’s important that volunteer board members:
•
Understand your organization’s mission
•
Are Involved in shaping your strategic plan
•
Make sure board members are transparent and comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions
•
Identify board members that offer expertise in a variety of areas
•
Position them to be the experts
•
The best volunteer board members will be engaged beyond regular board meetings
stjosephunitedway.org
The Value of Relationships
Why Use Volunteers to Fundraise?
•
Volunteers can magnify your reach
•
Peer influence
•
Who better to ask someone to give than someone they know and trust?
How Do you Make Volunteers Effective at Fundraising?
•
Not every volunteer is a fit for “making the ask”
•
Set clear expectations
•
Role play/practice
•
Give volunteers tools to be successful
stjosephunitedway.org
Good Vol
unteer
s Gone Bad
Like any relationship, sometimes it just doesn’t work out
•
They want to serve in a capacity that doesn’t fit your organization’s needs
•
Their skill set doesn’t match your organization’s needs
•
Availability
What can you do?
•
Coaching
•
Help them find another organization that is a better fit
•
Focusing on volunteer’s strengths and asking them to consider serving in a different capacity
stjosephunitedway.org
Show Them the LOVE!
Show Appreciation and Gratitude
•
Volunteers can be your greatest advocates and assets
•
Make volunteers feel needed and appreciated
•
Thank! Thank! Thank!
Examples
•
Handwritten thank you notes
•
Phone call
•
Social media
•
Reception
THANK YOU!
stjosephunitedway.org
“Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but
because they are
priceless.
”
Jay
Explore the power of volunteers through effective recruitment, matching, and engagement strategies. Learn how to identify and nurture good volunteers, leverage their skills for organizational success, and empower them to fundraise effectively. Discover the value of building meaningful relationships and engaging volunteers as board members for long-term impact.
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Presentation Transcript
Harnessing the Power of Volunteers The happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more stjosephunitedway.org
What Makes a Good Volunteer? If you don t ask they won t come Be prepared - know what to ask to make the most of the volunteer experience Look at volunteer s talents, skills and background Characteristics of a good volunteer stjosephunitedway.org
Matchmaking - Finding a Good Fit Things you need to know What are their passions? (understand a little about them) What do they see themselves doing as a volunteer? Why did they come to you? Remember Their skills and interests need to match the needs of the volunteer opportunity The skills they use at their daily jobs may not be what they want to do as a volunteer Offer a chance to try new things Set clear expectations stjosephunitedway.org
Growing Volunteers Expectations and Evaluation Make sure they know and understand your organization s mission Start with a smaller job/committee and build on responsibilities Like an employee, get and give feedback Volunteers Recruiting Volunteers Social media Circle of friends and co-workers Practice elevator speeches Talk about volunteer experiences in social settings Peer influence stjosephunitedway.org
Volunteers as Board Members Not every volunteer makes a good board member It s important that volunteer board members: Understand your organization s mission Are Involved in shaping your strategic plan Make sure board members are transparent and comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions Identify board members that offer expertise in a variety of areas Position them to be the experts The best volunteer board members will be engaged beyond regular board meetings stjosephunitedway.org
The Value of Relationships Why Use Volunteers to Fundraise? Volunteers can magnify your reach Peer influence Who better to ask someone to give than someone they know and trust? How Do you Make Volunteers Effective at Fundraising? Not every volunteer is a fit for making the ask Set clear expectations Role play/practice Give volunteers tools to be successful stjosephunitedway.org
Good Volunteers Gone Bad Like any relationship, sometimes it just doesn t work out They want to serve in a capacity that doesn t fit your organization s needs Their skill set doesn t match your organization s needs Availability What can you do? Coaching Help them find another organization that is a better fit Focusing on volunteer s strengths and asking them to consider serving in a different capacity stjosephunitedway.org
Show Them the LOVE! Show Appreciation and Gratitude Volunteers can be your greatest advocates and assets Make volunteers feel needed and appreciated Thank! Thank! Thank! Examples Handwritten thank you notes Phone call Social media Reception stjosephunitedway.org
THANK YOU! Volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless. stjosephunitedway.org
