2024 in Review: Top Blogs, Features, Case Studies & Resources

As we reflect on the past year, we’re proud to highlight the thought leadership content, VolunteerHub features, VolunteerHub case studies, and resources that received the most views over the last 12 months. Our focus has been on delivering actionable advice, innovative solutions, and actionable strategies to help organizations recruit, engage, and manage their volunteers more effectively. This year’s highlights represent the challenges nonprofits face and the creative ways they’re overcoming them to drive meaningful change in their communities.

Top 10 VolunteerHub Blog Articles in 2024

The VolunteerHub blog reaches over half a million readers annually, offering practical insights and strategies to elevate volunteer recruitment, engagement, and management. As we look back on 2024, here are the top 10 blog posts that received the most views and engagement from our audience. 

1. Improving the Volunteer Experience
   This article discusses how nonprofits can enhance their volunteer programs by focusing on clear communication, providing supportive environments, offering flexible volunteer opportunities, and facilitating personal growth.

2. Motivating Volunteers: 10 Tips and Tricks
   This post provides practical strategies for nonprofits to inspire and retain their volunteer base. It talks about the importance of showing appreciation, offering meaningful opportunities, and fostering a sense of community among volunteers. 

3. How to Manage Volunteers Effectively
   This article provides advice for nonprofits to enhance their volunteer management programs. Key recommendations include recognizing the value of volunteers, investing in appropriate management tools, maintaining authentic communication, and providing consistent training.

4. Recruiting Volunteers on Social Media
   This post outlines seven strategies for nonprofits to effectively utilize social media in volunteer recruitment, including creating compelling content that showcases volunteer impact, incorporating video and hashtags to increase engagement, and maintaining consistent posting schedules. 

5. Creating an Effective Volunteer Training Program
   This article offers essential steps for nonprofits to develop effective volunteer training programs. It emphasizes aligning training with the organization's mission, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and providing continuous support and evaluation to ensure volunteers are well-prepared and engaged. 

6. The Ultimate Guide to Corporate Volunteerism: Engage, Inspire, Impact
   This post outlines the significance of corporate volunteerism in enhancing company culture and community engagement. It provides a comprehensive framework for developing such programs, including identifying key stakeholders, setting clear goals, and creating an actionable plan. 

7. How to Manage Challenging Volunteers
   This article offers actionable strategies for nonprofit organizations to address and improve difficult volunteer behaviors. It emphasizes the importance of establishing clear policies, assessing individual situations objectively, and engaging in open communication to resolve issues effectively.

8. Creating an Effective Volunteer Management Process
   This post provides several key approaches for nonprofits to enhance their volunteer programs. It emphasizes setting SMART goals, boosting engagement with volunteers, converting donors into active participants, and implementing technology to streamline management processes. 

9. How to Encourage Your Employees to Volunteer
   This article discusses the benefits of corporate volunteer programs, such as improved employee engagement, team building, and enhanced company reputation. It outlines strategies to promote employee participation, including offering flexible volunteering schedules, aligning opportunities with employee skills, and recognizing volunteer efforts.

10. How to Successfully Keep Track of Volunteer Hours
    This post discusses the importance of logging volunteer time to accurately assess contributions, enhance program efficiency and secure funding. It highlights benefits such as calculating return on investment, demonstrating community support, articulating impact, securing grant funding, driving donations,

    We have hundreds of articles on our blog that can help you streamline your volunteer management efforts, check the posts above and many others on the VolunteerHub blog. 
    
    

Top 5 VolunteerHub Feature Pages

In 2024, we introduced several new features to our leading volunteer management software and enhanced existing ones. These updates were designed to help nonprofits manage their volunteer programs more efficiently and effectively. Below are the feature pages that received the most views and engagement on our website, reflecting the challenges that nonprofits are looking to solve. 

1. Volunteer Scheduling
   Our volunteer scheduling features allow volunteers to self-register, sign up for opportunities, or join waitlists for events that interest them, enhancing engagement and participation while reducing admin tasks. 
2. Volunteer Database
   VolunteerHub's volunteer database streamlines the organization of volunteer information through an intuitive user dashboard.
3. Volunteer Check-In
   VolunteerHub provides several ways for volunteers to check in to opportunities including self-check-in, administrative check-in, and contactless options like QR codes. This flexibility accommodates various event scenarios, such as managing walk-up volunteers and granting hours at different stages—registration, check-in, or check-out.
4. Rewards and Recognition
   VolunteerHub's rewards and recognition features enhance volunteer engagement by introducing gamification elements into volunteer management. Organizations can assign point values to volunteer opportunities, allowing participants to earn points redeemable for designated rewards, thereby fostering motivation and appreciation.
5. Landing Pages
   VolunteerHub's Landing Pages feature enables organizations to create unlimited, custom-branded pages tailored to specific volunteer events, community groups, or corporate sponsors.
   
   

2024 Case Studies (Podcasts)

MUST Ministries Transitions from Volunteers for Salesforce to VolunteerHub

MUST Ministries, a nonprofit serving approximately 70,000 clients annually, transitioned from Volunteers for Salesforce to VolunteerHub to enhance their volunteer management capabilities. Key factors influencing this decision included the need for a user-friendly interface that allows volunteers to self-manage their schedules, improved tracking of group volunteer participation, and integration with background check processes. Since implementing VolunteerHub, MUST Ministries has experienced increased efficiency in volunteer coordination and enhanced engagement with their volunteer base.

Atlanta Mission: Boosting Volunteer Impact with VolunteerHub

Atlanta Mission, Georgia's largest and longest-running provider of homeless services, utilizes VolunteerHub to streamline volunteer operations across its campuses. The platform's integration with Salesforce and Sterling Volunteers enhances efficiency in managing volunteer data and background checks. Key features such as user groups, customized landing pages, and robust reporting capabilities have significantly improved volunteer engagement and coordination for the organization.

Foodbank Leverages VolunteerHub & Points of Light

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore utilize VolunteerHub to enhance volunteer experiences, streamline operations, and simplify data reporting. Serving a vast area of approximately 4,700 square miles, the organization coordinates around 7,000 volunteers annually to combat food insecurity.

Feeding America Food Bank Loves VolunteerHub + Raiser's Edge

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank, affiliated with Feeding America, has significantly enhanced its volunteer management by integrating VolunteerHub with Raiser's Edge. This integration has streamlined operations, allowing the organization to efficiently coordinate approximately 1,700 volunteers annually who assist in packing, sorting, and inspecting food donations.

Top 5 VolunteerHub Resources

These resources provided valuable tools and insights to help nonprofits get the most value from their volunteer programs. Here are our most downloaded resources in 2024. 

1. Case Studies
2. The Book on Volunteer Management
3. 7 Tips for Reviewing Your Volunteer Program
4. Google Grants Application Check-List
5. What to Look for in Volunteer Management Software

Thank You for an Incredible Year. We’re thrilled that our content has helped so many organizations grow and optimize their volunteer programs in 2024. Stay tuned for even more resources and insights in 2025!