Here are 7 tips to incorporate into your plan for a better volunteer engagement strategy that keeps supporters coming back.
Recruiting volunteers is only the first step; the real challenge lies in building a sustainable volunteer engagement strategy that keeps volunteers motivated, happy, and eager to return. An effective engagement strategy spans the entire volunteer lifecycle, from onboarding to consistent communication and recognition.
In this post, we present seven tips to help your nonprofit keep its most important supporters engaged.
Understanding Volunteer Motivation for Better Engagement
Although volunteers want to help your organization, they often have personal reasons for their involvement. Some may seek a break from their day jobs, others might want to apply specific expertise like marketing or accounting, while others look to gain experience for their resumes or connect socially with like-minded people.
One of the quickest ways to lose a volunteer is by ignoring their motivations. Instead, take the time to match volunteers' interests to the tasks you assign. Aligning a volunteer's passions with their role goes a long way in ensuring they come back.
Use Your Volunteer Engagement Strategy to Tell a Story
A great way to deepen a volunteer's connection to your cause is by focusing on your mission. Share the stories of the people or communities your nonprofit supports. Inspire your volunteers with visuals—photos or videos of your team in action. Storytelling helps volunteers see the impact of their time and effort, fostering a stronger sense of purpose.
Boost Volunteer Engagement with Orientation, Training, and Feedback
Volunteers expect professionalism and organization from your nonprofit. Proper onboarding, including orientation and training, lays the foundation for a positive experience. Provide a handbook outlining policies, individual roles, and how each role contributes to the larger mission.
Ease new volunteers into their roles by pairing them with experienced supporters. Let volunteers know they will receive periodic feedback, and ensure they have opportunities to share suggestions. Consistent communication fosters trust, improves your program, and keeps volunteers happy.
Be Flexible
Flexibility is essential for volunteer engagement. Busy schedules mean that offering a variety of time slots is critical. Use cloud-based scheduling tools, like VolunteerHub, to allow volunteers to register for shifts easily from any device. Flexibility shows you value their time and commitment, making it easier for them to stay involved.
Foster Community to Strengthen Volunteer Engagement
Creating a sense of community among your volunteers can increase retention and satisfaction. Organize opportunities that are not only impactful but also fun. Social interactions during volunteer activities build camaraderie, encouraging volunteers to return.
Leverage social media to keep volunteers connected, but don’t underestimate the power of in-person connections. Whether through team-building activities or informal gatherings, building relationships among your volunteers can enhance their overall experience.
Stay in Touch
Ongoing communication is critical for volunteer engagement. Keep volunteers informed about upcoming opportunities through email, text, or even a dedicated volunteer portal. (Learn how tools like VolunteerHub make this easy.)
In addition, share your organization’s successes regularly. Show volunteers the tangible impact of their efforts through newsletters, social media posts, or videos. Include specific details, such as the number of individuals helped, total volunteer hours contributed, or milestones achieved, and bring your stories to life with photos and videos.
Show Appreciation
Don’t forget to say “thank you.” Let volunteers know how much you appreciate their work each time they volunteer. And, although verbal encouragement is always welcomed, be sure to make a formal effort to recognize volunteers as well. Plan a party to say thanks or give small gifts on volunteer anniversaries. Communicate how much volunteers mean to you, and it will increase the likelihood of them coming back.
Engage More Volunteers
Incorporating these strategies into your volunteer engagement plan will improve retention, foster meaningful relationships, and build a strong, loyal volunteer base. Engagement isn’t just an optional effort—it’s the foundation of a thriving volunteer program. Volunteers who feel valued and connected to your mission often become donors and advocates, helping to recruit others.
Ready to improve your volunteer engagement strategy? Explore how VolunteerHub can help you streamline scheduling, communication, and retention efforts for your nonprofit.
