How To Get More FromEvery Volunteer

By: Tom Okarma

Many agencies take a passive approach when dealing with volunteers.

They gratefully accept virtually anyone who comes through the doors, and assign them to an area with the most urgent need.

Often this is without regard to the volunteer’s own skills, and or any formal training or orientation.

Not exactly a recipe for success…

Fortunately, there is a better way, to actively engage your volunteer workforce.

Here are 14 Ways to help turn your volunteers into a powerful team to make a significant

impact in your community.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

1. Remember, all volunteers could be doing other things. Respect them, and celebrate their efforts and successes.

2. Treat your volunteers as “partners” not part-time workers. Remember they are critical for your success.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

3. Volunteers can save your organization a lot of money if you can tap into their talents and align their skills with agency needs.

4. Learn why your volunteers want to help and let them do what fills that need, if you can.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

5. Develop a Philosophy of Volunteer Engagement Policy so everyone from the boardroom to the mailroom understands how volunteers should be treated and utilized.

6. Your volunteer coordinator should meet with and interview each volunteer candidate to determine fit, skill sets, desires and how best that person can deployed at the agency, based on agency needs.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

7. Look for synergies and opportunities for alignment between their experience and agency needs.

8. Clearly explain the agency mission, vision, values, and needs.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

9. Integrate your volunteers into the organization just as you would a staff or board member.

10. Volunteers will need orientation, training, and periodic retraining.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

11. Treat volunteers like insiders. Share information and stories of impact. Volunteers want to know they are making a difference.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

12. Include them in staff meetings, whenever possible.

13. Meet with them periodically to get feedback.

14. Celebrate their service and thank them through luncheons, awards, etc.

14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer

According to LinkedIn, more than 4 million people have shown interest in volunteering. Whether its retirees, those no longer content with

success alone, but searching for significance, today’s millennials, and many others with significant skills want to make a difference, and are

exploring ways nonprofits might feed their desire to help.

I challenge you to embrace the volunteers you have, show your appreciation for their efforts, and tap into them to expand your

existing volunteer base.

Remember, from one can come many.

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14 Ways to Get More Out of Every Volunteer