Programs to Increase Volunteer Work
Volunteers are people who work on behalf of a cause without being paid. Volunteering takes many forms and is performed by both skilled and unskilled persons of all ages. Volunteers are motivated by both idealism; that is, working to promote the common good, and also by personal reasons. Some personal reasons for volunteering include the desire to feel needed, to make new friends and to be recognized. Successful programs intended to increase volunteer work must address both motivations.
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Recruitment Program
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To address the idealistic motivation in potential volunteers, an agency needs to get the word out to the community about the good work they are doing. Public speaking engagements, press releases and brochures that communicate the effectiveness of the agency attract the attention of potential volunteers. Messages encouraging volunteers should be included in all communications. To meet the volunteer's personal needs at the recruitment level, the agency should provide a friendly and helpful contact person to answer the potential volunteer's questions.
Management Program
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One often neglected aspect of volunteer management is the creation of job descriptions for volunteer positions. Volunteers want to know what they will be doing, when they are expected to do it and who they will answer to. New volunteers should be matched up with more experienced volunteers in order to provide direction and social contact. Volunteer hours should be recorded and totaled monthly. This not only gives the volunteer feedback on their impact but also is an asset that can be monetized as in-kind contributions.
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Training Program
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Volunteers should get the same respect that employees do. Providing training programs not only helps them do their job better, it also makes them feel valued. Be sure to include some time during training for volunteers to socialize with one another since this is one of their personal motivations for volunteering.
Recognition Program
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Many organizations host annual volunteer appreciation events to formally thank volunteers for their service. Certificates of appreciation are often awarded as part of volunteer recognition, and this is most effective if done publicly. However, volunteers should be recognized throughout the year with words of appreciation for the time and energy they are giving to the agency. A faithful volunteer may be the agency's biggest donor.
Program Review
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Volunteer recruitment, management, and recognition programs should be reviewed at least annually, preferably with feedback from the volunteers themselves. Some agencies use volunteer satisfaction surveys for this, while others use informal discussions. The number of volunteers and the hours they have logged should be reviewed and compared to previous years to spot any trends that may require an adjustment in the volunteer program.
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References
Resources
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