Five Good Ideas about engaging today’s volunteers

Although close to half of all Canadians volunteer to some extent, the reasons for their engagement are much different than in previous decades. While today’s volunteers still possess a strong desire to make a contribution to the community, they also seek experiences that respond to their personal goals and interests, can showcase and develop their job skills, and grow their professional networks. They prefer short-term assignments that have flexible timelines and seek stimulating experiences where they can directly influence outcomes of projects that really make a difference.

With all the legislation and emerging risk management issues affecting volunteer management, how do non-profits respond to the preferences of today’s volunteers, while at the same time ensure reliability and accountability for results? David Allen shared ideas for finding, motivating and retaining enough of the right volunteers to meet your non-profit’s priorities and policies.

Five Good Ideas

1. Create a variety of roles (i.e., short-term vs long-term; group vs independent; creative vs routine) with job descriptions that highlight impact.
2. Invest significant time to understanding what motivates each of your volunteers and match them to the right role.
3. Respect the volunteer’s time and expertise. Where possible, avoid hierarchical structures, micro-management and bureaucracy.
4. Provide opportunities for continuous learning, skill development, mentoring and networking.
5. Recognize volunteers frequently and in meaningful ways (i.e., one-to-one; showcasing the difference they’ve made; using appropriate rewards).

Resources

1. Bridging the Gap: Enriching the Volunteer Experience to Build a Better Future for Our Communities, 2010 (Volunteer Canada)
2. Managing the Volunteer Cycle – Issue 20.1, 2012 (Canadian Journal of Volunteer Resources Management)
3. Strategic Volunteer Engagement: A Guide for Non-profit and Public Sector Leaders, 2009 (RGK Centre for Philanthropy and Community Service)
4. Volunteer Recognition Study (Volunteer Canada) – 2013
5. Volunteer Toronto’s Website: Services for Organizations