What makes volunteers stay

Why is that? Make it a habit to reflect upon your own volunteering experiences, noting the pros and cons, your overall impression and your likelihood to volunteer for that event or organization in the future.

Remember that good old Golden Rule — do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is HUGE! There are countless ways to thank your volunteers and they should be shown appreciation all the time! And, who knows, these efforts could also contribute to turning your volunteers into donors as well! Provide a Great Experience One of the most surefire ways to encourage volunteers to help out again and again is by providing the best volunteer experience possible. So, what makes a great volunteer experience?

Ask yourself: When you interact with volunteers, does your demeanor exude positivity, excitement and passion? Make Their Effort Worth Their Time If you think about it, there are few things a person can give that are more valuable than their time. Be Flexible Your supporters have busy lives outside of your organization, just like you do! Go Above and Beyond Even just a little bit of extra effort can really go a long way for retaining those valuable volunteers!

Here are three quick things you can do to add value back into your relationships with your volunteers: Start a Conversation With Them.

Listen to Them. Get to know them. Give Volunteers a Boost Some people volunteer to help others. Volunteers like to have a particular person who looks after them. If your organization does not have a volunteer coordinator, be sure to assign someone to be the point person for your volunteers.

Neglect can be deadly. A forgotten volunteer won't return, and you may have lost a donor as well. Let your volunteers know how they are making a difference. Share success stories about your clients and programs.

Bring volunteers up-to-date on progress toward your organization's goals. Let them see your work in action through tours, presentations on the issues by your experts, and by inviting them to provide suggestions about how your work can be done even better. Volunteering is a great way for many people to socialize, so provide the opportunity to do so. Become a matchmaker for friend-making.

If you think a couple of volunteers would get along famously, provide that opportunity by assigning them to do a particular job together. Keep in mind that younger volunteers especially enjoy volunteering as a group, particularly with their workgroups. Actively seek out companies that provide employee volunteer programs and plan opportunities that work well for them. Anyone who is willing to volunteer for an organization is likely to have a healthy curiosity and willingness to try new things.

Indeed, many volunteers get involved with causes just so they can learn new skills or about interesting topics and issues. Provide that opportunity. Turning your volunteer job into a mini educational experience will be highly valued by potential volunteers, and will likely result in some great referrals as your volunteers tell others about what a great experience they had working with you. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Some of the most satisfying work for volunteers comes from direct contact with the individuals your organization serves. They can see the benefits of their work in their role as an aid, mentor, or another capacity.

Many people use volunteer service to cultivate new interests or to help them make important education decisions. Others hope their volunteer work will help advance their careers. When onboarding a recruit, it is important to ask about their personal goals and what they hope to gain from their experience with your organization.

Do your best to give volunteers tasks where they can see instant results. This will assure they have the best volunteer experience possible. Some volunteers choose an organization because they are obsessed with who or what they serve.

For example, someone might decide to volunteer with Animal Friends or the Humane Society because they have a true passion for animals. They may already foster dogs and cats at home and want to do as much as they can for their furry friends. Volunteering is a great way for them to do this because it immerses them into a family-type, group atmosphere, where everyone is working toward a common goal. This removes the pressure and anxiety that might come from normal social situations and make it easier for them to open up.

Provide a variety of different options so that your organization can appeal to millennial professionals, a busy soccer mom or the retiree who may have more time. Saying thank you is probably the simplest and easiest thing an organization can do. In addition, you can send a thank your card to their home, including a volunteer spotlight in a newsletter, or plan a volunteer appreciation lunch.

Regular communication is motivating for volunteers while the lack of it is one of the main reasons volunteers become dissatisfied. If your organization does not have a volunteer coordinator, assign someone to be the point of contact for your volunteers. Including the volunteer coordinator on your fundraising team is a great idea since volunteers typically are your best donors. Also, respond quickly to any volunteer concerns. Let your volunteers know their impact by sharing success stories about your programs.

For example, share with them about the new building your nonprofit was able to add to your organization from proceeds from your Derby Duck Race. Update them on how your organization is progressing towards its goals. Give them tours and invite them to presentations your nonprofit is having.