How to Foster a Positive Experience for Volunteers
Effective communication, gather feedback, supportive training, flexible scheduling, recognition of efforts, and creating opportunities for growth.
Updated February 2024
1. Communicate effectively with volunteers
- When volunteers first sign up, send a welcome email with an overview of your organization’s mission and impact on the community.
- Effective communication is essential to creating positive experiences and retaining volunteers long-term.
2. Gather volunteer feedback
- Receiving feedback is important to continually improve the volunteer’s experience.
- Feedback can be done through emails, phone calls, face-to-face meetings, or anonymous forms.
3. Provide training and support
- Use a variety of training methods and resources.
- Provide ongoing support to volunteers, including online resources, mentoring, and regular check-ins.
4. Flexible scheduling
- Can reach more volunteers by being flexible with scheduling and offering varying levels of time commitments.
- Promotes an environment that respects volunteers and their time.
5. Recognize volunteers’ contributions
- Rewards and recognition can play a key role in improving the experience for volunteers.
- Personalize recognition to show that the organization values the individual’s efforts and contributions.
- Make recognitions public to show volunteers that their efforts are valued and appreciated.
6. Create opportunities for growth
- Many volunteers see volunteering as an opportunity to develop or enhance their skills.
- By providing personal growth opportunities, organizations can retain volunteers and improve their experience.
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