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Nonprofit volunteer programs allow organizations to achieve more by leveraging the time, skills, and passion of their volunteers. These programs not only extend your nonprofit's capacity but also build awareness and advocacy as volunteers share your mission with their communities.
If your nonprofit has yet to tap into the potential of volunteers, now is the time to start. In 2023, over 75.5 million Americans volunteered, highlighting the growing opportunity for community-driven support.
In this guide, we’ll cover the essential steps to create and manage a volunteer program that meets your needs, attracts contributors, and keeps them engaged for the long term.
Whether organizing events, sharing professional expertise, or working directly with communities, volunteers provide essential support that helps nonprofits thrive.
For example, Team Rubicon, a disaster relief nonprofit, uses the skills of veteran volunteers to respond quickly to crises, demonstrating how the right volunteers can amplify an organization’s impact.
A volunteer program allows nonprofits to organize and manage people who want to support their cause, ensuring volunteers are effectively recruited, trained, and matched with tasks that align with both their interests and the organization's needs. This structured approach creates dedicated supporters who help drive the nonprofit's mission forward.
4 reasons why a volunteer program is important for nonprofits
1. Affordable solution for growth
Volunteers expand your nonprofit's capacity through their time and expertise. According to Independent Sector's latest data, the estimated value of volunteer time is $33.49 per hour, but the true impact goes beyond monetary value - volunteers bring passion and skills that help nonprofits serve more people and create lasting change in communities.
2. Engagement and advocacy
Well-supported volunteers often become active ambassadors for your cause, recommending volunteer opportunities to colleagues and friends, sharing program achievements on social media, and helping expand your nonprofit's network through word-of-mouth referrals. Their involvement with the mission makes them twice as likely to donate compared to non-volunteers.
3. Provides access to diverse skills and expertise
Volunteers offer valuable skills and expertise, such as marketing, IT support, and strategic planning, that nonprofit founders may not have the resources to cover on their own.
These contributions help organizations operate more efficiently and scale their impact without using up finances.
4. Helps relieve staff workload
By recruiting the right volunteers and matching them with tasks that suit their talents, nonprofits can relieve staff of routine duties such as surveys, community interaction, leadership skills training, blogging and marketing, etc.
1. Define your program’s purpose and identify needs
Before launching specific volunteer initiatives, clearly define what you want to accomplish through each program. For example, if starting a mentorship program, determine:
Number of youths you aim to reach
Type of mentoring support needed
Specific skills required from volunteers
Expected time commitment per volunteer
Understand what your volunteers want – whether it’s skill-building, social connections, or helping to make a difference. Knowing these motivations helps create strong volunteer programs.
For instance, Habitat for Humanity recognized the critical housing shortage in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. By understanding the specific rebuilding needs, they recruited volunteers ready to help with construction and community support.
2. Set clear and achievable goals
Use the SMART framework to set clear goals: make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Avoid overly ambitious plans that exceed your current budget or resources. Allow room to adapt if circumstances change, like unexpected funding increases or challenges.
3. Select a program name
Pick an easy, clever, and memorable name for your program that describes your cause without confusing the supporters. A well-thought-out, catchy name makes the program accessible, piques curiosity within the community, and attracts more supporters by sounding trustworthy.
A mission statement defines the core purpose of your volunteer program, linking your organization’s goals with volunteers’ passion for making a difference. The most effective statements are clear, inspiring, and highlight the specific impact volunteers help create.
Your mission statement should:
Explain the problem you're addressing
Highlight how volunteers make a difference
Create an emotional connection
Show tangible outcomes
Support it with past success stories for similar causes, and include a call for action. Consider adding incentives for joining – nonprofit merchandise or membership benefits, alongside highlighting the satisfaction that community efforts offer.
Budget: Review your organization's financials to determine how much you can allocate for volunteer-related expenses such as training materials, events, and appreciation gifts.
Staffing: Evaluate your team’s current workload. See if you can manage the volunteer opportunities or if you need to hire a dedicated volunteer coordinator.
Technology: Consider using a Volunteer Management System (VMS) to streamline volunteer scheduling, tracking hours, and communication tasks. Assess available options based on your budget and needs.
6. Build a leadership team
Leadership is key to a successful volunteer program, turning individuals into a united team that drives change. Clear roles, like a program director or coordinator, are essential for:
Managing schedules
Supporting volunteers directly
Solving workflow issues
Offering skill development opportunities
Leadership is about connection, not control - it involves listening, offering feedback, and aligning efforts with goals. Effective leaders also explore new opportunities and partnerships to increase the program’s impact.
7. Define volunteer roles
Set clear volunteer roles that match your nonprofit’s needs and volunteers’ skills to ensure everyone’s time is used effectively. Conduct interviews and offer probation days to understand each one’s skill set. Allot documentation, communication, ideation, marketing, and leadership tasks accordingly.
Keep monitoring performance and shuffle roles periodically to help volunteers break the monotony, develop new skills, and connect with new networks.
8. Launch and evaluate
After launching your nonprofit volunteer projects, regularly evaluate performance by interacting with the community, project leaders, and volunteers. Collect data such as volunteer hours, tasks completed, and volunteer satisfaction to understand the areas of improvement.
Encourage them to interact with the rest of the nonprofit team to build camaraderie, understand volunteer sentiments, and strengthen commitment.
Where can you find volunteers for your program?
Diversify your outreach platforms to connect with a wider pool of volunteers and gain sustainable support.
Social media: Share opportunities on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to reach audiences of all age groups and professions
Local schools/universities: Partner with schools and colleges for student volunteer programs
Flyers & posters: Place in community centers, libraries, and coffee shops
Local classifieds: Post volunteer opportunities on Craigslist or Nextdoor
Current supporters: Ask your donors or existing volunteers to spread the word
Collaborate with other nonprofits: Partner with similar nonprofits for mutual recruitment
Tackling common challenges in volunteer programs
1. Volunteer retention
Volunteers risk losing interest if their efforts aren’t recognized or if they feel they aren’t growing. Show appreciation with thank-you notes, recognition events, or small tokens to prevent burnout. Offer opportunities to develop leadership skills or take on more responsibility to keep them engaged.
Finding volunteers for specialized tasks like medical care or language training can be tough. Use niche platforms, contact universities for interns, and offer virtual opportunities to attract individuals with diverse skills.
3. Volunteer burnout
Volunteer burnout often occurs when there's a mismatch between expectations and reality. Common signs include decreased attendance, reduced engagement, and falling behind on commitments. Your nonprofit can prevent volunteer burnout by:
Setting clear time expectations upfront
Rotating volunteers between different tasks
Monitoring individual workloads
Having backup volunteers for key roles
4. Inconsistent communication
Miscommunication or lack of clear expectations can frustrate volunteers. Set clear guidelines for each volunteer role, detailing responsibilities, time commitments, and expectations.
Use email newsletters, shared calendars, or messaging platforms to keep everyone informed. Arrange feedback and one-on-one sessions to address concerns and ensure good communication.
Final thoughts on nonprofit volunteer programs
Volunteers are the backbone of nonprofit organizations, bringing passion, skills, and dedication to the mission. A well-structured volunteer program not only empowers individuals to contribute meaningfully but also strengthens community connections and expands organizational impact.
By creating clear goals, offering engaging roles, and maintaining open communication, nonprofits can build programs that attract and retain committed volunteers. Regular evaluation and appreciation are key to sustaining their involvement.
Investing time and effort into volunteer programs ensures that nonprofits can achieve more, inspire change, and foster lasting relationships with those who share their vision for a better world.
VMS helps nonprofits save time by automating tasks, making recruiting volunteers easier, tracking hours and activities, and simplifying communication.
These tools let you send thank-you notes, impact updates, and event invites based on volunteer interests. You can also carry out background checks to ensure safety.
The main role of volunteers is to support nonprofits with their time, skills, and energy. Volunteers assist with tasks and events and provide expertise in areas such as marketing and outreach. Their involvement helps nonprofits achieve their mission and strengthens the community.
Nonprofit volunteers are not paid, as their focus is on giving back and supporting a cause. Volunteers gain experience, build skills, and create meaningful connections.
Some nonprofits may reimburse travel expenses or offer small stipends for specialized roles.
The only 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits
Learn how to manage volunteers with our guide. Discover volunteer management training, best practices, and tips on how to manage volunteers for successful programs.
A Guide to Recruiting Volunteers for your Nonprofit
Whether your nonprofit organization is looking to streamline its volunteer network, bring on new volunteers, or is simply weighing the pros and cons of volunteer versus paid staff, this guide will help you discover the best practices to follow when implementing a volunteer strategy.
