7 Strategies to Maximize the Potential of Your Volunteers

by Matt Ashley

If your organization relies on volunteers, ensuring you're getting the most out of their time and contributions is essential. Volunteers can be invaluable assets, and maximizing their potential is critical to achieving your goals and ultimately doing more for your mission. 
 
Here are 7 strategies that will set the foundation to help you get the most out of your volunteers:

1.  Provide Clear Expectations

• Clearly defining volunteer roles and responsibilities and what you need them to accomplish is crucial. 
• Consider providing a detailed job description, a list of tasks, and clear guidelines for how volunteers should perform tasks.  
• Set high but achievable goals and communicate what meeting those goals can do for the mission.
• Remind them that they are representing the organization

2.  Be Well Organized 

• A volunteer's time is valuable to them. Keep meetings on task and efficient. 
• An organized agenda should be shared ahead of a meeting.
• Disperse the workload amongst chair positions and subcommittees to help everyone feel they are contributing and making an impact.

3.  Offer Flexibility

• Volunteers have careers, their own lives, and busy schedules to manage. 
• Being flexible where appropriate can help attract and retain volunteers by making it easier for them to contribute their time and talents. 
• Consider offering opportunities outside work hours in the evenings, weekends, or remote volunteering roles. 
• If a volunteer needs to step away from your organization for a while, be supportive, and you’ll have a good chance of them returning when they are ready.

4.  Offer Training and Development

• Providing training and development opportunities for volunteers can help improve their skills and increase confidence.
  
• These opportunities can be in the form of workshops, webinars, and one on one's. 
  
• Consider assigning mentors to help guide and support new volunteers as they learn new skills. 
  
• If new volunteers don't know their role or have someone they can learn from, they can easily drift away from a committee. 

5.  Provide Consistent Feedback

• Regular feedback helps volunteers understand how they are doing and where they can improve. 
  
• Positive feedback can also help keep volunteers motivated and engaged.
  
• Offer constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement and ensure that feedback is delivered in a respectful and supportive manner. 
  
• The compliment sandwich is an excellent framework for delivering feedback to volunteers. 

6.  Create a Positive Volunteer Experience

• Volunteers who have a positive experience are more likely to return and recommend your organization to others. 
  
• Always maintain an upbeat and positive attitude.
  
• Provide an element of fun at volunteer functions and make opportunities to socialize. 
  
• Ensure that your volunteers and volunteer committees maintain a welcoming environment.
  
  • ​Look out for "We've always done it that way" or "We tried that 15 years ago."

7.  Create a Positive Volunteer Experience

• Volunteers who feel appreciated are likelier to stay committed to you as a leader and your organization. 
• Recognize and celebrate the contributions of your volunteers, both publicly and privately. 
• Using thank-you notes, shoutouts, and gifting small tokens of appreciation are worthwhile practices.
• A sincere Thank You always goes a long way. 

If volunteers are the backbone of your organization, their contributions can significantly impact your mission and goals. 
 
By implementing these strategies, volunteers will be more engaged and productive and contribute their best work to your organization. 

Author

Matt Ashley is an experienced relationship manager with a proven track record of establishing successful partnerships in fundraising and is skilled in business development, relationship management, sponsorships, major giving, marketing, advertising, and social media. His rural upbringing and sports background have significantly influenced his approach to hard work, providing him with the resilience to overcome challenges and the determination to accomplish goals. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Management and a Minor in Economics from Rocky Mountain College.