How can you ensure that your non-profit volunteers are accountable?

1 Define clear expectations

The first step to ensuring accountability is to communicate clearly what you expect from your volunteers. This includes the goals, tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines of their roles, as well as the policies, procedures, and values of your organization. You can use tools such as volunteer agreements, job descriptions, handbooks, and orientation sessions to provide this information and get feedback from your volunteers. Make sure your expectations are realistic, specific, and aligned with your volunteers' skills, interests, and availability.

2 Provide regular feedback

The second step to ensuring accountability is to provide regular feedback to your volunteers. Feedback is essential to recognize their achievements, identify their challenges, and offer guidance and support. You can use methods such as surveys, interviews, meetings, and recognition events to collect and share feedback with your volunteers. Make sure your feedback is timely, constructive, and balanced. Also, encourage your volunteers to give feedback to you and to each other, as this can foster a culture of learning and improvement.

3 Track and report progress

The third step to ensuring accountability is to track and report the progress of your volunteers. Tracking and reporting progress can help you evaluate the impact of your volunteers, identify gaps and opportunities, and adjust your strategies and plans. You can use tools such as spreadsheets, databases, dashboards, and reports to record and display the data and metrics related to your volunteers' activities and outcomes. Make sure your tracking and reporting systems are simple, consistent, and transparent. Also, involve your volunteers in the process of setting and reviewing their indicators and goals, as this can increase their ownership and commitment.

4 Address issues promptly

The fourth step to ensuring accountability is to address any issues that may arise with your volunteers promptly. Issues can include poor performance, misconduct, conflict, or dissatisfaction. Ignoring or delaying the resolution of these issues can harm your organization's reputation, morale, and effectiveness. You can use strategies such as coaching, mediation, corrective action, and termination to deal with these issues in a fair and respectful manner. Make sure you follow your organization's policies and procedures, document the actions taken, and communicate the outcomes to the relevant parties.

6 Encourage self-accountability

The sixth step to ensuring accountability is to encourage self-accountability among your volunteers. Self-accountability is the ability and willingness of your volunteers to take responsibility for their actions and results, without relying on external pressure or supervision. You can foster self-accountability by empowering your volunteers to make decisions, solve problems, and pursue their passions. Make sure you provide your volunteers with the resources, training, and support they need to succeed. Also, inspire your volunteers to share their stories, insights, and feedback, as this can enhance their confidence and growth.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?