Nonprofit volunteers are the backbone of many social causes and missions, but they also face various challenges and risks in their work. How can you as a nonprofit leader motivate them to continue their service despite these difficulties? Here are some tips to help you inspire and support your volunteers.
One of the most effective ways to motivate your volunteers is to acknowledge their contributions and celebrate their successes. You can do this by sending them personalized thank-you notes, giving them certificates or awards, featuring them in your newsletters or social media, or hosting appreciation events. Recognition not only shows your gratitude, but also boosts your volunteers' self-esteem and confidence.
Volunteers usual work based on motivation of growth or learning. It is assumed that volunteers want to do this work voluntary. While recognizing that they are doing this almost pro-bono, you must make them see the bigger picture. You need to give them ownership of the results of the work. Let them take the lead in developing plans. Provide them with opportunities to shadow other staff. You may also setup a system where a volunteer who is found to be a good fit to join the team officially. Regardless of the modality, volunteers are an important pillar within non-profits.
Another way to motivate your volunteers is to provide them with constructive feedback and guidance on their work. You can do this by setting clear expectations and goals, monitoring their progress, offering suggestions for improvement, and soliciting their input and feedback. Feedback and guidance not only help your volunteers learn and grow, but also foster a culture of trust and collaboration.
A third way to motivate your volunteers is to create a sense of community among them. You can do this by facilitating communication and interaction, organizing social and networking activities, encouraging peer support and mentoring, and promoting a shared vision and values. Community not only helps your volunteers feel connected and valued, but also enhances their commitment and loyalty.
A fourth way to motivate your volunteers is to address their challenges and risks in their work. You can do this by identifying and minimizing the sources of stress, frustration, burnout, or safety issues, providing them with adequate training and resources, ensuring their well-being and satisfaction, and offering them flexibility and options. Addressing their challenges and risks not only helps your volunteers cope and thrive, but also demonstrates your care and respect.
A fifth way to motivate your volunteers is to involve them in decision-making related to their work. You can do this by asking for their opinions and suggestions, inviting them to participate in planning and evaluation, empowering them to take initiative and responsibility, and acknowledging their impact and influence. Involving them in decision-making not only helps your volunteers feel empowered and engaged, but also leverages their creativity and expertise.
We've found great success with creating stakeholder councils, which offer formalized avenues for feedback, ideation, and in some cases oversight. These councils also create an opportunity for more stakeholders to get involved with the organization and fosters a greater sense of stakeholder ownership in the success of the organization.
A sixth way to motivate your volunteers is to reward them with incentives that match their interests and needs. You can do this by offering them opportunities for personal and professional development, such as training, mentoring, or networking, providing them with tangible or intangible benefits, such as discounts, vouchers, or recognition, or giving them access to exclusive or special events, such as tours, workshops, or conferences. Rewarding them with incentives not only helps your volunteers feel appreciated and motivated, but also adds value and meaning to their work.
No, in hard time you support your volunteers, you respect their time, and you reach out to check in on them. Volunteers are compensated through their satisfaction, what they only is time so motivation should come through within. If a hard affected their motivation, they need time to focus on self care to strengthen their mental health. You may find volunteers during a hard time get even more involved, but check in even more often with those ones.
The following additional strategies can be used: Understand why volunteers are involved with your organization. Knowing their motives allows you to adjust your approach to keep them interested and committed. Ask volunteers for ideas and opinions, and then put them into action. To ensure that volunteers feel happy and productive in their responsibilities, provide assignments that match their abilities and interests. Communicate new opportunities, organizational impact, and gratitude frequently to encourage volunteers to continue providing their time and effort. Recognize each volunteer's efforts because recognition may go a long way in raising morale.