What are the best ways to train volunteers in fundraising and development roles?

1 Assess your volunteers' skills and interests

Before you design a training program for your volunteers, you need to know what skills and interests they have, and what gaps they need to fill. You can use a simple survey, an interview, or a self-assessment tool to gather this information. This will help you tailor your training to your volunteers' needs and goals, and avoid wasting time on topics they already know or don't care about.

2 Use a variety of learning methods

Adult learners benefit from a variety of learning methods, such as lectures, demonstrations, discussions, simulations, case studies, role plays, and feedback. You can use different methods to suit different topics, objectives, and learning styles. For example, you can use a lecture to introduce the basics of fundraising, a demonstration to show how to use a donor database, a discussion to explore ethical issues, a simulation to practice making an ask, a case study to analyze a successful campaign, a role play to handle objections, and feedback to improve performance.

3 Provide ongoing support and coaching

Training is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of learning and improvement. You need to provide ongoing support and coaching to your volunteers, both during and after the training. You can use various tools and strategies to do this, such as checklists, manuals, newsletters, webinars, podcasts, mentorship, peer learning, recognition, and incentives. You can also monitor and evaluate your volunteers' progress and impact, and use the results to adjust your training and support accordingly.

4 Encourage collaboration and innovation

Volunteers are not only learners, but also contributors and innovators. You can encourage collaboration and innovation among your volunteers by creating opportunities for them to share their ideas, experiences, challenges, and solutions with each other and with your staff. You can also invite them to participate in brainstorming, problem-solving, and decision-making sessions, and to propose new initiatives or improvements for your fundraising and development programs. This will foster a sense of ownership, engagement, and creativity among your volunteers.

5 Make it fun and meaningful

Finally, you want to make your training fun and meaningful for your volunteers. You can do this by using humor, stories, games, quizzes, and rewards to make your training more enjoyable and memorable. You can also emphasize the purpose and impact of your fundraising and development activities, and how they align with your organization's mission and vision. You can also showcase the stories and testimonials of the beneficiaries, donors, and partners who have been positively affected by your work. This will inspire and motivate your volunteers to learn and grow in their roles.