Volunteerism: The Foundation of Associations

The success of non-profit associations is built on many factors, but one of the most critical supports is with the association volunteers, particularly in our committees. More than ever, the employees of associations look forward to the valuable expertise and background experiences of the volunteers.

Since you can only ‘go to the well’ so many times with the same volunteers, we must constantly challenge ourselves and determine how we can bring new volunteers into committees, task forces, and even limited projects. By the way, we owe a huge thank you to those committee association representatives that constantly volunteer their time and energy repeatedly! Their contributions do not go unnoticed and are appreciated by the association staff and its leadership. Also, we need to thank the organization for their support of their employees in association matters.

Let us consider the following items on how to increase volunteerism:

• Make it easy for volunteers to express their interests and to sign up with committees. Have a clear and concise recruitment process with a variety of ways for people to get involved. Consider an online form, hard copy form at events, note in email blasts, newsletters, association printed materials, a booth at an event, or even just a conversation from a staff member or current volunteer. Better yet, a personal invitation from the association senior management or board member goes a long way too.
• Offer potential volunteers a variety of roles and responsibilities. Some candidates may prefer planning events or meetings, while others enjoy social media tasks, or writing blogs or articles.
• Make it meaningful. Volunteers want to feel like their contributions are making a difference. Be clear about the impact of each committee and how the work of volunteers is helping the organization achieve its mission.
• Ensure that volunteers have the support, training, background, etc. so they feel prepared and informed. Volunteers should feel confident that if they have questions or need further guidance that they will be able to receive that too.
• Show appreciation. Let volunteers know that their hard work is valuable. This could be accomplished through verbal praise, written thank-you notes, special events, and recognition programs. Make sure that their employer is aware of the volunteer contributions. Receiving praise and recognition from your boss goes a long way!
• Make it fun.?Volunteering should be an enjoyable experience.?Create a positive and welcoming environment for volunteers,?and make sure that they have opportunities to socialize and connect with each other.

By following these tips, you can create a volunteer program that is attractive and engaging to potential volunteers. It truly is a win-win situation where volunteers feel value and your association will help achieve its organizational goals.

Feel free to post a response here or send me a message at [email protected] and let me know your thoughts about this and other topics. #volunteers #associationcommittees #themiraclechild

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