Imagine a volunteer community where every person feels valued and empowered to make a difference. Creating a vibrant and engaged community is easier than you might think! It starts with simple, fun activities that show your volunteers they matter to your nonprofit.
By leveraging your volunteer data, you can craft meaningful experiences tailored to your volunteers’ needs and interests, making them feel truly valued.
Whether it’s a celebratory event, a heartfelt thank-you from beneficiaries, or free skill-building workshops, these experiences strengthen your volunteers’ sense of purpose. Let’s explore exciting ideas that can transform your volunteer program from ordinary to extraordinary!
1. Host Volunteer Appreciation Events.
Bring your community together to celebrate its successes. Host an appreciation event annually to call out milestones or immediately after an event or program wraps up to celebrate the volunteers who powered it.
Going above and beyond with your appreciation efforts has an incredible impact on your nonprofit’s volunteer retention. When volunteers feel appreciated, they’ll know your nonprofit values their contributions, thereby encouraging them to continue showing up for your cause.
For appreciation events, you might host:
- Formal recognition banquets with fun award categories, such as the “Behind-the-Scenes Hero” or "The Energizer Bunny.”
- Casual brunches where volunteers mingle and share their experiences.
- Themed potlucks or picnics where volunteers bring their families and get to know their fellow volunteers.
- Social gatherings such as movie or game nights.
- Virtual events for remote volunteers, like an interactive trivia night related to your nonprofit’s mission.
During these events, shout out and celebrate milestones, such as years of service. Highlight individual achievements, and share stories that showcase the impact volunteers have had on your mission. These events foster a sense of community and belonging, making volunteers feel connected to your cause and each other.
2. Encourage Beneficiaries To Thank Volunteers.
Invite beneficiaries to join in to make volunteer appreciation even more meaningful. If your nonprofit serves people, you might record a thank-you video highlighting a beneficiary’s story or featuring some quick thank-yous from them.
For a personal approach, have beneficiaries craft thank-you letters to volunteers. The easiest way to do this is by launching an eCard campaign.
eCardWidget’s volunteer appreciation guide shares a few examples of volunteer appreciation eCards, such as these from the Girl Scouts of Alaska:
Each eCard features cartoon illustrations and recognizable, brand-relevant symbols like the Girl Scout hand sign. Girl Scouts selected their favorite virtual greeting card, added a custom note of appreciation, and sent it to their volunteer troop leaders.
These eCards added a deeper level of personalization to appreciation and gave volunteers a meaningful keepsake.
3. Offer Skill-Building Workshops.
Helping volunteers develop new skills benefits both your nonprofit and its committed volunteers. When volunteers feel capable in their roles, their confidence grows, and their impact on your mission increases. This not only boosts engagement but also accelerates your programs’ progress.
Offer free workshops and training sessions to build your volunteers’ skills. These opportunities can focus on:
- Marketing and communications, such as preparing email newsletters or designing program brochures
- Web development and graphic design
- Technology support, such as training volunteers to use Salesforce and manage platform changes
- Translating documents
- Hosting fundraisers
- Mentoring
Have someone from your organization lead these skill development sessions, or collaborate with local businesses to host guest-led workshops. To boost participation, survey your volunteers to identify what skills they need to excel in their roles, and offer training opportunities based on their feedback.
4. Host Volunteer-Led Projects
Empower volunteers through personal ownership with volunteer-led projects. Your volunteers bring different perspectives, experiences, and creative ideas to the table. Giving them a chance to lead projects not only taps into those unique talents but also fosters a deeper connection to your nonprofit’s mission.
Whether organizing a community event, spearheading a fundraising initiative, or redesigning your website, leadership opportunities boost engagement and give volunteers a sense of accomplishment. By trusting volunteers with meaningful responsibilities, you can build their skills, confidence, and investment in your cause.
5. Match People To The Right Tasks.
Every volunteer has a unique set of skills, interests, and availability, so align their strengths with roles that suit them. Matching volunteers to the right tasks maximizes their potential and ensures a positive experience.
When volunteers feel they are making meaningful contributions in areas where they excel, they are more likely to remain engaged and motivated.
Platforms like VolunteerMatch simplify the role-matching process by connecting volunteers with opportunities that match their preferences and expertise. These tools allow volunteers to browse roles and filter them based on cause, location, required skills, and time commitment.
For example, a graphic designer might be matched with a project to create promotional materials, while someone passionate about event planning could help organize a fundraising gala. Matching volunteers to relevant opportunities ensures they thrive, leading to stronger outcomes for your volunteer community.
6. Create A Volunteer Social Club.
Encourage volunteers to get to know one another through social activities. Fostering friendships within your volunteer group can grow loyalty to your mission and lead to long-term retention. After all, 35% of individuals volunteer in order to socialize, according to Double the Donation's volunteer statistics report.
A social club also provides a fun, informal way to engage volunteers outside their regular responsibilities. You might host:
- Monthly meetups (coffee, lunch, or happy hour).
- Group fitness activities like hiking and yoga
- Book clubs or special interest groups
- Field trips or behind-the-scenes tours relevant to your cause
Create a social media group or choose a messaging platform like GroupMe to foster communication. A virtual community adds another layer of engagement, making it easy for volunteers to stay involved and connected.
7. Tap Into Corporate Volunteerism
Corporate volunteerism offers nonprofits a valuable opportunity to recruit motivated volunteers while forging strong business partnerships. Many companies encourage their employees to give back through formal volunteer programs, which boost employee morale and foster a sense of social responsibility.
Corporate volunteer programs are becoming more commonplace, especially considering younger generations seek companies that are committed to making a social impact. Be on the lookout for these common initiatives:
- Volunteer Time Off (VTO): Companies offer paid time off for employees to participate in community service opportunities without sacrificing a paycheck.
- Volunteer Grants: Businesses provide monetary donations to nonprofits where their employees volunteer, such as $20 for every hour volunteered.
- Company Volunteer Days: Some companies organize volunteer days where teams or entire departments spend a day working with a nonprofit.
By partnering with businesses with these programs, your nonprofit can fill your community with volunteers who can make an impact through their employers.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of your organization, but keeping them connected can be challenging. Fresh, enjoyable ideas, like the ones we’ve explored, empower you to create a close-knit volunteer community that brings people in and keeps them coming back.
