How to Communicate Your Value as a Volunteer Engagement Professional

Created in partnership with Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement from findings in their Promoting Job Equity for Volunteer Engagement Professionals Study.

Volunteer engagement professionals (VEPs) play a vital role in the success of mission-driven organizations. From recruiting and training volunteers to fostering relationships and sustaining engagement, their efforts are essential to achieving organizational goals. Yet, despite the significance of their contributions, their value is often under-appreciated or overlooked by leadership and decision-makers.

Feeling unrecognized for your contributions can be deeply frustrating, especially when your efforts are instrumental in driving your organization’s success. A lack of recognition can result in challenges such as insufficient resources, burnout, stagnant compensation growth, and reduced opportunities to participate in key decision-making processes.

This article aims to change that narrative. It provides a clear roadmap to help you effectively communicate your worth as a VEP.

Drawing on findings from the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA)'s study, Promoting Job Equity for Volunteer Engagement Professionals, we've created a roadmap to help you effectively communicate your value as a volunteer engagement professional.

These approaches, backed by MAVA's insights, can help you gain the acknowledgment you’ve earned while opening doors to increased compensation, improved resources, and a stronger voice in shaping your organization’s future.

The Under-Appreciated Role of Volunteer Engagement Professionals

It's an unfortunate reality that volunteer engagement professionals are frequently overlooked.

According to MAVA, volunteer engagement professionals are often the first to face job cuts, more so than their peers in Human Resources, Development, or Program Management.

Moreover, they often receive lower salaries, largely due to the misconception that their roles require fewer skills and competencies compared to those of their colleagues.

Adding to this challenge is the widespread belief that volunteer engagement is an entry-level position, further undermining its importance and the expertise it demands.

The Necessity of Self-Advocacy

In light of these challenges, advocating for yourself as a Volunteer Engagement Professional (VEP) becomes crucial.

This involves clearly articulating your contributions and effectively communicating the value you bring to the organization.

By showcasing your work, you can:

• Ensure your role is recognized and appreciated 
• Emphasize the broader impact of volunteer engagement 
• Prove impact on the organization’s mission, operations, and financial health

Advocacy for your work is not just about self-promotion—it’s about helping others see the essential link between volunteer engagement and organizational success.

5 Strategies to Communicate Your Value

1. Articulate Your Contributions

Clearly stating the outcomes and victories of your volunteer engagement programs to leaders and stakeholders is key. Highlight how these programs align with and further the organization's goals and mission.

For example, if your organization focuses on environmental sustainability, you might showcase how a recent volunteer tree-planting initiative you spearheaded resulted in planting 5,000 trees, contributing to your mission of reducing carbon emissions and promoting green spaces.

By quantifying the impact you've helped achieve and connecting it to broader organizational objectives, you can effectively demonstrate your position's value. 

2. Leverage Data-Driven Software

In today’s data-driven landscape, tracking volunteer contributions and outcomes is essential for showcasing your impact as a volunteer engagement professional. Many volunteer leaders are turning to volunteer management software to simplify and enhance this process.

By measuring your achievements, you can present concrete data on volunteer impact to highlight the value of your role. This approach not only underscores your dedication and expertise but also provides clear evidence of your vital contributions, turning your efforts into measurable, impactful results.

Here are some key data points to track: 

• Return on volunteer investment
• Total volunteer hours contributed 
• How many volunteers became donors
• Number of volunteers recruited and retained 
• Value of volunteer hours in monetary terms 
• Impact metrics tied to organizational goals (e.g., meals served, trees planted) 
• Percentage increase in program participation over time

3. Advocate for Yourself

Strive to be an active participant in executive leadership teams and strategic planning processes. Your involvement in these discussions not only demonstrates your strategic thinking but also provides an opportunity to emphasize the significant, long-term impact that volunteer programs can have on achieving the organization’s goals.

If you’re not currently included in these conversations, you can:

• Take the initiative to advocate for your seat at the table
• Highlight how volunteer programs align with the organization’s mission
• Outline your program’s contributions to the organization’s broader objectives
• Illustrate how your program drives measurable outcomes

By asserting the value of your role and the importance of incorporating volunteer initiatives into strategic planning, you can ensure these programs are recognized as essential to the organization’s success.

4. Make the Case for Volunteerism

Volunteer engagement professionals should highlight the financial benefits of volunteerism to showcase its value to the organization.

Demonstrating how volunteer programs positively impact the bottom line can show how your role directly supports an organization’s financial health, including revenue growth and expense reduction.

Highlight cost savings achieved through volunteer efforts, such as reducing recruitment and training expenses, as well as the added value volunteers bring. Additionally, emphasize how volunteers enable the organization to deliver critical programs and services to the community that might otherwise be financially out of reach, further enhancing the organization’s mission and impact.

By clearly articulating these financial advantages, you can strengthen the case for the importance of your position as a volunteer leader. Speaking the language of executive leadership, who are naturally focused on the numbers, ensures your message resonates and highlights the tangible impact of your contributions.

5. Pursue Your CVA Credential 

Earning your Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) credential is a powerful way to enhance your professional credibility and showcase your expertise in the field of volunteer management.

The CVA certification demonstrates your commitment to best practices, ethical standards, and continuous professional development. This widely recognized credential not only strengthens your skill set but also positions you as a leader and advocate for the value of volunteerism within your organization.

Highlighting your CVA credential can bolster your confidence and emphasize your ability to strategically align volunteer efforts with organizational goals, making you an invaluable asset to your team

Gaining the Recognition You Deserve

By consistently implementing these strategies, you can firmly establish your value as a Volunteer Engagement Professional within your organization.

Your work drives meaningful impact, strengthens community connections, and aligns with organizational goals. Showcasing your contributions ensures your efforts are recognized and valued, empowering you to advocate for the compensation and recognition you deserve.

In doing so, you position yourself as an indispensable member of the team, driving success for both your organization and the communities you serve.