Creating Lasting Volunteer Engagement

By Holly D. Daniels 

Volunteering is a powerful way to foster community spirit and connection, but it can also be a delicate endeavor.

How organizations engage with volunteers can significantly influence whether those individuals return or feel inspired to support the cause again.

The following lessons were gathered from real-life volunteer leaders during a Southwest MN District Council meeting with the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement. Through their discussions, they discovered key factors that can make or break a volunteer's commitment. Let's dig in.

The Impact of Volunteer Experiences

During the meeting, there was a recurring theme: the types of experiences that can either deter volunteers from participating or win their loyalty for life.

A poignant example came from Brenda, a volunteer engagement leader, who recounted a moment when she asked an acquaintance to volunteer. The woman responded with, "You don't need me," having previously left a volunteer event feeling unhelpful due to an oversupply of volunteers and a lack of tasks for her to undertake.

Brenda encouraged her to give it another shot, and this time, the woman returned and found plenty of work to do. She became one of their most committed volunteers. This story illustrates a vital lesson: sometimes, a single negative experience can deter someone from returning to an organization, particularly if it's their first foray into volunteering.

Strategies for Improvement

To ensure that volunteers feel valued and engaged, organizations can consider the following strategies:

• Send a brief survey post-volunteer experience. Ask participants, "Do you feel your time was used well?" This feedback can help organizations understand how to improve the volunteer experience.
• Reach out to past volunteers. If someone hasn’t returned after their first experience, inquire about their thoughts with questions like, "What did you like?" and "What could we do better?" This shows that you value their input and are committed to improving.

Engaging Families in Volunteer Work

Another topic we discussed at the District Council meeting revolved around the desire for families to volunteer together. Many volunteer leaders have received or made the request for family-friendly volunteer opportunities. As organizations struggle to replace their older-adult volunteer force, which declined during COVID, engaging younger community members with children could be a promising solution.

Families are eager to model the value of service to their kids and create memorable experiences together. As a former volunteer coordinator, I often heard people say, "I grew up volunteering. Now it's part of who I am."

Ideas to Foster Family Volunteering

To facilitate family-oriented volunteering, consider these ideas:

• Host special volunteer events once or twice a year specifically for families.
  
  
• Organize fun events that allow volunteers to bring their families, giving them a glimpse into your mission.
  
  
• Empower kids to contribute through small tasks, such as making goodie bags for seniors.
  
  
• Collaborate with local organizations like schools or youth groups (4H, FFA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts) to create joint opportunities.

By meeting the needs of families wanting to volunteer together, organizations can increase their visibility in the community and potentially recruit those parents to serve in other capacities.

Moreover, inspiring a lifelong spirit of volunteerism in today’s youth can lead to a future where they will say, "I grew up volunteering. Now it's part of who I am."

Volunteer Engagement: The Way Forward

Engaging volunteers is not just about filling roles; it’s about creating meaningful experiences that foster loyalty and encourage repeat participation.

By focusing on positive volunteer experiences and opening doors for families to get involved, we can cultivate a vibrant community of dedicated individuals ready to support our missions.

Let’s commit to making every volunteer experience a rewarding one!