You know that volunteers are the foundation of nonprofits, bringing time, skills, and passion to keep organizations running.
However, volunteer efforts can often under-appreciated or overlooked by other nonprofit staff, executive directors, and stakeholders who may not fully understand how volunteerism contributes to the overall success of their organization.
You’re not alone if you're struggling to make the case for your volunteers’ contributions—or if you feel like their value isn’t being recognized internally. Volunteer engagement leaders face this challenge frequently, as reflected in the report, Promoting Job Equity for Volunteer Engagement Professionals, by Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA).
Here we’ll outline three impactful ways to bridge those gaps and communicate the importance of volunteerism to everyone across the organization.
Let's get started!
Employees, board members, and leadership all have distinct perspectives and priorities. To drive action and change perceptions, you must tailor your message to each key group in your nonprofit.
Here’s how to approach communication with each stakeholder group:
For leadership, focus on metrics and bottom-line impact. These decision-makers want to see how volunteers save money, expand capacity, or help achieve strategic goals.
Provide concise data on:
Example approach: “Our volunteers contributed over 2,500 hours last quarter, equating to nearly $80,000 in value. By using volunteers rather than outsourcing, we completed the new playground project ahead of schedule, fulfilling one of our key objectives for the year.”
Staff teams may feel detachment from—or even competition with—volunteers, particularly if they see them as a potential workload burden.
Counter this by framing volunteers as valuable teammates who reduce staff loads and bring fresh perspectives.
Example approach: “Volunteers allow us to handle high-impact projects more efficiently. For example, the new database system was set up in record time, thanks to a volunteer with IT expertise.”
Board members are invested in your nonprofit’s reputation and long-term sustainability. Show them how volunteers enhance both.
Example approach: “Our volunteer team grew by 25% this past year, and they actively bring in new donors. One volunteer recruited $10,000 in sponsorships for our annual gala.”
Tailored messaging ensures you’re speaking directly to their priorities, which increases both understanding and buy-in.
Digital technologies and social media are potent tools to showcase volunteerism.
These platforms can amplify your message and engage a broader audience, including internal stakeholders, with the right strategies.
Highlighting volunteers on your website, social media, or internal newsletters fosters connection and appreciation.
Tip: Use video testimonials to give your posts a human touch. Ask a volunteer to record a short clip sharing why they’re passionate about your mission.
Show staff and leadership the wide-reaching impact of your storytelling by sharing metrics:
Recognizing and celebrating volunteer contributions isn’t only good for retention—it also reinforces their value to the rest of your organization.
When staff and leadership see volunteers being appreciated, they’re more likely to respect their role.
Celebrate National Volunteer Week or host an annual volunteer appreciation event.
Invite staff and leadership to these events to encourage stronger connections across your organization.
Other creative ways to recognize volunteers include:
Social media is a great place to recognize your volunteers.
Highlighting them here not only celebrates their contributions but also shows your wider community the importance of volunteerism.
The final piece of the puzzle is proving the ongoing impact of your volunteer efforts.
It's one thing to share anecdotes and stats; it’s another to develop a sustainable way to measure and communicate their contributions consistently.
Here are a few examples:
The more people across your organization understand and see the direct correlation between your volunteers’ work and the success of your nonprofit, the more support you’ll gain for volunteer programs.
Leveraging volunteer management software can make tracking, analyzing, and sharing volunteer metrics significantly easier.
Tools like Get Connected are specifically designed to help nonprofits streamline their processes and track the impact of volunteer programs. With features such as time tracking, reporting, and performance analytics, you can capture data on volunteer hours, project outcomes, and even specific achievements effortlessly.
Many platforms also allow you to generate reports and infographics, making it simple to share these insights in newsletters, on social media, or during meetings.
By using the right software, you can track and communicate the impact of your volunteers, recognizing their contributions to your nonprofit’s mission.
Volunteers are essential to nonprofit success, and their value deserves recognition at every level of your organization.
By tailoring communications to specific audiences, utilizing technology to amplify volunteer stories, fostering a culture of appreciation, and consistently measuring their impact, you can ensure that everyone in your organization fully understands and values the vital role volunteers play.