How Do We Retain Student Volunteers?

By Holly Daniels 

Retaining high school and college student volunteers can be a challenging task, especially when many of them are balancing academics, part-time jobs, and social lives. However, finding innovative strategies to engage them can lead to deeper commitment and longer hours of service.

By understanding their motivations, creating meaningful experiences, and fostering a sense of community, organizations can encourage these young volunteers to invest more time in their causes.

The following lessons were gathered from real-life volunteer leaders during a Central MN District Council meeting with the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement. Volunteer engagement leaders responded to the question "What are some new ways to retain high school and college student volunteers, to have them give more time instead of short hours?"

Let's dive in.

Work Toward Different Motivations

We know that for volunteers, their personal motivations are a big deal to them. And it’s no different for volunteers in high school and college.

Can you ask your volunteers what motivates them and then work toward those motivations? Of course you can’t always cater to everyone, but as much as you can — people will be more engaged and stay longer.

Below, you’ll find ideas from the volunteer engagement leaders in the MAVA community:

• Students want to know the “why” behind the work they’re doing
  
  
• One leader described a program for students to volunteer for 3 hours after school and do a variety of tasks. They like to try new things! We have several college-age volunteers and over time, we’ve been able to integrate them with other volunteer opportunities
  
  
• For student volunteers, one program offers a $500 scholarship. If they put in 150 hours during their senior year of high school, they get a scholarship. It’s a goal to achieve and an incentive to keep coming
  
  
• In their hospital volunteer program, one manager has their junior volunteers work in the emergency room from 3-9 p.m. They answer the call lights. It’s great life experience, and useful for anyone who wants to go into the medical field — they can get a sense of what the career is, and if they want to pursue it

Ask yourself: Do you know what motivates your student volunteers?

Temptation Bundling

"Temptation bundling" is the concept (coined by behavior researcher Katy Milkman) of "bundling" a task that's not so glamorous, like cleaning restrooms, with something special like a well-designed  t-shirt given exclusively to the cleaning crew.

Food and friends can also be great bundlers. Here's an idea:

• Directly reach out to schools to have them do a cleanup. A possible call-to-action? “Grab some friends, do a cleanup, and join us at a picnic!”

Ask yourself: What are small benefits, incentives, novelties, or fun titles you can use to tempt people to keep coming back?

Remove Barriers

We know that barriers exist for all volunteers. It’s just as true for our student volunteers. They may have many priorities to juggle, as well as limited resources.

Here are some ideas for breaking down these barriers: 

• Tell them about the ways they can participate when they graduate. Try to make it as easy as possible for them to stay engaged even as their circumstances shift
  
  
• Let young people know they can volunteer from home if they like to be creative and want to get involved remotely

Ask yourself: What makes it hard for your student volunteers to stay involved? Can you ask them? 

Culture Awareness

Be aware of how your organizational culture responds to younger people. 

Ask yourself: What can you do to check the vibes and ensure that volunteers of all ages are made to feel welcomed and wanted?

Building a Lasting Volunteer Community

Retaining high school and college student volunteers involves a keen understanding of their unique motivations and potential barriers, as well as embracing innovative strategies to keep them engaged.

By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, organizations can engage young volunteers, providing them with meaningful experiences that align with their interests and goals. This approach not only benefits the volunteers themselves but also strengthens the organization’s community as a whole—creating a dynamic and committed volunteer base that sustains long into the future.

Always remember to listen, adapt, and offer encouragement as you grow together with these budding change-makers!