The nonprofit world is pivoting once again following the most recent safety concerns related to COVID-19.
Many organizations had been comfortably holding events and hosting in-person volunteers over the last several months. With the delta variant sweeping the country, you’re probably wondering how you can continue to have an impact while keeping your volunteers and community safe.
It’s essential that your organization plays its part in protecting vulnerable community members and reducing the potential for further spread of the variant.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to continue working with volunteers while ensuring the wellbeing of your community.
Here are 8 steps organizations can take to keep your community safe.
1. Continue to Follow CDC Guidelines
You’ve probably been checking with your local and state regulations throughout the pandemic. Communities are experiencing differing surges in infections; so it’s important to maintain communication with local and state authorities to understand their specific guidelines and recovery levels. It’s suggested that your volunteer program adheres to guidelines such as:
- Practice universal virus control precautions. Volunteers should wash hands before, during, and after participating in an activity.
- Provide the appropriate PPE (i.e. gloves and masks) for the volunteering activity.
- Maintain a 6-10 foot distance between individuals when possible.
- Volunteers should avoid volunteering with others for 14 days if they have: (1) Been exposed to COVID-19 by an individual or community, (2) Attended an event with more than 250 people, (3) Traveled by cruise or airplane.
It’s your job to stay up to date with local and national guidelines when considering your plans for seasonal fundraisers or back-to-school volunteering activities.
2. Update Staff and Volunteer Training
After you’ve reached out to local authorities, you’ll want to update your staff and volunteer training to include changes in safety measures. New training for staff should include the following topics:
- How to safely check-in volunteers
- How to conduct specific work in accordance with CDC guidelines
- How to operate newly implemented technology and online tools
- How to identify symptoms
- How to protect vulnerable populations
In addition to educating staff on new procedures, provide your volunteers with guidelines for how to carry out their work safely. Then, integrate this information into your volunteer orientation and training process. New volunteer guidelines should include specifics on handwashing procedures, PPE requirements, and directions for safe contact with other community members (like how to safely serve meals).
Don’t forget to post signage! New procedures like these can be a lot to take in. Signage is an efficient way to remind staff and volunteers of any new safety protocols you need to put in place. Check out how United Way of Pierce County informs their volunteers with this “COVID-19 Guidelines” handout. Handouts and signage should be both straightforward and informative. You can share with your volunteers via a nonprofit newsletter, and post on location where volunteers participate in their in-person activities.
Online Training
Can you carry out volunteer training online? Online training is a great way to move your program forward, while keeping your volunteers and staff safe. Get creative and post pre-recorded videos on your volunteer page. Or, host a live forum via Zoom. Provide a web page or central location online where volunteers can access these videos and other training resources.
3. Schedule Smart
Depending on the infection rates over the next few weeks, it may be required to reduce volunteer capacity to effectively maintain safe social distancing (this number is typically determined by local regulations). A volunteer management software system can allow you to cap registrations for opportunities and automatically inform volunteers if the opportunity reaches capacity. You can also create a wait list for those who want to participate should spots open. The right system can also recommend other opportunities according to the volunteer’s interests and skills, so you don’t have to turn away eager helpers. Remember to post attendance capacity with each opportunity or event listing (and update filled spaces live if you’re tracking manually).
4. Upload Waivers and Documents Online
When possible, upload documents like waivers and training materials online, so that volunteers can read, sign, and return required documents from home. Remember, your goal is to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Consider investing in a tool that allows for electronic signatures and online document storage for increased efficiency (a volunteer management software will store these documents in a volunteer profile, so they’re easy to store, sign, and access!)
5. Contact-Free Check-in
It’s not uncommon for volunteers to arrive at a shift in groups and congregate around your check-in station. To adhere to a social distancing protocol and move through attendance efficiently, consider facilitating mobile check-in. This will allow volunteers to check-in to an opportunity and log their hours using a smartphone without having to wait in line or share sign-in materials. For those without access to a mobile device, have a staff member or volunteer take attendance–this way you have just one person touching the check-in kiosk or sign-in sheet.
Some volunteer management systems offer a mobile volunteer app that prompts the volunteer to check-in to their opportunity and log their hours directly from their phones, reducing person-to-person contact.
6. Plan Safe Events
You may still want to host your volunteer event, but how can you do so safely? While some nonprofits have moved their events online (like virtual charity races), other community needs may require in-person attendance. From school supply drives to community gatherings, it’s essential to keep your volunteers and community members safe. Here are some ways you can plan a safe event:
- Have attendees RSVP online.
- Require a mask to attend the event. Post an alert on your event listing, informing attendees in advance.
- Set up hand washing and sanitizing stations.
- Provide gloves if distributing materials, serving meals, or making contact with others.
- Maintain social distance whenever possible. Measure and mark 6 feet for queueing, work stations, or gather stations.
- Stagger arrival or drop-off times.
- Use a smart check-in system.
Remember, your community may re-enact legislation that restricts gatherings of a certain number. You may have to reduce the number of attendees at your event to adhere to local guidelines and avoid overcrowding. It’s important to be flexible during this time.
7. Leverage Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
Which adaptations will your organization keep in place? You may have introduced virtual volunteering to keep volunteers engaged. In fact, many organizations found their at-home initiatives remarkably successful; they offer flexibility for busy volunteers and engage your homebound supporters. So why not make virtual volunteering a part of your program moving forward?
Hint: Make your virtual volunteer opportunities easy to find by grouping and highlighting the opportunities on your volunteer site’s homepage.
Try our guide to Virtual Volunteerism
What kinds of virtual volunteering can you offer?
Willamalane Park and Recreation integrated virtual volunteering into their programming to meet the needs of the community. They posted virtual activities like “Virtual Translator,” where bilingual volunteers can translate important organizational documentation for Spanish-speaking community members.
These kinds of administrative tasks make for flexible online volunteering. Creative projects are also great for families to help from home. Willamalane posted opportunities like “Creative Card Makers” and “Mask Makers.” Projects like sewing fabric masks for students can make a real difference while keeping your at-home volunteers engaged.
Learn more about how Willamalane continues to engage volunteers with virtual opportunities >>
8. Keep Volunteers Informed of Changes
Regular, efficient communication with your volunteers is more important than ever as circumstances continue to change. What channels do you use to communicate with your volunteers? Here are some communication tools that you can consider implementing into your program:
Email is a reliable way to share information with your volunteers. In fact, there are many ways to keep in touch with your volunteer through email alone. Here are some ways you can optimize your email messaging:
- Volunteer Newsletter – Many nonprofits choose to keep their volunteers informed with a monthly newsletter. The newsletter is a space to promote new opportunities like your virtual volunteering program or share need-to-know updates, like your COVID-19 Volunteering Guidelines.
- Filterable Email Lists – Many email platforms allow you to filter email recipients by segment, so that you can quickly build an email for specific groups of volunteers, such as your newsletter subscribers.
- Automated Emails – If your platform has the capability, automated emails can save volunteer coordinators lots of time. Some platforms will send an automated email (or “confirmation” when a person registers with your organization, signs up for an opportunity, or even logs their hours. Edit your automated emails to include a call to action to review safety updates.
Learn more about utilizing email to communicate with your volunteers.
Text Messages
Did you know at least 97% of smartphone owners text regularly (Pew Research Center). Texting is a great way to reach volunteers quickly. Send last-minute updates to event volunteers, or reminders of an upcoming opportunity.
Consider texting your volunteers to make sure they receive alerts or important short-form messages, such as, “Today’s the day to volunteer! Please remember to wear your mask and arrive 30 minutes prior to your shift.” Texting is most efficient when you can message recipients en masse. Learn more information about sending texts to your volunteers.
We hope these 8 steps will help keep your community safe and active as your organization adapts to the changing regulations and safety measures. By adopting technology and online tools, and keeping your community updated on newly implemented safety practices, your organization can continue to have a positive impact.
Other Safety Resources
CDC Guidelines for Community Organizations
