How to Prepare for Summer: a Checklist for Volunteer Programs

Summer is finally here!  

School is out, the weather is favorable, and families are looking to volunteer together, taking advantage of kids being out of school. Many organizations are ramping up their volunteer events and opportunities to match the seasonal uptick in volunteerism.

Is your volunteer program summer-ready?

To help you tackle the season ahead, we’ve compiled this checklist of tips and resources for a busy summer of volunteerism.

Here's Your Volunteer Management Checklist for Summer 2024:

1. Strengthen Recruitment

Make the most of the busier summer months by ramping up your recruitment efforts!

This volunteer recruitment guide has the need-to-know information to help boost your recruitment efforts and get the volunteers you need.

Here’s some key insight from the guide for strengthening up your volunteer recruitment strategy:

• Update your website. Does your website reflect and promote upcoming opportunities and events? Keep your site interesting by refreshing images and calls to volunteer action. Ensure you have an integrated, web-based volunteer site dedicated to recruiting, scheduling, and engaging your organization’s volunteers.
• Make it easy to get involved. Volunteers are more likely to get involved when they can sign-up with ease. Volunteers should be able to locate opportunities on your website and get involved with just a few clicks.
• Match skills and interests. Can volunteers search for listings based on their interests? Does your organization recommend opportunities based on volunteers’ preferences? Screening for skills-based work ensures volunteers are qualified for the job, avoiding frustration on both ends.
• Plan for volunteer training. Training ensures your volunteers are prepared for the work ahead. Plus, organizations that take the time to implement engaging volunteer training are more likely to enjoy greater volunteer retention.

Need more recruitment inspiration? Visit our list of 20 awesome volunteer recruitment ideas.  

2. Streamline Scheduling

Before you open your doors for summer, you’ll need to make sure your volunteer scheduling tools are on point. Without the right tools, managing volunteer schedules can be incredibly time-consuming. Fortunately, you can boost scheduling efficiency using technology. Volunteer scheduling tools include lots of exciting capabilities that allows for:

• Efficient volunteer self-scheduling. No need to manually schedule on behalf of volunteers! Instead, volunteers can view open shifts and choose the schedule that works best for them.
• Automated e-invites. Send messages to segmented groups, such as recent volunteers, active volunteers, or lapsed volunteers. Call for volunteers when you need them, and send targeted opportunities to boost engagement.
• Intuitive public and private event coordination. Create public and private listings for individuals and groups. Self-scheduling becomes more dynamic and you can rest assured that your supporters are finding the right opportunities and shifts.
• Custom schedules. Accommodate recurring volunteer schedules (for volunteers who want to participate regularly) and customize shifts for each opportunity listing.

3. Get Your Program Back on Track

Over the past few years, we’ve learned a lot about how to approach volunteerism with a sense for health and safety. Here are some ways to prepare your organization for an influx of in-person volunteers this summer:

• Assess your budget. As the fiscal year approaches for many nonprofits, you’ll want to evaluate your resources and funding opportunities. What budget changes have you made? How will you continue to leverage volunteerism to improve your program’s return on investment?
• Address existing safety procedures. Check in with your community’s recommendations for safe gathering. Decide which existing safety protocols you will phase out and those you will keep. For example, many organizations are choosing to keep contactless volunteer check-in. Communicate safety changes with staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Refocus your mission. It's not uncommon for community organizations to experience  mission creep over time. Reassess current needs in light of your volunteer program’s core mission.      

4. Re-inspire Volunteers

Have you checked in with your volunteers lately? Consistent and clear communication is a key component of any volunteer management strategy. So if you haven’t reached out to your volunteers in a while, or you’re looking to reinvigorate your volunteer program this summer, you’ll want to consider your outreach efforts.

How can you reengage volunteers through strategic outreach? Reintroduce your cause, communicate changes to your programming and safety measures, and get volunteers excited about the summer’s upcoming opportunities and events.

Be sure to engage volunteers using a variety of communication tools, such as:

• Email. Email is your communication MVP. Compose an email marketing campaign or newsletter and reintroduce your summer volunteer program. Don’t forget to send an email thanking your volunteers for their continued support!
• Text messaging. Invite volunteers to opt-in to receive text reminders and updates. Texting is a great way to share important announcements and call for last-minute volunteers.
• Social media. Employ social media to share news, drive brand recognition, and recruit new volunteers. Take advantage of multiple platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, and follow these social media tips.

5. Re-engage Community Partners

Many volunteer programs rely on community partners, from campuses to local businesses, to fill critical volunteer roles and support fundraising efforts. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to rekindle these partnerships to bolster your summer programming.

Here’s how:

• Reestablish communication. If you want to nurture your network, you need to remind them that you still exist. Send personalized emails and show that you’re invested in their outcomes by inviting two-way conversation and idea-sharing.
• Discuss strategy and values. Following this unprecedented year, it’s a good idea to check in, realign your mission and goals, and refresh your partnership strategy for moving forward. These conversations help to reestablish trust between organizations, necessary for securing long-term relationships.  

• Boost your social media presence. Your social media platforms are a great place to pique interest once again. Tap into each other’s networks by establishing content partnerships in which each party promotes their program and shares content on your respective channels.
• Make group registration easier. From college students to employee teams, your volunteer management system should allow for easy group sign-up. Designate a team leader to streamline communication and make sure leaders can hold slots for each shift.
• Share impact. Corporate social responsibility programs and service-learning initiatives need to know their volunteers’ impact. Do you have a system for creating impact reports for each partner quickly? A volunteer management system can track data specific to each partner and produce compelling reports that keep them engaged.

6. Go Hybrid

Some volunteers may not be ready to fully commit to in-person volunteering and events, while others are eager to return. Make sure you can accommodate remote and onsite volunteers.

Integrate Virtual Volunteering

Virtual volunteerism is here to stay. And it is possible to offer virtual and onsite volunteer opportunities. In fact, by providing both options, you’re creating a more inclusive environment for volunteers. Here’s how to accommodate your remote volunteers this summer:

• Be strategic about your offerings. Not every task is suitable for at-home volunteering. On the other hand, if the job can be accomplished remotely, make it virtual! Activities like data entry, social media management, fundraising, knitting, or kit-making are ideal virtual opportunities.
• Denote virtual and in-person opportunity listings. As your volunteers scroll through your website’s opportunity lists, they should be able to quickly identify virtual jobs. Create and highlight separate, searchable lists for virtual and onsite opportunities.
• Foster real connections. Many love volunteering for the socialization and meaningful human interaction it offers. While virtual volunteerism provides flexibility, volunteers can lose out on the benefits of face-to-face interaction. Make your virtual volunteers feel just as welcome by offering virtual volunteer mentorships, hosting a meet and greet over video, and regularly thanking your virtual volunteers.

Plan Hybrid Events

Hybrid events are a newer trend in event management, and are held both onsite and virtually. Therefore, they offer valuable flexibility for attendees and event hosts.

However, coordinating onsite and virtual elements can be tricky. So, after you’ve identified your event volunteer needs, you’ll need to consider virtual event management tools for smooth sailing.

You can also read more about hybrid event best practices (and avoidable mishaps!) in this handy article.

7. Embrace Family Volunteerism

When families and friends volunteer together, not only do they lead happier and healthier lives, but your organization receives an infusion of new volunteers! 

By offering family-friendly volunteer opportunities, you are also widening accessibility for people who may not have had access to traditional volunteer roles, such as senior volunteers or the younger members of Gen Z.

Want to learn how to recruit families or get fresh ideas for family-friendly volunteer opportunities ? Check out our Family Volunteerism Guide! 

8. Ramp Up Volunteer-Focused Technology

As your volunteer program ramps up for summer, make sure you have the right tools and technology in place to support your program.

But with all the technology out there, how do you know which is worth your investment?

We think the best, most cost-effective tools should be multi-functional and user-friendly. Volunteer management software, also called volunteer-focused technology, is your volunteer program’s one-stop-shop to manage, recruit, and engage volunteers more efficiently. The top volunteer management software options also have robust reporting and communication tools built-in.

Volunteer management software empowers nonprofit professionals to spend more time on high-impact activities like community outreach and planning (while spending less time on administrative tasks).

In the long run, you’ll improve your volunteer program’s return on investment and even grow your program.

By leveraging these tips and resources, your organization can maximize its impact and ensure a successful summer of volunteerism!

Embrace the season's enthusiasm and make a difference in your community, one volunteer at a time. Happy volunteering!