Free volunteer orientation Outline + Checklist
Your ideal volunteers are both passionate about your cause and have the skills necessary to carry out the tasks that meet your objectives. While your volunteer recruitment efforts likely attract motivated, eager volunteers, most new recruits will require some level of volunteer training in order to make the most impact.
In this article, we offer strategies for developing an effective volunteer training program, from developing a training manual to utilizing volunteer management technology, so you have the information you need to help your volunteers succeed.
What is Volunteer Training?
Volunteer training prepares individuals to support your organization while upholding specific standards and values effectively.
Through training, volunteers learn essential skills, safety protocols, and organizational procedures that enable them to provide consistent, high-quality service.
Why is Volunteer Training Important?
At its most basic level, volunteer training prepares volunteers for their work. However, an effective volunteer training program benefits all stakeholders.
Training allows your volunteer base to be more:
- Engaged: The most impactful volunteers are those who demonstrate emotional involvement with your cause. One of the best ways to foster engaged volunteers is to provide basic training.
- Empowered: Volunteer training for nonprofits is associated with higher performance and long-term involvement.
- Efficient: Simply put, communities get more from your program when the volunteers are prepared for their work. Volunteer training can improve volunteer performance and efficiency while reducing turnover, therefore increasing your program’s return on investment, too.
.png?width=1200&height=627&name=Copy%20of%20Linkedin%20Banner%201200x627%20(9).png)
How to Create a Volunteer Training Program in 3 Steps
Though every volunteer training program will differ depending on the organization’s goals, the best programs are well-planned and thoughtfully considered, using the following three steps.
Step 1. Establish a Budget
Establishing a budget for your volunteer training program will help you allocate resources like funding and personnel. Typical volunteer training expenses may include:
- Staff time
- Rented equipment and space
- Refreshments
- Printing training materials
To reduce costs, consider repurposing materials, go paperless where possible, and create materials in-house (like videos and training manuals).
Step 2: Plan the Content
What do you want your volunteers to learn? How extensive will your volunteer training be? These are the questions you’ll want to consider when planning the shape of your volunteer training.
A typical nonprofit volunteer training program outline may look something like this:
- About Your Cause
- Program mission
- Community needs or gaps addressed
- Key staff members and leadership
- Funding sources and partnerships
- Development or future plans
- Volunteer Expectations and Responsibilities
- How to communicate organization’s mission
- How to conduct general work safely
- Other general organizational processes
- A volunteer training program outline
- Role-Specific Volunteering Training
- Skills development
- Knowledge development
- Role-specific procedures
- Emergency Procedures and Contacts
It’s important to note that the level of training your volunteers receive will depend on the complexity of the task you’re asking them to do. Training will be more extensive for certain skilled volunteer roles.
Step 3. Consider Your Training Methods and Format
Next, you will need to consider how you will conduct your volunteer training and the tools you will use to support your training.
To make the most of your volunteer training program, you’ll want to think about how you will keep your volunteers interested in the material.
The secret? Tapping into a variety of learning styles like:
- Problem Solving: Present volunteers with a problem they may face while volunteering. Ask trainees to work through the problem together and assist by asking open-ended questions.
- Group Discussion: Prompt volunteers and open the floor for discussion. For example, invite trainees to discuss what it means to be a great volunteer or encourage volunteers to reflect on their previous volunteering experiences.
- Simulation or role-playing: Simulation or role-playing are forms of experiential learning and can be essential training tools for skills-based volunteer work. For those hands-on learners in the group, simulate an activity or task that the volunteer will carry out once trained, like a mock tutoring session.
- Quiz: Test your trainees' knowledge with a fun (and low-pressure) quiz! Create your quiz online and ask volunteers to complete it as part of their online training. This will appeal to visual learners.
- On-the-Job Learning: Some of your trainees will learn best on the job. Experiential training works best after your volunteers have participated in basic training or orientation. Then, partner your beginners with experienced volunteers or training staff during the volunteer activity.
Volunteer Training Best Practices
Training requires volunteers to take more time out of their busy schedules. While your volunteer training program should be comprehensive enough for trainees to perform their tasks well and safely, it should also respect their time and efforts.
With this in mind, here are some best practices to help shape your volunteer program:
Support Your Training With Technology
Introducing technology into your training program will not only help volunteers get acquainted with the systems you use, but it will also keep them engaged in the material.
Here are some ways to embrace technology in your training:
- Webinars: Host live virtual volunteer training sessions for at-home training. Tools: Zoom.
- Videos: Create engaging pre-recorded videos to help aid training. Tools: Animoto, Vimeo, Youtube.
- Interactive e-Learning: Create online training that includes slides and other clickable elements. Tools: PowerPoint, Prezi.
- Online quizzes: Test your volunteers’ knowledge with fun, low-stakes quizzes. Tools: SurveyMonkey, Google Forms.
Establish A Mentorship Program
When training volunteers, it’s important that they feel supported. One of the best ways to support new volunteers and build trust is by providing them with a volunteer mentorship program, which can assist with on-the-job training and evaluation.
The volunteer mentor may be a staff member or a seasoned volunteer. Hold a mentor meet-and-greet so that volunteers can get to know their new mentors in a relaxed setting.
Set Measurable Learning Objectives
Goal-setting helps to motivate trainees while creating criteria for evaluation. Work with your volunteers to set learning objectives at the beginning of your training session.
For example, a learning objective may be:
At the end of this lesson, volunteers will be able to assess an adult’s literacy level using the standard assessment methods provided.
Connect With Volunteers After Training, Too
Just because a volunteer training session has ended doesn’t mean your work is done. To ensure maximum volunteer retention and engagement, be sure to:
- Follow up with a call-to-action: After completing their training, send a follow-up email thanking your volunteers for their participation. Then, prompt them to sign up for opportunities with a call-to-action with opportunity recommendations based on their skills and interests.
- Offer further opportunities for learning: Re-inspire disenchanted volunteers by providing further opportunities for learning. Allow volunteers the chance to take on new challenges and lead, like becoming volunteer mentors themselves.
- Gather feedback: Ask volunteers for their feedback through surveys. By giving your volunteers the opportunity to give feedback, you can improve your training program while working to boost volunteer satisfaction.
Volunteer Training and Beyond
Looking to streamline your volunteer program while putting these training best practices into action? Get Connected provides the robust volunteer management tools you need to support your training initiatives and keep volunteers engaged throughout their journey.
Get Connected helps you:
- Track volunteer skills and interests to match them with the right training opportunities.
- Communicate seamlessly with volunteers before, during, and after training through emails, texts, and in-app messaging.
- Support ongoing engagement with volunteer profiles, impact reporting, resumes, and more.
- Measure volunteer engagement and impact with detailed reporting
Don't let administrative tasks distract you from delivering impactful volunteer training. Let Get Connected handle the logistics so you can focus on what matters most — preparing your volunteers to make a difference.
Ready to learn more about how our volunteer management platform can enhance your training program and overall volunteer experience? Schedule a free demo today.
Additional Volunteer Training Examples and Resources
Looking for specific volunteer training topics? Check out our list of specific volunteer training workshops and skills-based resources for these popular institutions:
