3.09: Attracting and Retaining Volunteers

Mark HagerArizona State University

In this session

Discussion: I want your thoughts and ideas.

Why people volunteer.Why people stop volunteering.How nonprofits attract volunteers.How nonprofits retain volunteers.

Why do people volunteer?

Three minutes: Write down THREE reasons why people volunteer for community organizations.

Why do people volunteer?

Concern for others• Altruism• Selflessness• Religious convictions

Why do people volunteer?

Social Interaction• Contacts with others• Feeling useful and productive• Prestige• Family connections to organization• “Because somebody asked.”

Why do people volunteer?

Skills Development• Experience• Résumé building• Gain familiarity with new area• Credit

Why do people volunteer?

Through workplace• Benefits to organization• Networking within and outside of work• Status

Point

Different people are motivated by different things.

Different people are interested in different things.

People volunteer for different reasons.

Why do people stop volunteering?

1. “I don’t have time. Doesn’t fit my schedule.”2. “I’m no longer involved with the

organization/cause.”3. “The volunteer experience was not managed

very well by the organization.”4. “It wasn’t a good use of my time.”5. “It wasn’t a good use of my talents.”6. “Nobody thanked me.”

Two in five people stopped because of poor volunteer management practices.

Attracting volunteers

Remember: People volunteer for different reasons.

Attracting and retaining volunteers is largely a matter of matching messages and tasks with the reasons why people are volunteering.

Attracting volunteers

Interested in… Focus on…… a particular issue

… the issue

…feeling productive

…the ability to make a difference

…social interaction

…opportunity to connect with others

…skills development

…potential for learning

…corporate relationship

…relationship between employee workplace and community organization.

• One size fits all does not work.

• That’s why GOOD volunteer management is so hard.

Take away

Volunteer management does not just happen. It requires a real investment from the organization.

Organizations that invest in volunteer management reap the benefits of their volunteers.

Organizations that do not invest in volunteer management have lower commitment and more turnover among their volunteers.