Attracting and Retaining MembersAttracting and Retaining Members for Non-Profit Organisations for Non-Profit Organisations

Attracting and Retaining Attracting and Retaining MembersMembers

for Non-Profit Organisations for Non-Profit OrganisationsThis presentation will:This presentation will:

1.1. Outline Best Practice in VolunteeringOutline Best Practice in Volunteering

2.2. Talk about recruiting volunteersTalk about recruiting volunteers

3.3. Have you Thinking about Thinking Have you Thinking about Thinking differentlydifferently

4.4. Cover some recruiting optionsCover some recruiting options

5.5. And give some suggestions for And give some suggestions for retaining volunteersretaining volunteers

Best Practice in Best Practice in VolunteeringVolunteering The Organisation has clear policies & procedures The Organisation has clear policies & procedures

in place for managing volunteersin place for managing volunteers Recruitment processes are fair and transparent Recruitment processes are fair and transparent

and volunteers receive a thorough induction to and volunteers receive a thorough induction to the organisation and its workthe organisation and its work

Volunteers work in a healthy and safe Volunteers work in a healthy and safe environmentenvironment

Volunteers receive the raining and skills Volunteers receive the raining and skills development they needdevelopment they need

Volunteer work is recognisedVolunteer work is recognised The approach for managing volunteers is The approach for managing volunteers is

regularly reviewed to ensure that the quality of regularly reviewed to ensure that the quality of the volunteering experience continues to improvethe volunteering experience continues to improve

Source: Nomination Booklet 2006 NAB Volunteer Awards

Recruiting Volunteers: Recruiting Volunteers: Some Questions?Some Questions?

Where are volunteers needed?Where are volunteers needed?

What tasks, specifically, will volunteers be What tasks, specifically, will volunteers be doing? Rank the importance of these tasks.doing? Rank the importance of these tasks.

What training is needed for these tasks?What training is needed for these tasks?

Will the agency be able to facilitate this Will the agency be able to facilitate this training?training?

What are future considerations/goals for What are future considerations/goals for volunteer work? volunteer work?

Source: www.charityvillage.com: Excerpt from "Volunteer Synchronicity".

Recruiting Volunteers: WIFMRecruiting Volunteers: WIFM

WWhat’s hat’s

IIn it n it

FFor or

MMe?e?

Personal satisfaction

Passion

Skills development

Gain Experience

Help out their family

Resume development

Pathway to Work

Gain experience

Try something different

Use a skill they have

For the social and friendship aspect

Get to know new people

New to the area

Recruiting Volunteers:Recruiting Volunteers:Defining Target Volunteer GroupsDefining Target Volunteer Groups Youth 13-18 years Youth 13-18 years

College/University Students College/University Students

Seniors Seniors

People from different cultures; People from different cultures; individuals who speak second individuals who speak second languages languages

Diverse populations (everybody!) Diverse populations (everybody!)

Business or Corporate VolunteersBusiness or Corporate VolunteersSource: www.charityvillage.com: Excerpt from "Volunteer Synchronicity".

Recruiting Volunteers: Recruiting Volunteers: Creating Job PositionsCreating Job Positions

General tasks/responsibilities involved General tasks/responsibilities involved with the jobwith the job

Time commitmentTime commitment

Any special skills that are Any special skills that are needed/preferredneeded/preferred

Number of volunteers neededNumber of volunteers needed

Anything else that would be useful for a Anything else that would be useful for a potential volunteer to know potential volunteer to know

Source: www.charityvillage.com

Diverse populations Diverse populations (everybody!)(everybody!)

Local publications (i.e. newspapers- placing Local publications (i.e. newspapers- placing ads, letters to the editors)ads, letters to the editors)

Posters in public places like the library, or Posters in public places like the library, or businesses like bookstores, milk bars etc.businesses like bookstores, milk bars etc.

Faxing radio, television media (i.e. media Faxing radio, television media (i.e. media release; offer an interesting angle and they release; offer an interesting angle and they may make a story out of it)may make a story out of it)

Volunteer Centres (posters, etc.)Volunteer Centres (posters, etc.)

Local internet websites Local internet websites

Cultural DiversityCultural Diversity

Cultural DiversityCultural Diversity

Recruit people from different cultures; Recruit people from different cultures; individuals who speak second individuals who speak second languageslanguages

Local multicultural and aboriginal Local multicultural and aboriginal

centerscenters

ESL classes at Centres, colleges, ESL classes at Centres, colleges, universities, and high schools universities, and high schools

Source: www.charityvillage.com: Excerpt from "Volunteer Synchronicity".

Think DifferentlyThink Differently

If we don’t change our direction, If we don’t change our direction, we’re likely to end up where we’re we’re likely to end up where we’re headed -headed -

Chinese proverbChinese proverb

Let it go. Let it out.Let it all unravel.Let it free and it can beA path on which to travel.For Instance:

Recruit a Business to Staff Your Recruit a Business to Staff Your Board or CommitteeBoard or Committee

Scan the horizon. Scan the horizon. Look in your local newspaper Look in your local newspaper for stories about business doing interesting for stories about business doing interesting community work or projectscommunity work or projects

ApproachApproach well known businesses that run well known businesses that run employee volunteer programs such as the Nation employee volunteer programs such as the Nation Australia Bank Australia Bank

PresentPresent a well thought out plan that they just a well thought out plan that they just can’t refusecan’t refuse

AskAsk for what you need for what you need RememberRemember to give them a reason for to give them a reason for

participating, good press, increased public profile, participating, good press, increased public profile, advertising on your promotional materials etc.advertising on your promotional materials etc.

Retaining Volunteers: The Retaining Volunteers: The ChallengeChallenge

Agencies which do not offer occasional Agencies which do not offer occasional

challenges, or fully utilize the skills of challenges, or fully utilize the skills of

their volunteers, will not maintain their volunteers, will not maintain

volunteers as well as agencies which do. volunteers as well as agencies which do.

Keep this in mind when developing Keep this in mind when developing

volunteer programs, and recruitment volunteer programs, and recruitment

strategies. strategies.

Source: www.charityvillage.com: Excerpt from "Volunteer Synchronicity".

Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Q: How do you assess your volunteers’ satisfaction Q: How do you assess your volunteers’ satisfaction

with the work they are doing?with the work they are doing?

Is there a regular debriefing process?Is there a regular debriefing process? Is feedback encouraged?  Are there opportunities Is feedback encouraged?  Are there opportunities

for volunteers to provide feedback (by phone, in for volunteers to provide feedback (by phone, in person or in writing)?person or in writing)?

Is data collected about e.g. volunteer Is data collected about e.g. volunteer retention/turnover rates, grievancesretention/turnover rates, grievances

Do you hold exit interviews when volunteers Do you hold exit interviews when volunteers decide to leave the organisation?  Is feedback decide to leave the organisation?  Is feedback from the exit interviews used to improve from the exit interviews used to improve volunteer management?volunteer management?

Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Retaining Volunteers cont’d.

Q: Q: Does your organisation recognise your Does your organisation recognise your volunteers and celebrate their achievements? volunteers and celebrate their achievements? 

How are volunteers recognised (annual report, How are volunteers recognised (annual report, newsletter, notice board)newsletter, notice board)

Do you have service recognition (e.g. certificates, Do you have service recognition (e.g. certificates, awards, medal nominations)?awards, medal nominations)?

Are references, where required, provided?Are references, where required, provided? Are volunteers thanked during meetings and  Are volunteers thanked during meetings and 

volunteer events celebrated (Eg National volunteer events celebrated (Eg National Volunteer Week) ?Volunteer Week) ?

  

4 Motivations4 MotivationsAccording to According to Nan HawthorneNan Hawthorne of of Sound Volunteer Sound Volunteer

ManagementManagement there are four typical motivators for there are four typical motivators for volunteers.volunteers.

PraisePraise AffiliationAffiliation AccomplishmentAccomplishment Power and InfluencePower and Influence

Source: http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rvol23.html

Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Retaining Volunteers cont’d.PraisePraise This is effective for volunteers who: This is effective for volunteers who: Enjoy recognition for their talents and accomplishments Enjoy recognition for their talents and accomplishments Like being thanked, given gifts, and singled out for Like being thanked, given gifts, and singled out for

achievement achievement Find situations where there is little or no feedback frustrating Find situations where there is little or no feedback frustrating Enjoy a volunteer program where the results of their efforts Enjoy a volunteer program where the results of their efforts

are readily seen by othersare readily seen by others

PraiseRecognize these volunteers by offering small gifts, a recognition spot on your web site or in your newsletter, or public recognition at an event. They will often also appreciate a letter thanking their boss, teacher, family, etc. for their help and/or a reference letter for a job or another volunteer position.

Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Retaining Volunteers cont’d.AffiliationAffiliation This is an important factor for volunteers who: This is an important factor for volunteers who: Enjoy being part of an organization, club or team Enjoy being part of an organization, club or team Enjoy opportunities to get together with others with similar Enjoy opportunities to get together with others with similar

beliefs, backgrounds, goals, and being associated with a well-beliefs, backgrounds, goals, and being associated with a well-known cause or group known cause or group

Don't find working alone or for an obscure organization very Don't find working alone or for an obscure organization very satisfyingsatisfying

AffiliationYou can thank these volunteers through social get-togethers, organization t-shirts, name-badges, or posting a list of all organization volunteers in a public area.

Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Retaining Volunteers cont’d.AccomplishmentAccomplishment These volunteers: These volunteers: Enjoy seeing concrete evidence of their work, such as Enjoy seeing concrete evidence of their work, such as

piles of finished paperwork or names checked off on a piles of finished paperwork or names checked off on a list list

Like practical, tangible projects Like practical, tangible projects Don't like working on projects where abstract goals Don't like working on projects where abstract goals

are pursued or achievements are hard-wonare pursued or achievements are hard-won

AccomplishmentYou can offer these volunteers certificates of accomplishment at specific stages in their work, continuing education or credential credits, or a special place to put completed projects

Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Retaining Volunteers cont’d.Power and InfluencePower and Influence

Some volunteers: Some volunteers: Like persuading people to see or do things their way, or Like persuading people to see or do things their way, or

enjoy showing people a better, easier way of enjoy showing people a better, easier way of accomplishing an objective accomplishing an objective

Don't want to be in an insignificant position, but like Don't want to be in an insignificant position, but like positions where they help make decisions or train positions where they help make decisions or train peoplepeople

Power and InfluenceThese volunteers will appreciate titles or rank insignia, a special parking spot for the month, or involvement as a speaker at organization workshops.

Be SocialBe Social

• Run regular social events

• Celebrate achievements regularly

• Take the time to get to know people

• Run information sessions over morning & Afternoon Tea

For Busselton During WinterFor Busselton During Winter

North

Thank you!Thank you!

23 Prince Street Busselton (building 23 Prince Street Busselton (building in the park)in the park)

Ph/Fax: Ph/Fax: 9754 20479754 2047

Email: Email: volunteers@westnet.com.auvolunteers@westnet.com.au

Website: WWW.bdvolunteers.org.auWebsite: WWW.bdvolunteers.org.au