ENGAGING & RETAINING VOLUNTEERS THE NEW YORK CARES LEADERSHIP LADDER

AGENDA

Introducing New York Cares

Volunteer Management Challenges and Strategies

The Volunteer Engagement Scale

Activity

Wrap Up

INTRODUCING NEW YORK CARES

Founded in 1987

Oldest and largest affiliate of

HandsOn Network

Engages 62,000 volunteers each year

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES

The Problems:

30% of volunteer opportunities were going unfilled

55% of newly-oriented volunteers never signed up to serve

The Goal: To significantly increase recruitment and retention rates that

would result in more volunteers, as well as more volunteers with the

capacity and desire to become deeply engaged community leaders

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Improve communications with potential volunteers

Revamp volunteer orientation

Communicate with every volunteer

Move volunteers up the leadership ladder

Increase organizational capacity

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Improved Marketing to and Communication with Potential Volunteers

More engaging website

More personal and welcoming confirmation emails

Mobile-responsive website

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Revamp Volunteer Orientation

Compelling confirmation email

Issue education

Orientation goal statement

Immediate sign up

Post-orientation follow up

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Communicate with Every Volunteer

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Move Volunteers Up the Leadership Ladder

Formalized application and vetting

Intensive and advanced training

Decreased focus on administration

Team leader networking

Public recognition

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Increasing Staff and Organizational Capacity

New Staff

Volunteer Leaders

AmeriCorps Members and VISTAs

Me and

what army,

Lady?!?!?

RESULTS

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT SCALE

New York Cares and Baruch College Survey Research Unit

27,000 volunteers

Key Questions

Who are volunteers?

What motivates them to volunteer and continue to volunteer?

How and do they move from managers to leaders?

And, is there a relationship between volunteering and other forms of civic engagement?

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT SCALE

Level One: Shoppers

Individuals who call for information and/or attend an orientation session, but do not sign up for an event or project

Level Two: Episodic Contributors

Volunteers who participate in only one project annually

Level Three: Short-term Contributors

Volunteers who complete two to four projects per year for only one year and/or become Site Captains for an Annual Event

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT SCALE

Level Four: Reliable Regulars

Volunteers who complete five or more projects for one year or two to four projects per year for more than one year

Level Five: Fully Engaged Volunteers

Volunteers who participate in five or more projects per year for more than one year, become Team Leaders, and/or assume other leadership roles such as serving as a Site Captain, assisting in volunteer orientation by joining New York Cares’ Speakers Bureau, or serving on an organizational fundraising or steering committee

Level Six: Committed Leaders

Volunteers who have committed to more than one year serving as a Team Leader, Site Captain, Speakers Bureau or committee member, and/or helping to cultivate contacts/donors

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT SCALE

ACTIVITY

Find a partner

Talk about where your volunteers fall on the Volunteer Engagement Scale

Brainstorm three ways you can better engage and retain volunteers

QUESTIONS

RESOURCES

The Leadership Ladder:

https://www.newyorkcares.org/sites/default/files/publication/2009Leadership_Ladder.pdf

Great Volunteer Management System: https://www.newyorkcares.org/sites/default/files/publication/GVMSBook_0.pdf