by Marcie Gothard

Development Director, Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator, Red Kettle and Bell Ringing Coordinator at the Salvation Army in Battle Creek, Michigan.

1. DETAILS

When writing a volunteer job description, be detailed.

Volunteers are never happy to get to a volunteer location only to find out what they’ll be doing is completely different than what was listed in the volunteer opportunity.

This also includes informing volunteers of the type of information you’re required to gather about them.

Most organizations like The Salvation Army have specific requirements depending on the type of volunteer opportunity.

Being up front about your expectations will save you and the volunteer from any confusion later on.

2. LOCATION

Make sure you explain exactly where the volunteer opportunity will be taking place.

Include the street address and detailed directions including cross streets.

A number of volunteer opportunity websites include a link to a map.

You may have volunteers who aren’t familiar with your location or your city.

Giving them detailed directions helps take the guess work out of where they will be volunteering.

3. TIME

If you tell volunteers to meet you at a certain time, be there.

If you’re unable to be there make sure that someone from your organization is available and knowledgeable about what your volunteer’s will be doing.

Everyone’s time is precious and the fact that they’ve chosen your organization to volunteer for should mean something.

It’s also important to make sure that their time is used wisely.

I realize sometimes it’s hard to know ahead of time how an event or opportunity will flow.

Take the time to explain this to your volunteers.

The more information you share, the better they’ll feel about how they’re contributing to your organization.

4. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In the nonprofit world there isn’t a lot we can do for our volunteers.

However, the one thing we can do is thank them.

We may not be able to throw a fancy dinner or give away an award plaque but we can say thank you.

It’s hard during the middle of an event to focus on saying thank you, but that is the best time to do it.

Walk around, check on your volunteers, ask them how things are going and tell them thank you.

In my community our local newspaper runs a Roses and Raspberries section.

Anytime I have an event or group volunteer for The Salvation Army, I submit their names to the paper in the form of a Roses and thank them for their generous service to our community.

5. FOLLOW UP

At the end of an event ask your volunteer’s how they felt about volunteering for your organization.

You can even go so far as to give them a short survey to fill out.

Get their feedback.

You’re the manager and you can’t be everywhere at once.

Find out what your volunteer’s have experienced and use that information to improve your event or program.

If your event isn’t adaptable to the completion of a survey at the time of the opportunity, send one to them in the mail with a self addressed stamped envelope.

Volunteer feedback is vital in achieving continued growth and success of your volunteer program.

The truth is not every volunteer opportunity is fun.

You may need envelopes stuffed or weeds pulled.

Letting your volunteer know what their service means and how it impacts your organization is key.

In the end you want them to enjoy themselves and think of your organization the next time they want to volunteer.