Volunteers represent the flexible backbone of your Australian not-for-profit organisation. Not only do they fuel your mission with a passion you won’t find otherwise, but they offer a wide array of skills you can leverage to make change and reach new goals.
There is a wonderful community volunteers can create when properly supported by their stakeholders and upper leadership. The unique perspectives and shared purpose are incredible assets you will use to improve your overall operations when serving the greater community.
As an NFP, you have a job to seek donors and volunteers to keep your lights on. With so many positive charities working throughout the country, it is always thrilling to watch as new volunteer programs are launched and expanded.
Our team at Web 105 works with NFPs of all sizes and scopes. We offer mobile responsive and clean website design and development and want to provide insights into what we see work best when a client creates a new volunteer program.
#1 – Set Goals & Assess Needs
You cannot know where you’re going without a destination. The first step to any successful volunteer program is to have a goal in mind. If you have a general idea but need a bit more clarity, ask for help.
Donors, team members, and stakeholders will all offer fantastic ideas on how you can use a volunteer team to wash new puppies in your animal hospital or provide transportation for your elderly daycare centre.
Think about your organisation’s primary objectives, what skills from volunteers will help you reach that goal, and how many volunteers will help you along the way without feeling overwhelmed.
Establishing milestones and KPIs from the beginning allows you to track success and adjust as you grow.
#2 – Craft a Mission Statement
It is perfectly acceptable to have an “umbrella” mission statement for your Australian charity or NFP and then another “child” mission statement for your volunteer program. This should echo your organisation’s core values and objectives, but be unique enough to feel like a motto for anyone signing up for your team.
Keep your mission statement concise and inspirational, and make it clear everywhere your CTAs (call to action) are for volunteer engagement (website, social media, physical flyers, etc.).
#3 – Create a Leadership Team with Clear Roles
NFP volunteers are a powerful resource that must be managed appropriately. Take the time to designate team members or leaders to help recruit, train, and coordinate all your volunteers.
Establish clear roles and responsibilities from the beginning. You want your leadership to feel a sense of accountability as well as authority so they can get the job done right and streamline operations.
Some NFPs go with a volunteer committee with designated leaders from staff and other volunteers.
#4 – Define Volunteer Roles
Just as your leaders need to feel empowered and responsible for their roles, so do your volunteers. You want clear outlines of their purpose, what duties and tasks they’ll be focused on accomplishing, and how the time commitment and scheduling work.
When you’re defining your volunteer roles, be sure to list any required qualifications and skills. That will help your marketing and recruitment efforts so people know precisely what you need to succeed. You want to attract the best-fit candidates to your NFP.
#5 – Develop a Schedule & Automate
Volunteer time is similar to any paid position on your NFP team. If you do not integrate software or communication tools that convey scheduling, you will run into too many volunteers standing around looking for direction or too few when there is a critical need.
Develop a comprehensive calendar that is easy to read across all devices. This should cover upcoming events, training sessions, regular scheduling, and future opportunities. If you can, automate this system as much as possible through software for scheduling, tracking hours, and sending reminders. This will reduce the stress and burden on your admin team.
#6 – Create a Recruitment Program
Some nonprofit organisations or charities are “sexy” and can attract volunteers all year round. Things like feeding people experiencing homelessness during Christmas or building houses for those suffering from a loss during a fire are easy to gain support.
However, your NFP focused on heart disease, the silent killer, may take a bit more effort to get volunteers. You’ll need a comprehensive recruitment program that goes well beyond your website. Try:
- Partnering with local groups and businesses.
- Attending job fairs and relevant community events.
- Offer internships and college credit.
- Utilise online volunteering opportunities through Zoom and your website.
- Ask team members and donors for suggestions.
- Use email campaigns and social media.
You can get creative with how you recruit new volunteers. You want to communicate why you need them, how they help, and the benefits they provide toward your shared mission.
#7 – Promote Everywhere
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what it’s meant for. You must promote your recruitment program as much as possible, even after fulfilling your needs. A waiting list is a multi-faceted benefit for your team.
Use everything at your disposal to promote volunteer opportunities with your NFP. The foundation begins with your website (which we can help you build), social media accounts, donor emails, and community boards.
#8 – Have a Training Program
Unless your new volunteers are retired previous employees, they will not know what to do when helping your NFP. You must have a training program of some kind, even if that means new volunteers shadow current volunteers.
The goal is to offer a supportive environment where volunteers feel empowered to complete tasks without that much oversight from your paid team. This way, you are getting the most benefit, and they feel like contributing members of your NFP’s ecosystem.
#9 – Show Your Appreciation
We cannot emphasise this point enough. Always, always, always show your appreciation for your volunteers. Use thank you notes, volunteer spotlights on your new website, appreciation events, and incentives to celebrate your many volunteers.
Consistent recognition demonstrates you care about their efforts and want to grow this relationship for the future. These are human beings giving up their free time to help you achieve a mission. Show them you care.
Conclusion
Launching a new volunteer program can feel like an overwhelming achievement. However, when it comes to life, you’ll find a passionate and helpful team of people willing to put in the time and effort to help you succeed.
Take the time to launch your campaign right and give yourself room to grow as you adapt to the challenges ahead. This list of tips will provide you with a solid foundation for cultivating a strong volunteer team willing to help your NFP grow.
When you’re ready, contact our team at Web 105. We work with Australian government agencies, NFPs, and healthcare providers nationwide to set up responsive mobile websites and streamline them. We can help you automate your volunteer recruitment and organisation through a comprehensive new website.
Give us a call today, and let’s discuss your unique website needs.
FAQs
How to set up a volunteering program?
Give yourself space to set goals, define what your volunteers will do, who will recruit and lead them, and how they will be integrated into your NFP. Try to craft a welcoming and supportive environment from the beginning and automate as many administrative tasks as possible to maintain and grow your volunteer base.
What makes a successful volunteer program?
Clear roles with supportive leadership that appreciates the time and efforts of volunteers are the key to success. Communication and online tools to help these volunteers complete tasks are equally crucial to goal achievement.
How to improve volunteer engagement?
Make the entire process easier through online tools, a comprehensive website, and clear guidelines of what is expected from every volunteer. That will give you enough room to improve as you grow and learn.