Every Australian not-for-profit understands how crucial a single volunteer can be to operations. Someone who dedicates their time and passion without expecting pay is often a defining lynchpin in how you get things done.
Anywhere from 3.4 to 5.8 million Australians donate time to organisations across the country. The trick is maximising the number of volunteers you can capture for your NFP. That requires understanding the barriers to volunteer engagement and what you can do to overcome them.
The Most Common Barriers to NFP Volunteer Engagement
Cultivating strong volunteer engagement and relationships starts by understanding their needs. You want to lower the barriers to signing up, scheduling, and access so volunteers feel a part of the whole team. Here are some examples.
#1 – Lack of Brand & Opportunity Awareness
It may seem elementary, but you cannot expect to get volunteers if they do not know you’re seeking help. You must develop a simplified campaign that attracts volunteers and smooths out the digital pathway to signing up and engaging with your NFP.
That pathway begins with an easy-to-use, mobile-responsive online presence. Your website should be up to date and include landing pages, sign-up forms, scheduling, calendars, and anything else your current volunteer base needs to operate. Then, you need clear calls to action throughout the website that encourage new volunteers to sign up.
Those same calls to action used on your website to attract volunteers need to be echoed across your social media platforms. That will help you get better community outreach and organic peer-to-peer connections. When your current volunteers can tell a friend, family member, or coworker where and how to sign up, you get more engagement.
#2 – Overly Complex Onboarding Process
The idea of KISS (Keep It Simple Silly) is to make systems as easy to use as possible. Too many NFPs pay thousands for overly complex forms and automations that can easily be simplified using a Google Document and an email.
Try to make your volunteer engagement system simple, and test it as if you were a new interested party. Be sure your online presence includes:
- Onboarding specific landing pages with links to various training materials, policies, and forms.
- Online forms that eliminate the need for physical liability waivers or volunteer placement surveys.
- Links to mobile apps and access points for volunteers to sign up for tasks and schedules.
- Links to all your private communication systems so volunteers get notifications on their devices about upcoming events, goals, and messaging.
- Feedback options via a website link or form.
Volunteers want to help, but you have to make it easy for them. They are donating their time and expect a certain level of access.
#3 – Little to No Training or Support
Not every volunteer your NFP gets will have a natural talent for caring for dogs or for communicating with people who need substance abuse support. That means you need training materials and operational support so they can complete tasks.
Building a comprehensive volunteer training program that they can complete online or with minimal intervention ensures you get better-trained volunteers. That should include:
- Your company’s mission, goals, and values
- A volunteer handbook (with policies and procedures)
- Detailed role descriptions with well-defined expectations
- A map of the company leadership or hierarchy, and where volunteers fit in
- Support options with mentorship so volunteers know where to get help
#4 – Scheduling Conflicts
Volunteers donate time. That sweat equity comes at a price. You have to offer opportunities that work with their schedules. While there is a group of older volunteers who will have flexible hours available, most will work full-time jobs or have families to raise. Those cases require different types of shifts.
Do what you can to adapt by offering virtual volunteering, micro-volunteering, shorter shifts, family-friendly positions, and online self-scheduling. You would be amazed at how quickly your group of volunteers starts developing a system of their own to fill in the gaps.
#5 – A Lack of Communication
You cannot expect volunteers to achieve specific goals if you’ve never communicated what those goals are and the steps to reach them. Without solid communication, volunteers will disengage. The same is true if there is too much information. Filling up email inboxes and overwhelming volunteers with text messages also leads to disengagement.
It will take some trial and error, but you want to balance your communication by refining your approach. Try to give each message a clear purpose and target only those volunteers who need the update. Utilise automated services for the simple stuff (shift reminders, thank you notes, etc.). Most importantly, be sure you have a feedback mechanism in place. You want your volunteers to feel they have an active voice in how the NFP is run and managed.
#6 – Feeling Undervalued
You must make your volunteers feel appreciated. Nothing will motivate people who donate their time more than feeling essential to your operations. Not only does this help bolster loyalty, but it often leads to remarkable efficiency improvements from feedback and possible donor funds from word of mouth.
Host volunteer appreciation events or give the occasional shout-out on social media. Hire from your volunteer pools and put one or two in leadership positions. These volunteers are incredibly valuable for understanding how your NFP is organised, operates, and impacts the community. Do not waste the resource by overlooking their contributions.
Start with Your NFP Website
Volunteers are essential to running a nonprofit in Australia, but you need a way to organise and communicate with all of them. That starts with a fresh, mobile-responsive website that appeals to your target group.
At Web 105, we specialise in building clean, easy-to-view websites for healthcare professionals, government agencies, and NFPs. Our experienced team of web designers and developers is here to boost your online presence, providing a smooth, clear pathway for volunteers to use. Call us today and let’s boost your site’s functionality.
FAQs
What challenges might volunteers face?
It usually comes down to whether they feel their skills fit your needs and if your opportunities match with their current lifestyle and schedules.
What is the true meaning of volunteering?
Volunteers give their skills, time, and sweat into helping a group or mission without expecting payment. All they ask in return is a thank you and the occasional public recognition.
Why is volunteering important in Australia?
Many Australians use volunteering as a way to gain experience or new skills they can leverage at home or in their professional careers. Those are highly valuable people who can often be transitioned into leadership or training roles.