Whether or not an organization has a dedicated volunteer engagement manager on staff, engaging and supporting volunteers is never the sole responsibility of just one person or department. Folks who lead programs, raise funds, support operations, and serve as executive leaders not only interact with volunteers but also actively support them. Yet, with staff turnover continuing to be at an historic high, it’s more important than ever to ensure these team members understand how to engage volunteers and support them.
More specifically, ALL staff members – regardless of department or title – should have access to information about how volunteer roles are developed and how to partner with the volunteer engagement leads to recruit, select, onboard, train, support, and recognize volunteers. This is where a Staff Guide for Volunteer Engagement comes in.
For example, NAMI Colorado (which works to build communities of recovery and hope by educating, supporting, and advocating for individuals affected by mental illness and their families) supports more than a dozen local affiliates across the state, each working to provide programs and resources to support and educate people affected by mental illness. While volunteers are the common thread throughout these diverse affiliates, no standard procedures existed across NAMI Colorado. Furthermore, when affiliate leadership shifted – especially in the smaller regions – history and practices were often lost because the procedures were not documented.
To address these challenges and increase efficiency and impact overall, leadership and VQ Volunteer Strategies set out to develop an easy-to-use guide on how to engage volunteers, from the development of new roles to writing position descriptions, training and supporting volunteers, recognizing them, and more. After surveying and interviewing staff and volunteer leaders across the state, the NAMI Colorado Volunteer Engagement Resource Guide was developed. Affiliate leaders were invited to webinars that introduced the guide, presented common examples of when and how to use the guide, and walked through the contents.
Today, NAMI Colorado affiliate leaders have a consistent tool to use as they continue to navigate the changing landscape of volunteer recruitment, retention, and management. Ongoing training on volunteer strategies occurs year-round. During monthly facilitated conversations, leaders share updates and challenges, discuss best practices, and collaborate on issues common to all.
Interested in developing your own Staff Guide for Volunteer Engagement? Download our new mini-toolkit designed to help you develop your own resource guide so staff have the information they need to effectively engage and support volunteers.
Develop your own Volunteer Engagement Guide for Staff … because effective and consistent volunteer engagement relies on staff who have the information and skills to engage, support, and recognize volunteers.