People volunteer because they want to help make a difference in the lives of others. Here at the Rescue Mission we were blessed to have over 9000 people who volunteered at least one hour last year. That’s a whole lot of people, and yet our goal is to make sure that each one has the best possible experience.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes there isn’t a perfect love-match for the volunteer and organization. This could be a for a bunch of reasons.
Volunteer isn’t matched with the right job. Everyone has gifts and talents that are unique to them. Even if the volunteer is only there a few hours, it’s best if we try to match them with job that is just right for them. That’s why it’s important to share what you love to do, not just what you think you need to do, with the organization in which you serve.
Staff isn’t helpful. Let’s be honest, this is a problem everywhere, and we need to raise the standard of service to volunteers. Having seen lots of organizations, I know that staff can sometimes see volunteers as a distraction from the job. How wrong headed is that? Nevertheless, it’s shamefully common and occurs way too much. It’s up to each individual staff person to make every effort to include volunteers in meaningful work. Here’s a past blog I wrote on this subject.
Taking Initiative. To have a perfect volunteer match, everyone needs to take the initiative. Staff needs to make sure that the volunteer’s time is respected, and that they’re taking the initiative to make sure the volunteer is set up to succeed. Volunteers, having already taken the first step by showing up and being ready to serve, need to totally invest in the place they are serving. As long as people hold back, there’s going to be disappointment and hurt feelings.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of great non-profit organizations. Let’s raise the standard, both at the Rescue Mission and at your organization, to make sure that we’re helping volunteers effectively connect with their passion to serve.
David Curry
