No doubt about it, when someone takes the time to volunteer they are making an investment. They are choosing to spend time serving in your cause, when they could be doing a million other things. They’ll never get that time back, it can’t be recaptured, so non-profit’s need to have a plan and a purpose for the work of the volunteer to make sure that their investment gets the maximum dividend.
As with any investment, a volunteer is hoping that their service will multiply the good that being done and help others. But serving is also good for the volunteer, giving them a real sense of meaning, community and usefulness. If you’re work is anything like ours here at the Rescue Mission, you couldn’t do without volunteers. Yet so many churches, non-profits, and groups fail get the most of volunteers and maximize the return of blessing to the volunteer, leaving the volunteer disappointed and discouraged about their service.
How can we maximize the Volunteers Investment?
1. Listen to the Volunteer: Although not always the case, volunteers know what they are willing to do, and a capable of doing. Create systems that allow the volunteer to choose the time, place, and acitivity of service if possible. Our volunteer website at the Rescue Mission is designed to help prompt volunteers as they look through the different ways they can serve, then we follow up with personal conversation to help determine what’s the best fit for the volunteer.
2. Strengths: I’m a big believer in using every member of your team in their strengths. This includes valuable volunteers. If you have a dedicated volunteer, you need to find out what they are passionate about, gifted to do, and how they are best suited to serve. Often people don’t know what their are gifted to do, or what they strengths are. They’ve never been taught or encouraged in such a way. Create a culture of success by using people in a way they are suited. Here at the Rescue Mission, we use Strength Finders for all our staff, including volunteer staff.
3. Be Ready: Usually a volunteer has limited time, be prepared for them when they arrive, ready to put them to work. They’ll appreciate the respect and thoughtfulness that this shows, and be more likely to give of their time in the future.
If you really believe in the power of volunteers, take the time to prepare for your volunteers, maximizing their investment in your organization.
David Curry
