Many leaders of clubs and associations tell me about the trouble they have recruiting volunteers. This could be a symptom of lack of engagement or it could be members don’t see the meaning in the opportunity. You all know how much potential your members have to help you accomplish your good works. This requires your member’s time. You can’t do everything on your own.
- How do you solicit volunteers today, and why?
We found a delicate balance between how frequently you ask for members to volunteer and willingness to do so. There is also a strong correlation between the personal benefit your members receive when they volunteer, and how often they help you out. More meaningful opportunities – those where a member can share their knowledge or mentor others – are much more compelling than taking tickets at the door, for example.
- And, how do you recognize your volunteers?
Who do you choose to recognize? Those organizations with the most successful volunteering programs tell me a simple “thank you” goes a very long way. But, to encourage more, a “thank you” may not always enough, especially those who are major contributors.
- Do you think that you should recognize those that go above and beyond?
The ideas for rewarding those who help you are wide and diverse. Before you put together any program to recognize volunteers you need to understand what your challenges are. If you are just starting to ask your members to volunteer, you may not know what the challenges are yet. If you can’t get enough volunteers – ask them why? There are survey tools out there to help. ClubExpress includes a built-in survey module which can easily be used for a full survey or even a one-question poll.
Most organizations simply recognize those who help with a smile, a “thank you,” and a handshake. Understanding who puts in the most time or volunteers for the most activities gives you the chance to give some of your volunteers special recognition. This might be monthly postings in your newsletter or a post on the homepage of your website and social media pages. I have learned that the most successful have a recognition meeting at year end where they give plaques or other awards to those who contributed the most.
- How do we measure success?
You may choose to track each member volunteering hours. Or, you may track how many times they have volunteered in a timeframe. But how do you manage and track all of this? When your organization was small with only a handful of members, you could easily manage using paper or Excel. As you grow, this simply isn’t feasible. Most AMS systems today offer specific volunteering modules that are a part of their base system. Or, some interface with other volunteering programs you can purchase. Regardless of what you use or how you track, your key measures of success are increased volunteering and member satisfaction.
I am always happy to talk with people about the challenges they face in managing their organizations. If you have a question or want to talk through a specific issue, please call or email me. I’m always happy to learn what others are facing and share what I’ve learned from the thousands of associations we’ve worked with over the years. Perhaps we can brainstorm ideas or find automated ways to help, using best-of-breed technologies without breaking the bank. Or, learn more about how to engage more volunteers. Ask for a demo.
Watch for my next blog post on Why be Social?