6 tips for retaining volunteers

1) Play to talents

People are happiest when they can do what they love and what they are good at. What are someone’s unique talents? Adapt and see, as far as possible, how and where each individual can be empowered the most. You can also collaborate with other organizations, referring (partially) to each other if it better suits someone.This is a non-translatable shortcode.

2) Time and attention

Make sure to allocate enough time for the guidance of volunteers and regularly check in to see how they are doing. Take them seriously, establish clear agreements, and ensure that each volunteer has a designated primary contact person. Coordinating volunteers is truly a skill and definitely enhances the quality of the work.

3) A positive (work) environment

Volunteering should be fun above all. This keeps someone enthusiastic. So, make the atmosphere internally a priority. Ensure that a volunteer feels comfortable. Let attention, conviviality, and positivity be central and also show that you enjoy your work.

4) Appreciation and recognition

Show in various ways throughout the year how important a volunteer is to your organization. This can be done, for example, by: A gift on a birthday/anniversary/Christmas/illness, a thank you on National Volunteer Day, a sincere compliment from time to time, and by showcasing the volunteer work and its impact on your site or in the newsletter. A sense of fulfillment keeps people coming back.

5) Provide a compensation

Intrinsic motivation is the most important, but of course, it is not the intention for a volunteer to incur costs themselves, so, if applicable, look into possibilities for a proper expense reimbursement. You can also opt fora volunteer allowance(in 2024 this is a maximum of 210 euros per month or 2100 euros per year).

6) Personal development

Volunteering offers a unique opportunity to develop skills, gain new experiences, and make a positive impact. Continuing to learn and grow is therefore something that appeals to many volunteers. And of course, it also benefits your organization: people become more competent and/or may potentially move on to another role. So if the opportunity arises: see if you can offer (one-time) workshops, training sessions, or courses (tailored) for active volunteers.

→ And if it does come to an end, don’t be afraid to say goodbye. Know that turnover is a natural part of the process. Always ask why someone is leaving, as this may shed light on issues within the organization and in the volunteer policy.

Questions? Keep talking?

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