The best way to increase your volunteer base is to retain them in the first place. Issues of volunteer retention are directly impacted by how clearly volunteers have been recruited, how fairly they are supervised and how effectively they are rewarded.
Primary factors determining whether a volunteer continues or leaves are:
Expectations for behaviour - what are they expected to do?
- Realistic
- Healthy
- Applied fairly
- Considerate of other demands on volunteers
- Spelled out at the beginning
- Flexible
- Openly communicated with others
- Focused on mission
- Measurable
- Match skills and interests of volunteer
- Leads to success for volunteer
Rules - formal rules for how the task is to be done:
- Makes common sense/Have a real purpose
- Up-to-date
- Realistic
- Fair enforcement
Systems - the processes for carrying out their role:
- Systems must not hinder success
- Logical
- Efficient
- Simple procedures
- Effective
- Connected to mission
- Easy to understand
- Up-to-date
- Sequential
- Leads to desired results
People - appropriate relationships with others:
- Probably the biggest factor is the relationship between paid staff and other volunteers
- Recruit from "groups" - friends, neighbours, from community groups
- Find good match for personality, etc
- Never understimate the power of FUN!
Communications - how information is shared
Rewards - what is rewarded, how and when
Climate - norms (written or unwritten) governing their behaviour:
- Energy of the group
- How energy is used
- Is it pleasurable (affiliation, achievement and empowerment)?
- Perception of growth
Settings - the physical surroundings and factors:
- Is it safe?
- Emergency procedures
- Welcomed as individuals
Success and impact - perceptions of making a difference
Individualism - what the volunteers brings to the role:
- Expecations for role
- Time constraints
- Skills
- Rigidity or flexibility
- Wellness
- Experiences
- Commitment
- Needs and motivation
- Self-image
Good volunteer administration would assume seeing to it that these factors are as good as possible for the majority of volunteers. Being sure that they are all treated fairly, pleasantly and being enabled to go about their assignment over time.
But, you won't be able to retain every volunteer. And probably, wouldn't want to. Sometimes the fit is just not right.
Background information:
Steve McCurley and Sue Vineyard are regarded as leading trainers and consultants in the field of program management.
