{"id":29347,"date":"2022-02-04T08:55:19","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T13:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/how-to-recruit-more-participants-for-peer-to-peer-fundraising-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-12-15T11:57:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T16:57:02","slug":"10-volunteer-training-ideas-for-onboarding-all-types-of-volunteers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/10-volunteer-training-ideas-for-onboarding-all-types-of-volunteers\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Volunteer Training Ideas for Onboarding All Types of Volunteers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Matt Hugg, President and Founder, Nonprofit.Courses – He\u2019s the author of the Guide to Nonprofit Consulting, and teaches nonprofit management at several universities, via the web, and in-person in the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe. Matt\u2019s past work includes fundraising for the University of the Arts, Ursinus College, University of Cincinnati and the Boy Scouts of America. He has a BS from Juniata College and an MA in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary\u2019s University of Minnesota.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no secret that there\u2019s a labor shortage in today\u2019s economy. And among nonprofits, it\u2019s also no secret that volunteering has declined substantially over the years<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes volunteers more valuable than ever before.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many nonprofits see an alarming rate of volunteer turnover for a number of reasons<\/a>, from lack of time, to insufficient recognition to burno<\/a>ut<\/a> and more.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with any paid employee, how you onboard your volunteers is key to their long-term tenure with your organization. Or, as our mothers put it\u2013what starts well ends well! So, no more \u201csink or swim\u201d approach to your volunteer engagement<\/a>. They\u2019re just too valuable. Start off your volunteers\u2019 journey right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do you start? Before you get into the nitty gritty of training resources (like these nonprofit webinars rounded up Nonprofit.Courses<\/a>), start with these 10 tips for onboarding all types of volunteers!  Then download the Volunteer Onboarding Essentials Checklist<\/a> to keep on hand to help you onboard all your new volunteers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Be there when your volunteers arrive<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Obvious? Yes. But you\u2019d be surprised (or not) at how many volunteers show up with nobody to greet them. Can you imagine arriving for your first day at a new job and having no one know that you\u2019re starting or what you should do? Put your volunteers\u2019 fears to rest by having a greeter ready and waiting ahead of volunteers\u2019 scheduled arrival time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Smile! <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s very important that your volunteers know that you\u2019re happy they\u2019re taking time out of their busy schedules to help your organization achieve its mission. If the person assigned to welcome your new volunteers isn\u2019t the one who enlisted them\u2014and doesn\u2019t seem pleased about being there–that\u2019s a huge deterrent to folks who are willing to help out without being paid to do so. Treat your volunteers like VIPs!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Get them physically oriented<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Feeling comfortable in a new environment is important! Before you give volunteers the grand, mission-focused tour, be sure to do a quick \u201cshow them where the bathrooms are and more\u201d tour. It may sound minor, but it\u2019s a great opportunity to make your volunteers feel at home<\/a> and answer any housekeeping questions they might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Introduce them<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re on the tour, introduce your volunteers to other staff members to make them feel welcome. It\u2019s the first step in making new recruits<\/a> part of your team. Don\u2019t expect anyone to remember names after your brief \u201cthis is Jane and she\u2019ll be helping us with\u2026\u201d greeting, but it puts everyone at ease and makes Jane feel like she\u2019s being welcomed to the team with open arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Complete the paperwork<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve greeted volunteers and given them a tour, you still can\u2019t leave them to their new work. As with anything today, there are forms to fill out. We won\u2019t get into the nitty-gritty here. You know you\u2019ll need to get their name, address, emergency contact, and more. They need to sign any confidentiality papers that may be required. You should also supply them with any safety materials or waivers and make sure they have the required clearances and background checks for their role. Now is also a good time to present them with a pledge card for their charitable gift. Yes, you read that right. While you appreciate their putting time into your organization, giving makes their commitment even stronger. Create a checklist of materials and processes that applies to any volunteer<\/a> \u2013 from board members to office clerks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Present your volunteer with a Covenant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maybe the most important document you\u2019ll present to your volunteer is a Covenant. Think of it as a combination of a job description\u2013which tells the volunteer what you want them to do for your nonprofit\u2013and a commitment from your nonprofit on what you will do for them. A job description is nonprofit best practice (although too often ignored). A statement on what you will do for a volunteer is rare, but in these days of scarce labor and fewer volunteers, it can make a big difference.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s in the \u201cwhat we\u2019ll do for you\u201d part of the Covenant? Consider subjects such as a statement that you\u2019ll respect them and maintain safe working conditions, that you\u2019ll listen to their concerns, that you\u2019ll provide appropriate training for their role, and that you\u2019ll tell them when they\u2019re doing their job well–and when they\u2019re not. You might even make a statement about evaluations. Remember, a volunteer can leave at any time. Consider what\u2019s in it for them and address those points as best you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Establish communication methods <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now is a great time to review how to communicate. Every organization has their own preferred method, as does each volunteer. Make sure you clarify whether you\u2019ll connect via email, text, Slack, telephone, etc. If you need to provide your volunteers with an organizational email address, then get that started. Will your volunteers have one point of contact, or will they need the names and information for several others?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To this point, your work with your volunteers<\/a> is all procedural. That\u2019s okay. People get that it\u2019s necessary. Now, we\u2019re getting closer to why your volunteers are here at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Focus on your mission<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Few people say to anyone \u201cI\u2019m here for the shoveling!\u201d or \u201cI love filing so much! That\u2019s why I volunteer.\u201d Even if shoveling soil or filing reports is their volunteer role, chances are they\u2019re with you because they believe in the higher purpose of your nonprofit: the mission. They need to see the bigger picture and their place in impacting the people you serve.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mission is much more than a formal statement approved by your board of directors. It\u2019s the total reason for your nonprofit\u2019s existence. Maybe the best way to get a new volunteer engaged in your mission is to start with your hero story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hero story<\/a>? That\u2019s the tale of who started your nonprofit and why. Typically it\u2019s emotional and will often involve some circumstance where the protagonist, usually the founder, sees or experiences something that isn\u2019t right or that\u2019s missing from society.  The founder will take on the problem, which leads directly to the start of your nonprofit. From there, you can talk about what was done, how your mission guides your work, and where you are today.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can decide whether the story is written, told in video<\/a>, or audio, spoken person to person or to a group, or better yet, in some combination of the above. Most importantly, the story needs to be told with enthusiasm. After all, none of you would be there without the problem, the protagonist, and the resolve to address it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Discuss what you do today<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After you lay out your hero story, fast forward to how your mission is expressed today. Whether you only have one program or a complex web of offerings to your mission recipients (clients, patients, students\u2026) put your organization in the context of your community among others like it (why are you different?) and those you serve. It\u2019s important for your new volunteers to begin to see where they fit in and how their work will contribute to your organizational developme<\/a>nt.<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t forget to give a glimpse of your future plans. The fact that you have plans builds confidence and excitement. It also tells your volunteers that their commitment, even if just for a short-term project, will have lasting impact.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Introduce them to your leadership <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If possible, now is a great time to personally introduce one or more of your nonprofit\u2019s leadership team to your new volunteer. It may be your executive director, your board chair, your marketing<\/a> officer, or the head of the area they\u2019ll be serving. To your volunteer, this person is the face of your organization. This is also a good time to review the names, backgrounds and roles of your other leaders, such as your executive staff, program heads, and your board. All of this is to build their confidence in your nonprofit, especially when they see that community leaders are volunteers, too.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After successful onboarding, you can begin to train your volunteers in their roles, whether they\u2019ll be cleaning your facility or helping you work on the design of your online donation forms<\/a>. According to Nonprofit.Courses\u2019 guide to building a fundraising strategy<\/a>, this training will help \u201ceach member care about your mission, see their own role in your success, and work to see it succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019re done with the basics, you can download the Volunteer Onboarding Essentials Checklist<\/a> to keep on hand. Then check out these additional resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n