How do I manage volunteers?

Once you’ve properly obtained your volunteers and put them to work, good management will keep everything running smoothly and the volunteers feeling satisfied and coming back.

Ask yourself questions like these to make sure that you are providing enough work, needed work, and safe work for your volunteers.

• Have all of the roles been made clear? Individuals need to understand exactly what is expected of them. An orientation of sorts may help with this.
• Will the volunteers be excited about the project? Although it doesn’t always have to be thrilling, there should be a level of pleasure built in.
• Are the opportunities being presented allowing them to develop and learn as individuals and as groups? Volunteer service should be just as beneficial for the volunteers as it is for the organization; help them grow emotionally, socially, physically, etc.
• Have you allowed time for evaluation of the work that has been done with the volunteers? This is important for both parties.
• Is the work that they are doing challenging, necessary, and valuable? They will know if they’re just doing busy work for you!
• Is there enough work for everyone to participate in? The fastest way to lose volunteers is to make them think they’re wasting their time.
• Is the project possible? Make sure you that you have the resources that you and the volunteer people will need.
• Is everything safe? Make sure that you taken care of all the details and refused the temptation to cut corners. You are now responsible for the wellbeing of not only yourself and your organization but also all of your volunteers.