Summary

Volunteers deserve assurance that what they are doing is needed. Recognition of their contributions should be a part of the formal and informal operations of any volunteer management program. This helps create a motivating climate, which can improve volunteer retention.

The Background

Just as the Reading Renaissance (a newly established literacy council) began to grow appreciably, the attrition rate for its volunteers started to climb, from five percent after its first 12 months to 20 percent by the end of its second year. The nonprofit`s board knew something needed to be done about the situation, but the members were unsure what action to take. They didn`t feel they had sufficient time or money to put together an elaborate volunteer recognition program.

The Solution

The board members held an emergency meeting during which time they analyzed the trend and brainstormed about simple, inexpensive ways they could demonstrate volunteer appreciation and recognition on a regular basis, rather than just once a year during National Volunteer Week. Together, the members selected their best ideas, then put together a calendar`s worth of ways to encourage the volunteers - from paper-clipping a handwritten note of thanks on a time-card to celebrating with a barbecue party. The members also elected to set milestones for honoring volunteers (such as sending a handwritten thank-you note or a small floral arrangement for completing 100 work hours) and to have a luncheon for volunteers who have completed a big project. The members began to realize that within their communications they also needed to take time to regularly remind and show the volunteers how their efforts mattered, to repeatedly reconnect to the council`s purpose. After just six months into its new volunteer recognition system, the nonprofit`s volunteer attrition rate fell to five percent.

Lessons Learned

This example illustrates how important it is to initiate, practice and maintain an ongoing demonstration of volunteer recognition. Instead of leaving volunteer recognition to chance, a system that regularly acknowledges volunteers for their involvement and contributions goes a long way toward preventing burnout and retaining volunteers.