Encouraging association volunteer leaders to donate their time and expertise can significantly benefit the organization and foster a sense of community and shared purpose.
Here are the top strategies for motivating and engaging new volunteer leaders to an association.
1. Clearly Communicate the Impact of Their Contributions
Volunteers need to understand how their time and expertise contribute to the association’s goals. Cleary explain their purpose and how they will positively impact the association by contributing their expertise. Be sure to be succinct in what you need from said volunteer including time, specific skill set or expertise. And be sure once they’ve volunteered to share success stories or testimonials that demonstrate the positive outcomes of their work to help encourage others to set-up too.
2. Provide Personal and Professional Growth Opportunities
Frame volunteering as an opportunity for volunteers to enhance their own skills, build their network, or gain leadership experience. Also ideal to pair seasoned industry professionals with newer members or younger volunteers to create mentorship opportunities that benefit both parties.
3. Offer Flexible Volunteer Roles
Accommodate their schedules! Offer varying levels of commitment, from task forces to ongoing committee roles, allowing volunteers to contribute in ways that fit their availability. And offer both digital and in-person meetings.
Check out my colleague, Geoff Powell’s article regarding meetings and how to best approach with association volunteer leaders to be respectful of their time.
4. Recognize and Celebrate Contributions
Highlight volunteer achievements at events, in newsletters, or on social media. This builds a culture of appreciation and motivates others to get involved. During association events be sure to give a shout-out to volunteers to show the association’s appreciation for all the volunteers do
5. Create a Sense of Belonging and Community
Encourage teamwork. Volunteering is often more appealing when it involves working with others. Create group volunteer opportunities to foster camaraderie. Facilitate networking and social interactions among volunteers to create a supportive and engaged volunteer community.
6. Provide Meaningful and Engaging Tasks
Assign volunteers to roles that align with their skills, expertise, and interests. This increases their sense of satisfaction and effectiveness. Be sure to provide variety and offer a range of tasks to keep volunteers engaged and prevent burnout from repetitive duties.
Along with providing meaningful and engaging tasks, here’s a good read from Strauss’ President, Jonathan N. Strauss on how to avoid frustrating association volunteer leaders. Which is equally important to keep them engaged and satisfied with their roles.
7. Make Volunteering a Leadership Path
Offer volunteers the opportunity to take on leadership or committee chair positions, which can motivate those seeking greater involvement. Show that volunteering can be a stepping stone to more prominent roles within the association.
8. Ask for Feedback and Show Responsiveness
Check in with volunteers and ask them for feedback on their experience and any areas for improvement. Where possible, act on the feedback to show volunteers that their voices are heard and valued.
9. Demonstrate Tangible Results
Regularly update volunteers on the impact of their contributions, whether through reports, meetings, or online dashboards, to reinforce that their efforts are making a difference. Promote projects or initiatives where volunteers’ efforts have directly led to success, motivating others to get involved.
Encouraging volunteers requires clear communication, recognition, and a commitment to making their experience meaningful. These strategies help create an environment where association volunteers feel valued and motivated to continue offering their time and expertise.