If you operate a large organization, chances are you already know how valuable volunteers can be. Unfortunately, not all organizations are utilizing the services of volunteers. They might assume nobody would be willing to help them or they might think it is more work than necessary to bring together a group of people volunteering their time. Nothing could be further from the truth! Volunteers can be one of your greatest assets, especially if you work in an organization that has the greater good in mind and uses tools like volunteer scheduling software. People are always looking for ways to give back and contribute to their community, and your organization might be just what they need to live a more fulfilling life.
Volunteers are Budget-Friendly
One of the best benefits and the reason many organizations choose to work with volunteers is because they are easy on the budget. Volunteers donate their time for free, so you are not paying salary and benefits to the people helping your organization. There might be some cost incurred from using volunteers, but chances are you will be unable to get the total manpower your volunteer team provides for free. The key is figuring out how best to use your volunteer staff by making use of volunteer scheduling tools so you can make the most of their services.
Volunteers are Motivated
In addition to offering their time and efforts free of charge, volunteers are often just as motivated, and sometimes more so, than traditional employees. Volunteers are not motivated by their paycheck. They are helping your organization for personal reward, which can sometimes be far more motivating than money. They want to be a part of your projects and events, while employees have no choice but to take part in these things. When someone wants to do something, his or her attitude is usually better, and ultimately, that person achieves more.
Volunteers Need Guidance
Unfortunately, if you mismanage your volunteers, things can go wrong quickly. You might end up with nobody around to help you or you might cause problems within your staff. Volunteers need guidance and direction, which can be time consuming. They are not always familiar with everyday operations and procedures. This means someone must provide specific direction to volunteers on specific occasions. A strong volunteer software tool accompanied by a volunteer management plan takes this into account and includes procedures to help volunteers feel comfortable and able to contribute.
Volunteers Need to Feel Appreciated
Finally, volunteers need to be acknowledged. Unfortunately, when you have no dedicated staff member in charge of managing volunteers, this acknowledgement can be overlooked. A volunteer management plan must be complete from beginning to end. It must include a recruitment strategy so your team is constantly growing, it must include clear directions for that team, and it must reward the team for its hard work. Volunteers are not compensated financially, so you must devise a way to acknowledge their accomplishments and let them know you are thankful they are a part of your team.
Guide To Volunteer Management 