1. How Not to be Your Only Volunteer: Recruiting, Training, & Retaining a Solid Volunteer Corps
Kimberly Elman

2. Is this your current reality?

3. Where are all my volunteers?
Lack of communication
Unprofessional
environment
Unclear expectations
Why do volunteers quit?
Don’t feel they’re making a difference
Inadequate training
Little or no flexibility
Asking too much or too little
No feedback or appreciation

4. The Truth We CAN change the future!
In order to shift from the reality we are currently
experiencing to our vision for the future of the
animals we are saving, we must first face the truth.
“Sometimes you have to SLOW DOWN in order to go FAST”
Patty Hegwood, Best Friends Animal Society

5. Laying the Foundation
Effective volunteer programs fundamentally leverage volunteers and their SKILLS across all leadership levels and departments within an organization to successfully deliver its mission
Strategic planning & development
Effective onboarding & training
Leadership support

6. If you build it, they will come…
Strategic planning & development
Organizational business plan, tied to your mission including a vision that incorporates volunteers
Formal volunteer program, with a dedicated program coordinator
Onboarding for volunteers and staff
Ongoing volunteer recruitment, training & engagement process
Volunteer Performance support process

7. Laying the Foundation Create Position Descriptions: Position name
Function/Impact
Reporting to?
Time commitment & location of work
Core responsibilities
Qualifications/Requirements

8. Recruiting Volunteers
Online Resources
Your website
Social media
VolunteerMatch.org
LinkedIn
Craigslist (with caution)
Virtual bulletin boards
Equine & animal rescue sites
Local Resources
Local volunteer center
Local businesses
Universities
Civic organizations
Local publications/news outlets
Equine-related events
YOUR VOLUNTEERS

9. Volunteer Orientation
Purpose is to learn more about your organization & determine if this is the right place for them
Not “official” volunteers
If a match, they’ll sign up to volunteer AFTER orientation
ASK THEM about their skills & interests!

10. Create Community Leaders
Leaders expand the capability to engage and activate more volunteers & fulfill critical mission goals
Leaders empower people on behalf of your organization and serve the brand of your organization
Leaders increase your opportunity to do more
Be the kind of leader who creates new leaders!

11. Effective Volunteer Training
WHO develops content and trains them? (Should be position specific)
Provide consistent procedures & schedules
WHO mentors and provides feedback (+ and -) to them?
Include effective training for your staff too
LEAD volunteers can help with training!
Training=SUCCESS

12. Leadership Support
Demonstrated executive commitment to volunteer engagement:
Establish a sense of urgency
Drive the change process; communicate what is to be gained by changing
Inspire action and cooperation from staff and volunteers
“Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen, despite the obstacles.”
-John P. Kotter

13. Leadership opportunities
Volunteer Engagement
Initial contact
Leadership opportunities
Short term commitment
Skill development
Reliable regular

14. Volunteer Retention Volunteers need ongoing management
Successful volunteer retention is built on mutual trust, respect, communication, and appreciation between staff and volunteers
You are creating a COMMUNITY for your volunteers!
Community: A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals

15. Volunteer Engagement: From “I” to“We”
Name badges
T-shirts
A dedicated space
Consistent schedules
The 10-4 rule
360 degree feedback
Formal performance support
Opportunities for advanced responsibility
Effective risk management

16. Volunteer Engagement: From “I” to “We”
Expressing gratitude
Celebrating successes!
Handwritten notes & cards
Phone calls
Volunteer stories
Videos
Socials
Eat some cake

17. Communicating IMPACT
Extremely IMPORTANT for volunteers to understand the WHY & PURPOSE when you’re asking for their assistance
Provides volunteers insight around your desired outcome for specific life-saving programs, positions, and events. IMPACT DRIVES YOUR MISSION!
Communicating impact recruits more volunteers and determines their continued support
Always include impact when expressing gratitude and celebrating successes with your volunteers!

18. LOTS of Personalities!

19. The Power of Motivation
Help the animals
Make a difference
Fill the soul
Work in Animal Welfare
Volunteer in Animal Welfare

20. Volunteer Performance Support
Establish standard & consistent coaching procedures
Provide training and tools to staff so they can confidently provide constructive feedback to volunteers
Have expectations been communicated upfront to volunteers?
Check in regularly with volunteers to give & receive feedback
Address issues as soon as possible after they happen and document all conversations

21. The Journey Going Forward……
“Without a disciplined and respectful approach to recruitment, orientation, support, assessment, and recognition, we will have lower performance and a disenchanted volunteer.”
Francis Hesselbein