VOLUNTEER

ACQUISITION AND
RETENTION
VOLUNTEER
RETENTION
What’s the Life Cycle of a “Volunteer”?
First, Understand Why Volunteers Quit?

Volunteers quit for several reasons. Some of the top reasons for volunteer
turnover include:
1. Burnout: Volunteer burnout is usually caused by stress related to
volunteering conditions. Burnout is caused by several factors, including lack
of role clarity and unmanageable volunteer schedules.
2. Unpleasant Experience: First impressions are important. A disorganized,
poorly-planned, or otherwise negative volunteering experience can
dishearten volunteers and discourage them from participating with your
organization again.
3. Disinterested or Disconnected: Volunteers can lose interest in activities
over time. They can also become disconnected from your organization’s
core mission, causing them to lose sight of the volunteer activity’s value or
purpose.
Stats of Why Volunteers Leave
Volunteer Retention
Techniques:
Provide Adequate Training

In general, volunteer training program should:

Each recruit should receive a
1. Provide a deeper understanding of
volunteer operation and the organization’s mission and the
basic training. Skilled causes addressed.
2. Outline role expectations,
volunteer work may require responsibilities, and tasks.
3. Establish volunteer objectives.
additional role-specific training.
4. Acquaint volunteers with tools and
procedures they’ll encounter on the
job.
5. Assess any knowledge and skills gaps,
then work to fill these gaps.
6. Create a framework for further
evaluation
 Volunteer Appreciation
Here are some of the top ways to show volunteer
appreciation:

Regularly thanking ● Track and communicate volunteer

impact: Track each volunteer’s hours and
our volunteers participation. This way, we can
demonstrate their impact accurately and
significantly improves award them specifically and appropriately.
our chances of ● Award your volunteers: Recognize our
most active volunteers each month with a
retaining them. “Volunteer of the Month” award.
● Giving gifts in appreciation for good work
● Host an appreciation event: It can be a
small event or even an online meet where
we recognise the hard work of our
volunteers.
 Take Feedbacks from Volunteers

Surveying our volunteers on an annual basis can help us

take stock of how our volunteers feel by evaluating the
experience our organization provides our volunteers. A
self-analysis works, but to get the most impartial data, we
may ask volunteers to assess or rate their volunteering
experience.

Example: Google forms.

 Attract and empower self-motivated volunteers

We should recruit self-motivated volunteers for the

organisation. In doing so the volunteers would not feel
disconnected or disinterested over time.
BETTER RECRUITMENT
=
BETTER RETENTION
 VOLUNTEER
ACQUISITION
- Remote volunteering
 Remote volunteering
& Virtual Volunteering
Remote volunteers, on the other hand, perform tasks off site. While
these might also be virtual roles, they might also not involve online work. 

Virtual volunteers perform tasks online using computers, tablets, or

smartphones. Anything that can be done using the internet might be
considered a virtual role. 
 Brief Overview
• Virtual volunteering (online) -volunteer activities, using the Internet or other Internet-connected
device, such as a smart-phone or a computer.
• With advent of social media, new trend in volunteering developed
• process easier than a face-to-face setting {easy acquisition of volunteers}
• Prerequisite: basic knowledge, experience, and an internet connection
• This technique got major boost during COVID-19 outbreak

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing

guidelines, many creative volunteer organizations have
transitioned to engaging remote volunteers.   

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201111
005123/en/Study-Two-in-Three-Decreased-or-Stopp
ed-Volunteer-Activities-Due-To-COVID-19
 Volunteers’ Comfort:
• Volunteers can transcend geographical and man-made borders and
contribute to a cause without physical presence at NGO office or community.

• Do something not offered in your area or your schedule is too tight to travel.
• Great option for students to volunteer who are not having access to a
vehicle
• Easily accessible
• Opportunity to volunteer globally
• Provide flexible work hours (you get to choose between 1 week, 3 months
and 6 months; 1 hour daily for each) and a certificate at the end of your
volunteering journey.
 Key advantages of Remote/Virtual Volunteering:-

Contribute to a cause only by having an internet connection

• Work from the comfort of your home, office, college or while on the road
• Use the device you are most comfortable with - your own
• Safety, security, convenience - all in your hand
• Impact often lasts longer since virtual volunteering mostly
leverages your skills {Volunteer Retention}
• With the revolution in technology, volunteers feel more engaged and
connected.
 Why Remote/Virtual Volunteering?

• most companies and brands prefer going digital and virtual volunteering
caters to their requirements

• There’s no disconnect since the work that’s done has been streamed via
video calls and updates can be shared in real-time.

• organizations create private groups on Facebook and social media group

chats to interact and engage with followers. Information and updates about
upcoming events can be shared via blogs and readers can leave comments
on posts about whether they are planning to RSVP or not
Difference:
Reconsidering Traditional Volunteer Acquisition Methods
They found that while 
47% of the over 10,000 volunteers surveyed find volunteer opportunitie
s online
, only 15% of volunteer organizations use online tactics.

https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3729264/Reports/12751-SV-2020-Trend%20Report-FINAL.pdf
 Analysis
 The Report found that 57% of volunteers report using digital
platforms as their primary means to find volunteer opportunities
while 24% of organizations report that they primarily use digital platforms
to recruit volunteers.
Organizations that post to Facebook are more likely to have a greater
number of roles filled over the past year.  And those who post volunteer-
related content on Facebook daily (30%) were more likely to fill 91-100% of
their open volunteer opportunities. 

https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3729264/Reports/12751-SV-2020-Trend%20Report-FINAL.pdf
 MOTIVATION
Listed down are certain organizations who adopted the technique of remote
volunteering:
1) Child Rights And You
2) We Are Crazy
3) IVolunteer
4) Chezuba
5) Project Gutenberg
6) Amnesty Decoders
7) TED Translators
8) Zooniverse
9) Be my Eyes–
10) Translators without Borders
11) Ark of Hope for Children
Case Studies
 1)Be My Eyes
• Be My Eyes uses sighted volunteers to power their service. Anyone can
become a sighted volunteer by signing up for the app as a volunteer.
• Volunteers receive no background checks or formal training to help the blind
and vision impaired, which is not necessarily a negative thing as many of the
tasks are simple.
• When a user needs assistance, a notification is sent out to several
volunteers, and whoever answers the call first is the one who gets to help.
• Volunteers remain anonymous during calls and do not appear on
video, their voice is the only thing that transmits.
• At the end of a call, the volunteer is rated with a thumbs up or
thumbs down.
Stats:

•16 volunteers available for every 1 blind/low vision user

 Survey Report
A survey with 30 visually impaired users of Be My Eyes
to gain a deeper understanding about remote assistance systems.
The results show that most participants use the app
mainly between 2 to 5 times in short sessions
between 1 to 3 minutes

Positive comments:
• Users find Be My Eyes useful for reading text, finding things, shopping
assistance and helping at ticket machines.
• They found the app useful for dealing with non-accessible displays and for
selecting clothing and makeup.
Negative comments

• violate privacy- because they may not want a stranger to know where they
go and when
• The app is found less useful when hands are busy, which is not surprising as
the application requires the user holding the device for taking pictures.
• Limited network connectivity was a serious problem. This issue is not in the
hands of mobile application developers and not specific for Be My Eyes

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310495788_Remote_Assistance_for_Blind_Us
ers_in_Daily_Life_A_Survey_about_Be_My_Eyes
 2)Ark of Hope for Children
• Target demographics: Empowering advocates and
donors to break the chains of abuse for those
victimized as children by human trafficking, child
abuse and bullying
• Geographic areas served: worldwide
• Type: a nonprofit organization
• There are several different volunteering
opportunities available within this organization.
There is a background check required, and the
applicant has to pay the fee. ($38.00) 
https://translatorswithoutborders.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TW
 Issue Areas Include

Activities:
● Create support groups for adult survivors of child abuse & trafficking
● Hold awareness events
● Host viewings of documentaries relating to trafficking or those for adult, female or
male survivors of child abuse
● Encourage awareness and volunteerism for our Removing Chains live chat survivor
support site
● Hold fund raising events
● Provide prayer support for those victimized and covering for Ark of Hope's work
https://youtu.be/G8AopdqHJSE
 Programs

RemovingChains.org is their global live chat survivor support website with 15 topically
focused chat rooms for group or private help.
● http://removingchains.org UnChained Project isa mobilizing internationally to bring local
awareness and action for survivors within the region where they live. Regional awareness
groups will help local survivors know they are cared about.
● http://unchainedproject.org Harbourage Transitional Living Center of north central Florida
provides short term emergency placement for victimized females and males rescued from
human trafficking or at risk of being trafficked.
A customized Facebook Group is created for each region with an active leader and
team members.
These groups focus on survivors of child abuse, child trafficking and bullying and can
provide support groups, awareness events, school meetings, and fundraising activities
for Ark of Hope programs.
Story Telling:
https://greatnonprofits.org/org/ark-of-hope-for-children-inc

Collaborations:
• Ark of Hope for Children has developed a great working relationship with these and
other unsung hero organizations who work to free captives from human slavery.
• These include our partners at ChildAbuse.com ,
 3)Translators without Borders (TWB)
• Translators without Borders is a global community of over 80,000 members helping
people get vital information and be heard, whatever language they speak. 
• They have translators and language specialists offering language services to
humanitarian and development organizations worldwide.
• They have created a new organization CLEAR Global, to help us build on the work of
TWB. In addition to TWB, CLEAR Global comprises CLEAR Tech and CLEAR Insights.
 Work:
• The work of Translators without Borders is focused on
providing people with access to vital knowledge in their https://translatorswithoutborders.org/
language by:
• Providing translations for non-profit organizations in the areas of crisis relief, health and education
• Building capacity by training new translators in under-resourced languages
• Raising awareness of why language matters in humanitarian work
Volunteers:
• TRANSLATOR VOLUNTEERS. You can volunteer with TWB if you are fluent in at least one language
other than your native language.
• OTHER VOLUNTEER roles such as project manager, graphic or web page designers and fundraising

Collaborations:
 Brief Overview of Bhumi:

Promotes education, civic volunteering and leadership development

Key programs:

Catalyse Program: promote broader participation in volunteering for causes

ranging from the environment, animal rights, and community welfare – all in
alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Ignite: seeking to deliver holistic education and create sustainable
livelihoods
for children.
 What can remote volunteers do for Bhumi?

• Creating social media contents on food and hunger related topics (picture,
poster, video, story, hand-drawn cards, info-graphics)

• Submitting brief write-ups, research articles, blog pieces (500 plus words) to

be published on our newsletters, website and on other media platforms

• Documenting through testimonial, video or short note about their personal

outreach or volunteering projects to support people in need (celebrating your
success in helping someone needy)

• Doing online research on hunger situation and solutions (focusing on tangible,

actionable solutions that individuals can do) – these studies
 Summary
Any of the kinds of volunteer
roles mentioned below can be
converted to a virtual or
remote opportunity. 
The Challenge:

While this is a wonderful way to

support a resilient organization, it
isn’t always easy. Volunteer
strategies have had to be built
over from the ground up, with new
roles, new position descriptions,
new training, and new ways of
working. 
https://www.betterup.com/blog/challenges-of-
The Challenge is: working-from-home
Managing for Virtual Distance
 Managing for Virtual Distance

• One of the most challenging issues for those responsible for leading remote and virtual
volunteers is that of time management. 

• In addition, virtual volunteer coordination requires different tools that may, or may not,
have been used when volunteers worked on site.  Tools for conference calls, video
chats and screen sharing, document sharing, team scheduling, project management,
email communications, group chats, and team-building tools are all helpful.

• Without the natural reminders baked into face-to-face collaboration and in-person
communications, coordinators must not only utilize smarter tools, but also develop a
more purposeful strategy for management.
 
• Developing a weekly calendar of tasks can be an immense help in keeping remote
volunteer teams together and functioning at a high level. 
 Physical Distance – Location issues related to
space and time 
Operational Distance – Psychological gaps
that grow due to issues that arise in workplace 
Affinity Distance – The emotional disconnects
between team members due to lack of
relationship formation and development 

• it’s important that those who lead remote volunteers have a plan in
place to reduce the psychological feeling of virtual distance
through better communications and better team-building. 

• In order to develop and maintain purposeful (and manageable

communications), it helps to have a weekly plan in place. 
 A Simple Framework for Managing Virtual & Remote Volunteers  

About Client:
•established in 2019.
•currently have 150-200 volunteers from 13 colleges
•conducted online events
•Strategy: Word of Mouth

To Dos:
•Grow your team
•Allow for flexible
hours
•Leverage your data
•Show your
A Weekly Plan for Managing Remote Volunteers
•Dedicate some time each week to work on the tasks in the seven key focus areas.  You
may tackle specific things every day or on a certain day of the week, so include those
tasks every week.   

•Then, get specific about what exactly you will do each day. Is it to reach out directly to
10 volunteers? Is it to post a newsletter? Is it to host a webinar or Facebook Live? Is it to
meet with volunteer leaders? Is it to review email open rates? Whatever you plan to do,
mark it on the weekly calendar.   

•Then, review for gaps and areas that you are missing.  

 Conclusion
• If you are just transitioning to working with remote volunteers, the follow are percentages of time you
might want to spend on each task. 
Strategy – 5% 
Growth – 40% 
Moderation – 25% 
Content – 5% 
Relationships – 15%   
Special Events – 5% 
Technology – 5% 

• As you become more established, the growth and moderation time make decrease, and the time
reserved for content and events may increase. 
• If you dedicate a little bit of time to all seven areas each week, you will find it easier and easier to stay
on point.  Also, you’ll find that you’ll begin to develop repetitive systems that you can teach and
delegate to others and begin to grow leadership and ownership of volunteers supporting their fellow
volunteers.