Volunteer Retention

Although it is very common to talk about "recruiting and retaining" volunteers, retention is an awkward category that does not stand alone.  Retention is an outcome, not a task.  In other words, you can set aside three hours to supervise volunteers or to write a volunteer handbook.  But you can't "do" retention.  It is the result of the accumulated actions necessary for solid volunteer management. 

When volunteers are recruited honestly, have meaningful work to do, receive orientation and training, get supervisory attention and feedback, and feel recognized...they'll be satisfied enough to want to remain engaged.  (Providing, of course, that external or personal circumstances don't interfere.)

There are a few articles and books that focus on retention and so we link to those on this page.  But for the most useful information related to retention, look under the categories of:

Supervision

Recognition

Employee/Volunteer Relations

Books on this topic

Articles and excerpts on this topic:

• Keep Those Volunteers Around: Chapter Three from Keep Those Volunteers Around
• Providing a Sense of Control to Volunteers from Keeping Volunteers: A Guide to Retention
• A Volunteer Needs a Good Reason for Doing the Task, from Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them

 

1/28/08

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