{"id":2276,"date":"2024-03-13T09:35:55","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T09:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teamkinetic.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2276"},"modified":"2024-03-13T10:16:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T10:16:11","slug":"is-volunteer-management-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teamkinetic.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/03\/is-volunteer-management-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Volunteer Management Important?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Short answer, yes. Blog over!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just kidding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it’s a silly question right? Anyone in the industry knows the answer is a resounding yes. But still, some people don’t realise the true impact of volunteering and volunteer management. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All organisations should ask themselves what would happen if all their volunteers left. <\/p>\n\n\n

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It would make things pretty hard, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try impossible. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some organisations would almost certainly cease to exist without volunteers. This highlights the incredible importance of volunteer management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the benefits of good volunteer management?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From speaking to volunteers directly, it is absolutely vital that they are made to feel appreciated. When people are appreciated they are more likely to give 100% and be positive about what they’re doing. They need to feel like people not only want them there, but need<\/strong> them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If volunteer managers can work out what it is that makes volunteers feel appreciated they will have a much higher chance of boosting their volunteer recruitment. For example, if you receive positive feedback from current volunteers and publicise it, you could see a boost in recruitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping recruited volunteers happy is also key to the success of any volunteering project. Happy volunteers are motivated volunteers. They are also much more likely to help out on a long-term basis. Great volunteer management is a significant contributing factor to long-term satisfaction. Remember to check in with your volunteers regularly and build lasting relationships with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can help you as well as them…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, practising good volunteer management can help you, as a volunteer manager, gain a better reputation. This one is very much from a career development standpoint. If you’re able to show real feedback from the volunteers you’ve managed, it can help you take that next step in your career at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you must facilitate a way to receive this feedback. This can only be done through good volunteer management. How are you currently managing your volunteers? Is there a way to incorporate feedback? If not, is it time to look elsewhere and make your life a bit easier?<\/p>\n\n\n

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An example of feedback left by volunteers within TeamKinetic’s volunteer management system<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

How can volunteer management be made simpler?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Volunteer Management Software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you using volunteer management software? If not, this can be a great place to start. It can help you save countless hours of admin and make your job so much easier. Good volunteer management is far from a ‘one size fits all scenario’, so it’s all about finding the right system for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, at TeamKinetic\u00a0our approach to volunteer management is allowing volunteers to self-serve. This means they take control. They are given their own profile, and they can browse opportunities and join\/apply for the ones that suit them. This saves admin time manually adding volunteers to opportunities and gets them more involved in their volunteer work. But fear not – if you have volunteers who don’t want to\/can’t engage digitally, admin or provider users can manage everything on their behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A volunteer’s achievement page within TeamKinetic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Another main feature is the ability to track the volunteer journey. From their registration date to logging their 100th hour, everything is recorded within TeamKinetic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s your goal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Working towards a goal can be a great motivator for any worker, paid or volunteer. But this goal should be made clear to all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does this goal reflect your organisation’s values? And does it reflect the values of those who come to volunteer for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incentivisation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It can also help to add incentives based on your goal(s). Now, we know volunteers are selfless. Yet it can never hurt to reward these people for their hard work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tailoring your incentives to the demographics of your volunteer cohort is important. That’s why we offer a range of recognition features within TeamKinetic. This includes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n