by Barb Hopkins

Created on: April 20, 2009   Last Updated: April 25, 2009

A volunteer is someone who enters into, or offers for, any service of his own free will. (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary) Volunteers are a special type of worker, with heart, vision, and the desire to do something good without expecting anything in return. The best way to retain volunteers is to remember that volunteers are not paid employees, they are there of their "own free will."

Non-profit organizations, service groups, and businesses that maintain volunteers should recognize that each individual volunteer has his own set of skills, expectations, future goals and conflict of schedules. Understanding and meeting these abilities and needs will help a volunteer coordinator to maintain their talented volunteers.

The five best ways to maintain volunteers incorporate simple but specific ideas.

1. Set a good example.

Just because a volunteer is not a paid employee, does not mean their work environment should be anything less than professional. The volunteer supervisor or coordinator should always arrive before the volunteers and should be the last one to leave. Supervisors and coordinators must be prepared and organized. A supervisor that arrives with a jumble of directions written haphazardly on sticky notes presents an unprofessional image for their organization or business. Because volunteers are donating their free time, it is an insult to waste it by being disorganized or unprepared.

2. Provide a friendly atmosphere.

Friendly working conditions are essential to maintaining volunteers. Paid employees hate working where their co-workers are aloof and unfriendly but because they need or want the paycheck, they come back day after day. Volunteers will not come back even a second time if the work atmosphere is unfriendly. If your volunteers will be working side by side with paid employees, make sure your employees offer a smile and a helping hand. Ignoring or neglecting a volunteer that is struggling with a task is a definite way to ensure that volunteer will not be back for another shift.

3. Provide specific and relevant details. Be straightforward.

All volunteers should be given specific details regarding the duties and time commitments required of the volunteer position. It does not matter whether the position is a board member for the local Little League, a committee member for the PTA, or a greeter at the local hospital, they need a basic list that states duties, approximate time commitment, and deadlines.

Be honest about time commitments and always set

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