Driving Volunteer Engagement: Insights from MHQ-led Board Strategy Sessions
by Dara Rudick, CAE
Volunteer engagement is crucial for the success of any association. Engaged volunteers bring energy, new ideas, and a sense of community, which are vital for sustaining and growing an organization.
Volunteers also significantly support organizations financially. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, volunteers contribute an estimated $167 billion to the economy each year in the United States alone. Plus, organizations with high volunteer engagement report higher retention rates and greater overall success. Engaging volunteers effectively can lead to a more vibrant, dynamic organization poised to achieve its mission.
Here are some key strategies to enhance volunteer engagement, drawn from recent our client experiences leading clients through volunteer engagement strategy sessions, and industry best practices:
Tailored Strategies
Each association faces unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to volunteer engagement. Customizing strategies to fit the specific needs of an organization can significantly improve outcomes. For example, identifying barriers to volunteer participation and creating tailored solutions helps ensure that volunteer opportunities are accessible and appealing.
Actionable Plans
Practical, actionable plans are essential for driving immediate and tangible results. During strategy sessions, it’s important to develop clear steps that can be implemented right away. This includes setting specific goals, defining volunteer roles, creating a timeline for execution, assigning tasks, and having a way to drive accountability for completing tasks. The focus should be on realistic and achievable actions that can bring quick wins and build momentum.
Sustained Support
Ongoing support is vital to maintaining and building on volunteer engagement efforts. This can include regular check-ins, additional training sessions, and resources to help volunteers feel supported and valued. Consistent communication and feedback loops help keep volunteers motivated and aligned with the association’s goals.
Case Studies in Volunteer Engagement
Case Study 1: Reinvigorating a Stagnant Volunteer Base
Challenge: One of MHQ’s client associations was struggling with overall volunteer engagement and retention. This was a large national group with dozens of associations as members. The same small group of individuals had been volunteering year after year, leading to burnout and an unsustainable burden on current leaders. Plus, a lack of new volunteers was stifling the organization’s growth and innovation.
Strategy Session: Our focus was on identifying barriers to new volunteer engagement and developing strategies to attract fresh faces. Key discussion points included:
- Understanding Volunteer Motivations: We explored what could make it more appealing for people to volunteer and how to align these motivations with the association’s needs.
- Creating Accessible Opportunities: Simplifying the volunteer process and revising volunteer position descriptions, creating manageable volunteer roles to attract busy professionals.
- Engaging with key pipeline opportunities: Developing a robust outreach program to educate potential volunteers and leaders at different geographic levels in the association to encourage a pipeline for future national association involvement.
Outcome: The session culminated in a comprehensive plan that the leadership team has begun to implement. With several volunteer education and engagement events planned, and an intentional communications strategy, the group is successfully getting the word out. The goals are to drive interest from potential new volunteers, while easing the burden on existing leaders and injecting new energy into the organization.
Case Study 2: Planning for Growth in a Rapidly Expanding Association
Challenge: Another client association was in a contrasting situation. They have a rapidly growing membership with highly engaged and active board members. Their challenge is to plan for the next chapter of growth and to build a volunteer leadership team equipped to guide them into the future.
Strategy Session: Our discussions centered around fostering a growth mindset and envisioning the future leadership structure. Key topics included:
- Future Leadership Needs: Identifying the skills and attributes needed in future leaders to support sustained growth.
- Succession Planning: Developing a clear plan for leadership transition to ensure continuity and stability.
- Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Encouraging a culture of innovation and continuous improvement among board members and volunteers.
Outcome: The session provided the association with strategic direction, which will be developed into an action plan at their upcoming strategic planning session. They were able to provide and share with one another the vision to help them thrive well into the future.
These sessions highlight the diverse challenges associations face in volunteer engagement. Whether an organization is struggling to attract new volunteers or planning for future growth, the MHQ team supports these associations to ensure that they are well-equipped to drive their next generation of leaders.
In both cases, the passion and dedication of the current leaders is evident, and it was a privilege for the MHQ to help them chart a course for future success. At MHQ, we are excited to continue to help associations harness the power of volunteers to achieve their missions.
About MHQ
Management HQ (MHQ) is an accredited, full-service association management company. Our diverse team does our work through a lens of equity. We support boards so boards can focus on mission. MHQ manages the full business of client membership-based organizations, including providing each client an executive director and a full management and operations team. MHQ serves associations and their members in these sectors: Government, Information Sciences / Education, Human Services, and Identity-based Associations. For more about MHQ, visit https://www.management-hq.com/.
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