Caring For Volunteers
Volunteers are the lifeblood of any organisation and without them most organisations would be unable to function. People volunteer for many reasons – from a desire to contribute, to learn new skills, to make friends or enhance community life.
According to the Pareto Principle, 20% of the volunteers in an organisation do 80% of the work. This is a reality for many organisations. It can also be a source of frustration to key volunteers. Even those who are wholeheartedly committed to your purpose and mission can still feel they are being asked to contribute too much—and find it hard to say no.
Whether you have a small volunteer base or if volunteers are indeed the lifeblood of your organisation, all volunteers need to be supported. Grasping realistic expectations, empowering your volunteers, and ensuring you’re actively appreciating them are all key ways to look after those who are investing so much of themselves into your mission.
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Realistic expectations come down to building healthy relationships and having open communication between you and your volunteers to make sure that expectations on both sides are in step.
One key area of expectations to consider is the time volunteers can commit.
Volunteers have different availability, and their availability may change at times. For example, during Covid-19, some people's availability was reduced by the need to care for extra family members or home-school children, whereas others’ availability increased as they spent less time at work or commuting.
Without open communication, you wouldn’t know which scenario applied to which of your volunteers.
Example 1: Volunteer Feels Valued
A few years ago Lizzie was a volunteer for her church's youth ministry. She was still adjusting to married life and had just changed jobs. One day this all caught up with her. She was feeling overwhelmed and knew she needed some time off so called up the key leader. The key leader was incredibly reassuring. Although it left youth group a leader short that night, the key leader showed very clearly that she cared about Lizzie, not just as one of her volunteers but as a person she valued. That compassionate response stuck with Lizzie and strengthened her desire to continue serving in the youth ministry when able.
Expectations may also surround the nature of volunteer work. We can often assume that we’re asking too much, but your volunteers are there because they are passionate about contributing to your mission. And they may be eager to and able to do more than you realise. Keep that communication up!
Example 2: Volunteer is Demotivated
Karen was involved in a ministry where a leader made an assumption that she wouldn't want to help lead in an up-the-front role. This wrong assumption left her feeling like a spare wheel in the team and, eventually, Karen became so disconnected with the team that she asked to have a chat with the leader about her future within this ministry.
EMPOWERMENT
Giving your volunteers ownership of certain parts of the ministry will make them come alive and feel like a valued part of the team. Discover their gifts, passions and dreams for your ministry. Work out how you can use them, then assign appropriate responsibilities to them.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Paul tells us that God is at work within us, giving us the desire to serve God – and then the power to do it through the Holy Spirit. The spirit of God is at work within us, guiding and empowering us, this is how Gods will is done and how His work is done and lives are changed.
Check in and support, but let them take ownership—whether that is in a bigger or a smaller way.
APPRECIATION
Many volunteers give and give and then sadly become disillusioned because they don’t feel appreciated. Of course the goal of volunteering is not so that you get all the credit and praise we do it for God and not for the glory. However, there is a place for making sure your volunteers know they are valued.
Here are a few ideas:
Share words of genuine encouragement – written, spoken, in group contexts and on an individual basis
Publicly acknowledge them during church or after events
Identify and fund leadership development opportunities
Host a special event for volunteers regularly e.g., a thank you dinner or team weekend away
Provide support when life gets tough, whether that be identifying when they need time off, offering a listening ear, or providing practical help
Let’s encourage our volunteers like Paul encourages the church of Colossae:
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people.”
Colossians 1:3-4
We encourage you to read this whole prayer in Colossians 1: 3-14