The Top Reasons Why People Don’t Volunteer (And What You Can Do About It)
Posted Thursday, September 20th, 2018 by Lisa Bott, Offero Volunteer Management System
Sterling Volunteers is pleased to have a strong partner community that consists of non-profits, technology companies and services organizations of all sizes. We are committed to creating collaborative partnerships that help streamline efficiencies, provide resources, connect people, strengthen the volunteer community and safeguard non-profit organizations.
Offero and Sterling Volunteers Partnership
One of our partners, Offero, a volunteer management system with features such as automated hour tracking, feedback tracking and the ability for participants to sign up for the activities that your volunteers are helping with, allows educators and volunteer coordinators to spend more time with people, not paper. The Offero and Sterling Volunteers’ integration gives volunteer managers a single platform to recruit, screen and onboard their volunteers.
With our partnership, we are excited to share thought leadership with Offero. Today, we are sharing a blog post written by Offero’s Lisa Bott.
Combating the Top Reasons People Don’t Volunteer
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, 24.9% of Americans volunteer (62.6 million), putting in a total of 7.8 billion hours annually. This percentage has been on the decline nationally over the past decade, but that doesn’t mean that your organization’s volunteer rate has to follow suit.
We’ve identified the top reasons why people don’t volunteer and the actions you can take to create an environment that makes them want to get involved.
“I don’t have enough time.”
Solution: Most Americans feel that they don’t have enough time, so it’s important to highlight your cause and the difference that volunteers can make. Strive to fuel their passion. We all find it easier to make time for something we really care about.
“I’ve had a bad experience in the past.”
Solution: Create a welcoming environment where expectations are clearly laid out, volunteers are matched with a mentor, and skill sets are identified and put to good use. A comprehensive volunteer orientation is a great way to get your new volunteers started on the right note.
“I haven’t been asked”
Solution: This may seem like a silly excuse, but it’s a very common feeling among Americans. People get a false impression that the organization doesn’t need them or want them if they haven’t been asked. Know someone who would be the perfect fit for a position? Don’t be afraid to reach out. Additionally, post volunteer opportunities online and on social media to make your organization inviting to a wider audience.
“I don’t need another commitment right now.”
Solution: Make volunteer opportunities more accessible by offering various schedules, commitment levels and time frames.
“I inquired about an opportunity, but never heard back.”
Solution: There is nothing worse than missing a critical opportunity with a willing participant. Make it a priority to get back to prospective volunteers within 24 hours of their inquiry. Double check all phone numbers and email addresses listed for your organization to make sure they are accurate and that requests aren’t getting lost along the way.
With a comprehensive volunteer management system like Offero, you’ll have more time and energy to focus on volunteer recruitment.
Manage the Volunteer Hiring Process Easier with the Integration
Both Offero and Sterling Volunteers support a high quality, effective and ethical approach to volunteer coordination. Through the integration, volunteer managers can communicate with prospective and current volunteers throughout the entire onboarding process and beyond, keeping them engaged, satisfied and active with their organizations. Look for more Offero blog posts to come.
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