We’re celebrating National Volunteer Month with a series of blogs and videos to give you tips to engage with your volunteers and help you show appreciation for all they do. In case you missed it, we published a blog post on how you can show appreciation—even on a shoestring budget! Check it out here.

Today, we’re talking about how you can engage your volunteers. Research shows that those who volunteer with faith-based organizations are most likely to continue serving year over year. To keep your volunteers coming back year after year (or even week after week!), there are a few volunteer engagement strategies you can use.

Inform Your Volunteers

For many volunteers, one of the biggest pet peeves comes from not knowing what they should do or how they should help. And this often comes about because you are too busy to tell them what to do.

It doesn’t have to be a formal or elaborate training process, but make sure your volunteers know where you’d like them to help, how often they need to be there, and when they need to show up. That information goes a long way.

If they are helping lead Sunday school, give them access to materials beforehand. That can help them prepare and feel like they are doing their best work. 

Be Flexible

Everyone’s lives are busy. The same is true for people who are volunteering! Recognize that they are giving you one of their most precious things—their time—and be flexible with their schedule.

In addition, it can be tempting to ask a volunteer that has consistent attendance to do more and more. Have a conversation with them and let them know how much you value them. Give them the flexibility to choose what works best with their schedule and fits their volunteer goals.

Show Appreciation

Giving feedback to your volunteers goes a long way in keeping them engaged and interested. Put yourself in their shoes. If you don’t feel like you are being valued, you are likely to become less interested in an opportunity.

Showing appreciation doesn’t have to be a drain on your budget. It can simply be sending them a text message with a thanks; showing them recognition at an event; or even telling them something they are doing well the next time you see them.

Interested in learning more? Check out our video with Sparkhouse’s Kelly Barnes, where she talks about her own volunteer experience and offers her thoughts around volunteering in ministry