"Sweetest Day" is just around the corner -- October 16th -- and while people may not always know or agree on the origin of this calendar mention, the day does provide an opportunity to recognize the people whose helpfulness and kindness have made a difference in our lives.
Mention of "Sweetest Day" often turns to talk of romantic relationships, and while I've been out of the dating pool for some time now, it occurred to me that a woman looking for a romantic relationship may have similar needs, as well as encounter similar obstacles and challenges to a woman looking for a nonprofit with which she would like to volunteer.
In many ways, volunteering is like dating. When you are single, you don't just marry the first person you meet -- you go on a few dates to decide if this is a relationship you want to pursue. Same goes for volunteering. Before making a long-term commitment of your time, you want to know that you will enjoy what you're doing and feel like you're contributing to the organization in a meaningful way.
The question is: How do you start the relationship off right? What can volunteers do to make the most of their experience and let nonprofits know that they enjoy being part of their organization?
- Know what you want. It's good to choose volunteer opportunities that are compatible with your interests and schedule. Online sites, such as WomenOnCall.org, helps you find volunteer opportunities with nonprofits seeking professional skills. By choosing a volunteer opportunity that you know works for you, you're not walking into the situation blindly.
- Don't leave nonprofits in the dark. If you've enjoyed your experience -- tell them. If your professional expertise offers a more efficient way to do a task -- suggest it. Keeping the lines of communication open will result in a better relationship for you and the nonprofit alike.
- Don't lead them on. If you decide that the volunteer opportunity is not the right fit for you, politely let them know and move on. Don't leave them guessing if you'll be coming in again sometime soon. If there is a flaw in the way the nonprofit's volunteer program is operating, this also gives them the chance to make improvements.
Obviously, this relationship is a two-way street. What can nonprofits do to ensure that volunteers have positive experiences and keep coming back?
- Be Prepared. Who likes starting out a date by hearing: "Well, what do YOU want to do?" Have tasks in mind when your volunteers arrive for them to take on. This will help ensure that you're not wasting anyone's time -- yours included!
- No one likes mixed signals. Be clear about the task. If a volunteer thinks they're coming in to help produce the content for an organization's newsletter but ends up stuffing envelopes for 3 hours, chances are, they're not going to be happy. Be sure you're up-front with your volunteers about what their volunteer experience will entail, so they know what to expect. When writing volunteer opportunity descriptions for WomenOnCall.org, we encourage nonprofits to write detailed requests that not only describe the opportunity, but also estimate the amount of time that the task will take, describe the skills needed in detail and describe the end goal of the task.
- Let volunteers know that they're appreciated. Volunteers are much more likely to come back if they know you recognize and appreciate the work that they are doing. Make a point to say thank you, even with an old-fashioned, hand-written note.
Deciding to make a long-term commitment to a significant other -- or nonprofit -- is no small undertaking. But, when you find a nonprofit or volunteer that is a perfect match, both parties benefit.