Beyond the Sign-Up Sheet: Build a Volunteer Strategy That Works

Send us Fan MailYou'll love this master class on the untapped power of volunteerism—with a call to rethink how we attract, support, and retain volunteers—led by guest expert Kirsten Wantland, Manager of Customer Best Practices and Enablement at Bloomerang,Kirsten, who holds credentials as a Certified Nonprofit Consultant and Certified Development Executive, brings both frontline and strategic expertise. With her deep background in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, she makes a bold case for managing volunteers with the same intentionality as donors. Her rallying cry? “Recognize behaviors over capacity.”Too many nonprofits still treat volunteer management as an afterthought—focused on day-of logistics or generic thank-yous. But Kirsten argues for a proactive, data-informed approach that starts well before a volunteer steps foot on site. From setting clear expectations in role descriptions to acknowledging service hours as contributions worth over $34.79 per hour, this learning session delivers some super strategies that can translate into real organizational value for your NPO.Volunteers aren’t just a feel-good bonus; they are a form of human capital that, when properly stewarded, can evolve into loyal donors and long-term advocates. “If you think of someone donating 10 hours,” Kirsten explains, “you’re looking at the equivalent of nearly $350 in economic impact. How many of your donors give that much in a single gift?”She encourages nonprofits to:·        Communicate expectations clearly and respectfully.·        Track volunteer hours just like financial contributions.·        Plan intentional follow-ups after service.·        Use personalized recognition—by name, by role, by impact.·        Share volunteer stories in annual reports and community messaging.Kirsten also addresses a long-standing sector taboo: asking volunteers to give financially. Her advice? Let the volunteer decide. Many already feel deeply connected to the mission and are primed for deeper engagement if offered meaningful opportunities.This is a must-watch for anyone building or revamping a volunteer program. 00:00:00 Welcome and guest intro 00:01:40 Kirsten’s credentials and new role at Bloomerang 00:03:00 The impact of formal nonprofit education 00:06:20 Defining volunteer clarity and role expectations 00:09:30 Orientation and onboarding strategies 00:11:00 Recognizing volunteers effectively 00:14:20 Tracking volunteer hours and value 00:16:30 Volunteers as non-monetary donors 00:20:00 Creating a follow-up plan post-volunteering 00:22:00 Should volunteers be asked for donations? 00:24:00 Personalized engagement based on behavior 00:27:00 Volunteer storytelling and long-term commitmentFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us  Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!  12:30pm ET   11:30am CT  10:30am MT  9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: [email protected] us on the web:The Nonprofit Show