Volunteering is a great way for people to get involved in something they're passionate about and help out great causes like yours. But nonprofit organizations need to make sure their volunteers have excellent engagement, too! That's why volunteer orientations are so important - they set a strong foundation for volunteers to be successful and make sure they have the resources they need. 

In this article, we'll go over the essentials of creating an effective volunteer orientation program. We'll talk about setting expectations, providing the right resources, and creating an inclusive environment. Follow these tips and you'll have volunteers set up for success from the start!

Provide information about the organization and volunteer opportunity

Take the time to go over your organization's mission, objectives, and background with your volunteers. This will be a great way to motivate them and emphasize the significance of their roles for your nonprofit. 

Additionally, it will be helpful for them to understand the organization's history and how it has evolved. You can also discuss the current projects and initiatives that your organization is working on, as well as how volunteers can contribute. All of this ensures everyone is in line with the mission.

Ask them what they want to achieve as volunteers

Volunteering is an amazing way to spend time helping out your community, get some awesome experiences, and make an impact on someone's life. The simple act of sharing their goals for volunteering in the first place can deepen their connection to your mission - so it's important to ask potential volunteers what they're hoping to get out of their experience.

This is where you learn about the volunteer's abilities and interests. It will also give you a chance to help them develop personally and professionally by building a mutual relationship and enabling you to assign volunteers to the most suitable tasks.

Provide a volunteer handbook and liability forms

Even though volunteering is a great way to give back and lend a helping hand, it's still important to keep everyone safe. That's why it's essential to have a volunteer handbook and liability forms. 

The handbook should have all the details about the organization, expectations for volunteers, safety guidelines, and any other info. It should include relevant contact information for management. This will help volunteers feel as though they have a reliable source of help when they have questions or have any issues. Providing phone numbers or emails will make it easier for volunteers to reach out to staff members.

The liability forms should explain the risks involved and make sure that volunteers know that the organization won't be held responsible for any damages or injuries. These documents help ensure that volunteers are prepared and know what they're signing up for.

💡Is your nonprofit’s Handbook due for an update? Check out our guide on creating an effective volunteer handbook for advice and best practices!

Give them a volunteer buddy to show them the ropes

Volunteering can feel overwhelming for newcomers, so why not make them feel welcome by hooking them up with a volunteer buddy? This is someone who is already part of the organization and can help provide training so the new volunteer gets up to speed quickly. A volunteer buddy can help them quickly build relationships with other volunteers and staff members. 

To make this work, you need an experienced volunteer who is friendly, approachable, and willing to answer questions. They should be able to provide guidance and support while helping the new volunteer become familiar with the organization's rules and procedures. Set them up for success by giving them a training guide to follow.

Having a volunteer buddy is a great way to create a sense of community and welcome new volunteers!

Make the volunteer orientation interactive and interesting

Getting new employees up to speed can be a lot of work, but it doesn't have to be boring! Orientation should be a fun and interactive experience that sets the tone for their time at your nonprofit.

Using an icebreaker game can help break the ice between new volunteers, allowing them to become more comfortable with one another and get the orientation off to a good start. 

• Two Truths and a Lie: Ask the volunteers to come up with two truths about themselves and one lie. Then have them take turns sharing their statements and have the other players guess which is the lie. 
• What's in Common?: Ask your volunteers to come up with something that they all have in common, whether it's an interest, hobby, or experience. 
• Speed Networking: Have the volunteers stand in a circle and give them a minute or two to introduce themselves to the person standing next to them before moving on to the next person. 

You're ready to host an impactful volunteer orientation!

Use volunteer management software to stay organized. Software solutions, like those offered by Civic Champs, provide volunteer managers with the ability to assess volunteer applications, arrange volunteer orientations, and assign volunteers after they have gone through the orientation process.

Investing in volunteer engagement from the start is a great way to set your volunteers up for success. This orientation will make your volunteers feel welcomed and valued, which is the key to inspiring their ongoing engagement - trust us, it's worth it!

As CEO of Civic Champs, I lead our team of passionate change leaders to create technology solutions to create a seamless and rewarding volunteering experience for both volunteers and service organizations.