Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle

In this free webinar for volunteer leaders, we'll explore:
~ Shifting trends around what motivates people to volunteer
~ Benefits + challenges of using motivations to tailor your volunteer recruitment messages
~ Plus, tips for leveraging motivational styles to supervise, recognize, and effectively retain your volunteers!
Want all of the bonus resources?
Head to www.galaxydigi...

[@AamerAli]

Thanks for the video, this is a summary of the video:
00:00:00 In this section of the TH-cam video titled "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle," the speakers discuss the importance of motivation in encouraging volunteers to engage and remain committed. They explain that volunteers are driven by both internal desires and external inspirations, and these motivations can vary widely across generations and cultures. The speakers note that motivations are shifting rapidly, and share personal experiences of how they have observed and addressed volunteers' motivations in their roles as volunteer coordinators and trainers. They emphasize the need for organizations to offer varied opportunities to cater to volunteers' diverse motivations and provide external inspiration to ignite their volunteerism.

[@AamerAli]

00:45:00 In this section of the "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle" TH-cam video, the speakers discuss various creative ways to motivate volunteers and attract new ones. They suggest the idea of motivation mapping, where volunteers and staff can collaborate to identify key personas and roles that could appeal to potential volunteers. The speakers also encourage delegating tasks that volunteers might enjoy, freeing up time for staff to focus on areas where they add unique value. They provide examples of successful onboarding processes, such as starting with a small task or role to allow volunteers to dip their toes in and gradually become more involved. The speakers emphasize the importance of finding ways to lower the barrier to entry for new volunteers and making the onboarding process less intimidating. They also encourage exploring different training methods and providing opportunities for volunteers to shadow and learn from experienced volunteers. Overall, the speakers emphasize the importance of trying new approaches and finding creative solutions to motivate and engage volunteers throughout the volunteer lifecycle.

[@AamerAli]

00:25:00 In this section of the "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle" TH-cam video, the speakers discuss the importance of listening to and learning from feedback given by volunteers who are leaving an organization. They emphasize the need to apply these learnings to current and future volunteer experiences, rather than chasing after departing volunteers. The speakers also touch on the idea that past volunteers may become future volunteers if their motivations shift, and the significance of holding space for vulnerable and transparent conversations in volunteer engagement. Additionally, they introduce the concept of a "motivations map," which considers motivation as a personality trait and encourages organizations to understand and cater to volunteers' motivations throughout their volunteer journey. The speakers mention various motivational theories, including Self-Determination Theory and Maslow's Motivational Theory, to help organizations better understand and engage volunteers.

[@AamerAli]

00:20:00 In this section of the "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle" TH-cam video, the speakers discuss the importance of understanding volunteers' motivations and adjusting communication strategies accordingly. They suggest using AI to personalize messages and segment volunteers based on their motivations. The speakers also emphasize the need to refresh volunteer recruitment messages and experiment with different approaches to keep volunteers engaged. They provide examples of adjusting language for different volunteer demographics and the importance of asking volunteers about their experiences and motivations to retain them. The speakers encourage a collaborative approach to volunteer engagement and emphasize the importance of considering volunteers as partners in the process.

[@AamerAli]

00:50:00 In this section of the TH-cam video titled "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle," the speakers discuss various ways to engage volunteers and motivate them to contribute to a cause, even if they cannot go through the full training process. They suggest that simple tasks, such as delivering meals or advocating for the program, can make volunteers feel valued and involved. The speakers also mention the importance of motivation theories, specifically Self-Determination Theory and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, in understanding and motivating volunteers. They recommend having conversations with staff and team members about the value of volunteers and involving them in the planning process to increase their buy-in and excitement. The speakers emphasize the importance of communication, appreciation, and understanding the volunteer's perspective to create a positive and motivating experience.

[@AamerAli]

00:35:00 In this section of the TH-cam video "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle," the speakers discuss the importance of recognizing and adapting to volunteers' changing motivations and roles. They share an example of a volunteer named Court, who was initially in a role that no longer fit her needs or abilities. Instead of letting her go, the organization shifted her into a mentorship role, where she trained and replaced herself with two new volunteers. This allowed Court to continue contributing to the organization in a way that better suited her life stage. The speakers also emphasize the need to attract volunteers with specific skill sets or motivations for certain tasks, and to be open to communication and flexibility as volunteers' motivations shift over time.

[@AamerAli]

00:10:00 In this section of the TH-cam video "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle," the speakers discuss the importance of measuring and understanding volunteers' motivations and how it can benefit both the organization and the volunteers. They suggest that tracking changes in volunteers' attitudes and goals can be valuable for funding purposes and demonstrating the impact of the volunteer program. The speakers also propose various job metaphors to resonate with volunteers who don't want to be seen as mere "caterers." They suggest metaphors like an architect, road construction worker, DJ, influencer, matchmaker, and conductor to emphasize the various roles volunteers can play in contributing to the mission. The conversation then shifts to tailoring recruitment messaging and targeting different motivations geographically, using the example of the Minnesota Master Gardener program, which caters to specific community needs based on their priorities.

[@AamerAli]

00:40:00 In this section of the "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle" TH-cam video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing the changing motivations of volunteers. Volunteers should not feel locked into one role or responsibility, as they may burn out or discover new interests. Encouraging volunteers to "dabble" in different areas can lead to new discoveries and a more sustainable volunteer experience. The speaker also advocates for mandating rest to avoid burnout and emphasizes the importance of self-reflection for volunteers. Creating a culture of thoughtful engagement through self-reflection activities can help volunteers better understand their motivations and the impact of their work. The speaker also suggests motivation mapping to gain a deeper understanding of volunteers' motivations throughout their involvement with an organization.

[@AamerAli]

00:55:00 In this section of the TH-cam video titled "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle," Holly Daniels from Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement shares the importance of acknowledging volunteers, even in small ways, to make them feel valued and part of a community. She emphasizes that a simple "thank you" can go a long way in creating a positive volunteer experience. The video also promotes Get Connected by Galaxy Digital, a network of nonprofits and volunteers, and encourages viewers to check out their Learning Center for resources on volunteer engagement. The webinar series will continue next month with a special topic on volunteer recognition, featuring FISA VanZant from the Council for Certification and Volunteer Administration.

[@AamerAli]

00:30:00 In this section of the TH-cam video titled "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle," the speaker discusses different motivations for volunteers and how to cater to them throughout their volunteer journey. The three types of motivations are Achievers, Affiliates, and Power Influence. Achievers are motivated by goals and checklists, Affiliates by interpersonal relationships, and Power Influence by having influence and recognition. The speaker encourages viewers to identify a common motivation for volunteers in their organization and consider how to motivate them accordingly. Using the example of a retired volunteer named Frank, the speaker suggests that Frank might be motivated by a desire for community and appreciation events as he adjusts to his new life stage. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding volunteers' motivations and adapting to their changing needs throughout their volunteer experience.

[@AamerAli]

00:05:00 In this section of the "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle" TH-cam video, the speaker acknowledges the challenge of using motivations to tailor volunteer recruitment. She explains that recruitment begins the volunteer lifecycle and identifies reasons for feeling clueless, frustrated, or weary about volunteers' motivations. The speaker suggests asking current volunteers what motivates them and using their answers for recruitment efforts. She also advises getting curious about motivations that make us uncomfortable and asking questions to better understand the volunteer's perspective. The speaker shares that sometimes, understanding a volunteer's motivation can lead to deeper conversations and a better connection between the volunteer and the organization.

[@AamerAli]

00:15:00 In this section of the "Motivating Volunteers: Create Action throughout the Volunteer Lifecycle" TH-cam video, the speaker discusses the importance of targeting volunteers based on their personality and talents when recruiting them for various tasks. Using the example of an Easter egg hunt, the speaker explains how different individuals have different preferences and motivations for volunteering. Some may enjoy organizing and stuffing eggs, while others might prefer hiding them or helping with cleanup. The speaker emphasizes the need to understand these differences and offer tasks that align with volunteers' interests and abilities. Additionally, the speaker suggests experimenting with different motivational messages and adjusting language based on generational and cultural differences to increase resonance with volunteers. The use of AI tools like ChatGPT can help adapt messages for different audiences quickly and efficiently.