What I send a volunteer in their first week
Hi Reader, Most volunteers don't quit. They just never really start. Someone signs up on a Tuesday feeling great about it, hears nothing for eleven days, and by the time you circle back the feeling is gone. That gap is where you lose people, and it's the cheapest thing on your whole list to fix. Here's what I'd send in the first week. 1. A confirmation within 48 hours. Even if the shift is six weeks out. Date, time, exact address, where to park, which door, what to wear, who to text if they're running late. Every one of those unknowns is a quiet reason to bail. 2. A one-page role description. What they'll be doing, what they won't be doing, and who they report to that day. Volunteers don't get nervous about hard work! They get nervous about walking in and not knowing what's expected of them. 3. One name. "Maria will meet you at the front desk." A person to look for turns a building full of strangers into a place where somebody is expecting you. This single sentence does more for retention than any handbook I've seen. 4. A thank you before they've done anything at all. Two lines, sent by a human, about why you're glad they signed up. It feels premature. It isn't. It's the difference between joining something and getting added to a scheduling system. The best part is that all four of these get written once and reused forever. This isn't ongoing work. It's one afternoon that keeps paying you back. And it matters well past the volunteering itself. Volunteers who feel looked after become donors. Volunteers who feel processed don't come back. If you don't have time to create a fancy handbook to welcome volunteers, check out the Volunteer Handbook and use code SUBSCRIBER for 25% off. You'll be ready to share with volunteers in minutes! What part of volunteer management eats the most of your time? Reply and let me know. It genuinely shapes what I make next. Cheers,
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