10 Data-Driven Ways To Boost Volunteer Engagement
Volunteers are an invaluable resource for nonprofits. With many organizations operating under limited budgets and staffing constraints, people freely offering their time and skills significantly increases operational productivity and efficiency while reducing costs.
However, nonprofits do face challenges when it comes to retaining volunteers. Strategically leveraging data can offer nonprofit leaders key insights, helping them gain a better understanding of where volunteer programs are going wrong, boosting volunteer engagement, and driving real, sustainable change. Below, 10 Forbes Nonprofit Council members share how nonprofit leaders can use data to effectively measure the impact of volunteer engagement and improve their volunteer programs.
1. Take A Dual Approach To Uncover Patterns
The most valuable insights often come from a combination of open-ended survey responses and longitudinal trend analyses. This dual approach not only reveals meaningful patterns, but also uncovers personal narratives that inform more empathetic and targeted improvements. It also fosters psychological safety by helping volunteers feel seen, heard and genuinely valued. - Yujia Zhu, FASSLING.AI
2. Determine Why Volunteers Disengage
Looking at the volunteer retention rate is a great indicator of engagement. This data can help nonprofits identify patterns and understand what is causing increased attrition among volunteers. By understanding which volunteers may be more likely to disengage and why, nonprofits can prioritize their outreach efforts to keep individuals involved. - Scott Brighton, Bonterra
Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
3. Examine The Reach Of Volunteer Messaging And Resources
Empower your volunteers with a clear message and a toolkit to share it, then track how far it travels. Measuring shares, referrals and peer-to-peer reach gives you real data on their impact. This approach helps volunteers feel like true partners while giving your organization insight into what messaging or activities move people to act. - Karen Cochran, Philanthropy Innovators
4. Determine What Drives Engagement And Retention
Track volunteer retention and reengagement rates alongside post-engagement surveys. This data reveals not just who shows up, but also who stays and why. This helps leaders strengthen training, drive recognition and match volunteers to roles where they will thrive and stick around for the long haul. - Michael Bellavia, HelpGood
5. Initiate More Face-To-Face Conversations
Please get out and speak to volunteers to improve volunteer programs! People are afraid these days to have face time and ask the important questions, but human interaction is important when you want true data. Not everything will be answered via a survey, as people want to talk and express themselves. - Rhonda Vetere, Laureus Sport For Good
6. Ask Questions
'Philanthropy' refers to the giving of time, talent, treasure or testimony. The best data tool is to simply ask questions. Find out who's connected and why they are supporting your cause. The word 'question' comes from the root word 'quest,' which means to go on an adventure. Collect stakeholder data by going on an adventure. - Aaron Alejandro, Texas FFA Foundation
7. Capture And Prioritize Impact Stories
Track stories, not just hours. The real value of volunteer engagement isn't how much time was given; it's what changed because someone showed up. That's qualitative data. Capturing those stories helps you improve the experience and gives you powerful narratives to share. Using data this way turns volunteer work into word-of-mouth fuel that builds belief, trust and long-term support. - Cherian Koshy, Kindsight
8. Link Volunteers' Time To Outcomes
Measure hours served against program outcomes. For example, track volunteer time alongside community impact metrics to see where contributions make the most difference. This can help refine roles and better allocate resources. Nonprofits can start by linking volunteer data to mission results. - Alan Thomas, Association for Materials Protection & Performance
9. Purposefully Share Data
If you are going to collect data, then make it available. If you have exceeded your volunteer recruitment goal, let people know. If your nonprofit logged more volunteer hours than in the past, share the news. If you have compelling data that indicates volunteer involvement had a significant program impact, don't just hide that in your annual report. Instead, make sure you deliver that message loudly. - Victoria Burkhart, The More Than Giving Company
10. Turn Feedback Into Action
The simplest form of data is feedback surveys. Ask volunteers what their needs and benchmarks for success are and whether those needs are being met, and quantify those results with your strategic plan. You will be surprised what you find out when you simply ask questions for planning. - Erin Davison, Scouting America
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