Evaluate the types of volunteers you have, need, and want. This is a great guide to begin to take stock of your volunteers. Please feel free to check out our website, ruralvolunteer.org, for more information about the Rural Volunteerism Initiative and the Appalachian Coal Country Team.

1. The OSM/VISTA Teams
Appalachian Coal Country Team
www.CoalCountryTeam.org
Western Hardrock Watershed Team
www.HardrockTeam.org

2. Do you want
volunteers who
are…
Consistent?
Skilled?
Appreciated?
Involved?
Local?
In the “Know”?
Trained?

3. Volunteer Management Inventory
Answer these questions:
Why does your organization need
volunteers?
What skills/experiences does your
organization need?
What might motivate people to volunteer
with your organization?

4. Identify Your Volunteers
Create “a spreadsheet that highlights strengths
and weaknesses and, more importantly,
needs… If executed properly it’s definitely a
healthy practice.” Friends of the Cheat
This will help you to recruit volunteers that
have your needed skillset.

5. What types of activities are your volunteers
participating in already?
Are your volunteers usually from the local
area? Visiting?
What are some of their personal
characteristics? Consider age, family,
occupation, skills, interests, etc.

6. What will this show?
This will help you to discover your core base
and help to expand your volunteer outreach.

7. Do you usually recruit individuals or groups?
Do you use existing partnerships to recruit
volunteers?

8. Recruitment
Invite family and friends.
Reach out to local businesses, government
officials, congregations, and schools.
Approach Media.
Distribute flyers.
Ask who can benefit from what your organization
is trying to solve. Then go find them.

9. How do you orient and/or train volunteers? Is it
focused on a specific task or event? Do you
inform them about the organization overall?

10. Volunteer Orientation
Orientation programs have many different
variables.
How many people are you training?
What is the goal of the orientation?
Do you have a time limit?

11. Make Sure to Include!
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A brief history of the organization.
Organization’s Goals
Volunteer’s Role
Expectations (On both sides)
Policies and Procedures
Sincere Gratitude!

12. In what ways do you show appreciation for
your volunteers?

13. Volunteer Appreciation
Though this seems menial, volunteer appreciation
can boost volunteer retention.
Things to Try:
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
Awards
Thank You Notes
For the Volunteer Recognition Planning worksheet,
click here.

14. For more questions from the VMI, visit this page.
To download the Toolkit, click here.