10 volunteer management best practice tips
Building out your volunteer management program takes work and observation. Let’s break down how to build best practices and what it looks like in...
Better understand what volunteer management software is and why you might like to use it.
Are you looking for ways to make your volunteer management processes more streamlined and efficient? Would you like a volunteer management solution that manages and engages your volunteers in less time and without the reliance on manual processes? If so, you may want to consider introducing volunteer management software to your organization.
Volunteer management software is a solution that can automate every aspect of a volunteer management program. From recruitment to rostering to reward and recognition, effective volunteer management software can ease the burden on nonprofit organizations by offering an all-in-one solution for the smooth-running of volunteer management processes.
This article will provide an overview of what volunteer management software is and why you might like to use it. We’ll also offer some advice on what to consider when choosing a digital volunteer management solution for your organization.
Volunteer management software is a centralized system used to recruit, screen, schedule, train and retain volunteers. It is an all-in-one system that helps organizations administer events, programs and initiatives. Volunteer management software removes the need to use separate tools and applications for the different aspects involved with volunteer recruitment, management and engagement.
This software allows for the automation of rostering, shift allocation and confirmations, notification of any last-minute changes to an event’s venue or timing, training, and check-ins and check-outs. Another aspect of volunteer management software is that it allows volunteers to take control of their own volunteering experience by enabling them to choose shifts that suit them, track their volunteered hours, view certificates, complete training online at a time convenient to them, and select their preferred rewards.
Volunteer management software can also be used to evaluate the performance and success of a volunteer program. It provides a reporting capability to present data that can be used to inform donor reports, grant applications, and meet government reporting requirements.
An effective volunteer management solution is designed to result in a demonstrable improvement to a non-profit, organization or event business processes, saving the organization time and money.
Volunteer management software helps volunteer managers streamline their entire volunteer management workflow by replacing time-consuming manual processes with automations. Our research has found that replacing manual processes with automations results in a 40% reduction in the workload of volunteer managers. This frees up their time to concentrate on more productive work outcomes such as growing their volunteer database.
Implementing the right volunteer management software offers the following benefits to an organization:
These benefits result in tangible, positive outcomes for an organization including:
Ultimately, volunteer management software exists to help organizations save time, save money and provide an effective solution to recruiting, retaining and rewarding volunteers.
When determining what volunteer management software to implement, consideration should be given to the operational needs of the organization, the available budget, and whether the software has a substantial list of useful features.
Here at Rosterfy, we have found that our clients often have similar requirements they need addressed by volunteer management software. The most common are:
Some volunteer management software providers charge a flat fee for their product. Others offer the option to only pay for the functionality and modules an organization requires.
When comparing the costs of different volunteer management software, it is important to consider whether the provider offers a flat fee for the whole suite of a system's features, some of which you may not need or use. Alternatively, some providers allow organizations to customize the software to their needs. For example, the Rosterfy SMS feature is an additional extra that you only pay for if it is a service you require.
It is good to remember that the cheapest option doesn’t always offer the best value, especially if you need to purchase additional software to meet all your organization’s volunteer management needs.
Volunteer management software is an investment that offers a return of reduced labor costs because processes that were once manually completed become automated.
Are there a few non-negotiable, key features that you require your volunteer management software to have? This could include:
Volunteer management software is a critical tool for ensuring an organization’s volunteer management program is efficient and achieves its goals. By centralizing and automating volunteer management processes, an organization can become more successful in attracting and retaining the volunteers needed to deliver the organization’s mission.
A successful volunteer management program is one that keeps volunteers engaged, informed and motivated to make a long-term commitment to the organization. Rosterfy is an all-in-one volunteer management solution that is designed to scale and grow with the needs and requirements of any organization. If you’d like to receive more information on how Rosterfy’s volunteer management software works, and get an in-depth look at its intuitive features and the benefits it can provide your organization, get in touch with us to book a demonstration.
About Rosterfy
Rosterfy exists to connect communities to events and causes they are passionate about through volunteer and paid workforce management technology. Our proven end to end technology allows charities, events and nonprofit organizations to recruit, register, screen, train, manage and report with ease, replacing manual processes with automations to better engage and retain your volunteers and paid staff.
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