Volunteers are the driving force behind meaningful change. However, according to our State of UK Volunteer Management 2025 report less than half of organisations are investing in dedicated technology to enhance the volunteer experience.
If you lead a charity, chances are you’d agree that your volunteers are essential to achieving your mission. In fact, the latest State of UK Volunteer Management 2025 report confirms that 88% of volunteer leaders say volunteers are “mission-critical” to service delivery.
And yet, there’s a striking contradiction. Fewer than half of organisations (44%) are investing in dedicated technology to support the volunteer experience. Even fewer are resourcing the very people who hold these programmes together: volunteer managers and coordinators.
This gap matters because while volunteers give their time and passion, it’s the team behind them who make the programmes work.
Volunteer managers are often the unsung heroes of the sector. They recruit, train, and retain volunteers. They deliver meaningful experiences, navigate internal politics, and balance endless admin with emotional labour.
It’s little wonder that 29% report experiencing burnout, while many more cite unrealistic expectations, limited training opportunities, and the pressure to “do more with less.”
When volunteer managers are stretched too thin, the effects ripple outward:
The irony is clear: while volunteers are rightly celebrated as mission-critical, the staff who make their contributions possible often operate without the investment, recognition, or tools they need to succeed.
The report shows a direct link between technology investment and stronger outcomes:
Technology alone isn’t the answer — but when paired with dedicated, supported staff, it can transform the volunteer journey. A modern volunteer management platform reduces admin, streamlines recruitment and scheduling, and gives managers back the time and headspace to focus on what really matters: people.
For charity leaders, the message is simple: if volunteers are truly critical to your mission, then so are the people and systems that support them.
That means:
When senior leadership makes volunteering a core priority, the data shows that recruitment becomes easier, volunteer satisfaction rises, and programmes thrive.
Signs of change are emerging, with organisations - even at the local and smaller-scale level - increasingly turning to technology. These leaders are recognising that technology not only alleviates the pressure on their teams to do more, but is also essential for delivering an outstanding volunteer experience. In today’s environment, this is only achievable through a modern, digital, end-to-end solution.
"Historically under-resourced, the role of the volunteer manager is finally receiving more attention. There is growing investment in training, peer networks, digital tools, and career progression pathways for those in these roles. As this professional infrastructure strengthens, it will lead to more empowered managers and better volunteer experiences, with higher retention and deeper engagement."
- A survey respondent from the volunteering sector
Investing in people and platforms isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s the difference between burning out your volunteer workforce and building a resilient, future-ready programme.
If volunteers are mission-critical, then so is the infrastructure behind them. The real question is: are you willing to invest in impact?
This landmark survey - the first of its kind - draws on insights from over 300 volunteer managers across the United Kingdom. Their collective perspectives reveal a sector grappling with a clear tension: the aspiration to deliver exceptional support to volunteers and those they serve, versus the persistent lack of investment in the essential services that underpin these efforts.
You can download the report here.
About Rosterfy
Rosterfy is a global volunteer and workforce management platform helping organisations recruit, train, engage, and retain volunteers at scale. Trusted by nonprofits, events, and government programmes worldwide, Rosterfy empowers impactful volunteer experiences through automation, compliance tools, and powerful integrations.
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