Volunteer management strategies food banks can use to amplify impact

The North American nonprofit sector is currently navigating a “perfect storm.” Between the 2026 expansion of SNAP work requirements and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis , food banks and community organizations are under immense pressure to deliver services as the world around them shifts.

In a recent webinar, Katie Lapp (Blessings of Hope) and Jenn Thompson (RKD Group) shared strategic advice on how to turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and deeper community connection.

The SNAP Expansion: Turning Requirements into Relationships

Starting in 2026, SNAP work requirements have expanded for adults up to age 64. For food banks, this means an influx of individuals who must log work or volunteer hours monthly to maintain benefits.

• Be Visible: Blessings of Hope saw shift-fill rates jump from 65% to over 80% by ensuring their name was listed as an approved volunteer site within local community systems.
• Remove Barriers: With a surge of up to 200 new applications per week, organizations must ensure their onboarding is inclusive. For example, Blessings of Hope uses “temporary accounts” for supporters who do not use smartphones or email, ensuring no one is locked out of the mission.

Bridging the Gap: From "Doers" to "Donors"

Jenn Thompson emphasized that nonprofits often miss opportunities by siloing their volunteer and fundraising teams.

• The Power of the “Supporter”: Research shows that individuals who both volunteer and donate are the most valuable segment, often giving twice as much as the average donor.
• Cross-Pollinate Communications: Don’t bury the “Volunteer” button under layers of website navigation. Use impact reports and newsletters to ask volunteers to donate and donors to volunteer – they are two sides of the same coin.

Scaling Impact with Rosterfy

As organizations like Blessings of Hope, Houston Food Bank, and Maryland Food Bank aim to double their capacity, they rely on Rosterfy to act as the engine behind their growth.

• Automated Excellence: Rosterfy streamlines management so teams can focus on the mission rather than the admin. This includes automating “drip” sequences for recruitment to ensure no potential volunteer falls through the cracks.
• Real-Time Data: Using Rosterfy’s reporting tools, organizations can track volunteer hours and demographics in real-time. Blessings of Hope uses this data to show volunteers the tangible value of their time—such as calculating that their collective hours saved the organization over $1 million in labor costs last year.
• Rewarding the Frontline: At Blessings of Hope, Rosterfy is used to print vouchers for their “Selection Center,” where volunteers can purchase food at a reduced “partnership cost” of 60 cents per pound.

High-Tech vs. High-Touch

Scaling doesn’t have to mean losing the human element. Even as volunteer numbers grow, maintaining a deep connection is vital.

• The “Why” Behind the Work: Connect volunteers to the cause by telling them exactly where their efforts are going. At Blessings of Hope, volunteers are told, “Everything we pack today is going to Philly” or “Baltimore”.
• Create Experiences: Small gestures, like serving lattes or hot chocolate after a shift, make volunteers feel valued and included in the community.

About Rosterfy

Rosterfy is used by nonprofits, charities, sporting federations, and more to better manage their volunteer programmes by improving how they can recruit, screen, train and retain volunteers.

Our market leading technology helps you create engaging experiences throughout the whole lifecycle of your volunteer journey.