Many nonprofit agencies have made the switch to virtual volunteering in place of in-person due to the ongoing pandemic. In order to keep their passionate volunteers safe, it is currently best practice to offer as many virtual opportunities as possible. We are offering a few tips to make your opportunity stand out.
Offer A Flexible Schedule
People tend to have a lot on their plate these days. Worrying about a deadline or a work time frame may not sound appealing for volunteers. If it's possible, your organization should allow for volunteers to complete virtual volunteer work when it's convenient for them. If the task is fast-paced and requires frequent check-ins, make sure to clearly mention that in the volunteer description.
Make the Opportunity Easy to Understand and Complete
When detailing your virtual volunteer opportunity on your website or social media, be extremely clear and concise on the job description. Explain the specific skill set this volunteering job will require and what tasks you need completed. A few vague sentences simply saying your agency needs virtual volunteers will likely be skipped over due to lack of detail.
Offer Virtual Training
Some folks might not be familiar with virtual work or are new to your organization and need a guide to beginning their volunteering. Instead of trying to schedule an in-person meeting or discussing what type of contact they are comfortable with, it will be much easier to create training resources. Record a few simple videos explaining how to access your website and social media that can be used for training multiple volunteers. Create a flow chart of the progress a specific work assignment should flow. The more resources, the better.
Spread the Word
Once your volunteer opportunity is posted, the natural next step is to promote it. Here are a few ways you can spread the word about your virtual volunteer opportunity:
- Post it on Facebook and Instagram
- Talk about it in Facebook groups
- Mention it in an upcoming email newsletter
- Put a notice on your website
- Tell board members, other volunteers, and team members about the opportunity
Get More Assistance, Fast
Getting people together at your agency will be difficult for the time being. Making sure your nonprofit's virtual opportunities are easy to participate in is a surefire way to keep operations up and running. If you are in need of more feedback or ideas, consider sending out an email to all of your current volunteers. Inquire with those who know best what types of tasks and resources would improve the volunteer experience. Within no time, you will have a skilled virtual team around the clock.
