An estimated 54% of charities have staff vacancies, and 83% of non-profit organisations struggle with recruitment. With this in mind, it’s unsurprising that so many charities are experiencing burnout and even having to cease operations. Charities and non-profit organisations exist to serve those most in need, but require proper cash flow and consistent volunteer support to keep things running smoothly.
Given the struggle to meet staffing requirements, you might feel you have no choice but to welcome anyone who’s willing to volunteer for your charity, but not every volunteer is the right fit. A good volunteer will help take your organisation forward, contribute towards the cause, and show empathy, while an incapable volunteer might undo the years of hard work you’ve put in.
So, what makes a good volunteer, and where do you find one?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the volunteer characteristics you should look out for so you can recruit and retain people who will help with your mission.
If you want to simplify the process of managing volunteers while expanding your reach, the KindLink CRM is here to help. Furthermore, the KindLink marketplace allows your charity to improve its visibility and recruit from a wider network. Get started for free.
1. Empathy
One of the primary skills and qualities of a volunteer is empathy, defined as the ability to relate to people or a cause at a personal level. You don’t literally need to be in somebody’s shoes to feel empathy for them, but you’ll still need to understand how they feel about and deal with a situation they’re facing.
An empathetic person is compassionate and non-judgmental. When you’re looking for good volunteer characteristics in potential applicants, this should be the first quality you look for.
An empathetic volunteer treats everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their background, circumstances, or social status. Whether your non-profit supports cancer patients, elderly individuals, or vulnerable immigrant communities, having compassionate team members can make your work more meaningful.
2. Patience
A good volunteer should also be patient. If you run a hands-on, busy charity or non-profit like a food bank, you’ll know firsthand that there are hundreds of things to do, but not enough hours in a day or enough people to help. This can make your daily tasks slow, repetitive, and unsystematic, requiring staff who can stay calm and focused.
That’s why patience is another of the most important skills and qualities of a volunteer, especially if the role involves working with children, the elderly, people with health conditions, or non-native speakers.
Hiring a brash or impatient volunteer is a decision you may end up regretting, as they might unintentionally cause distress. Comparatively, a patient member of staff creates a safe, supportive environment where people feel respected and understood.
3. Consistency
When we’re considering what makes a good volunteer, consistently showing up is a trait to look out for. Take a food bank, for example – you’ve trained a volunteer to manage key tasks, but after just two weeks, they stop showing up. Now you’re left juggling their responsibilities and retraining someone new, all the while trying to keep everything running smoothly.
Finding consistent volunteers who want to truly become a part of your organisation will help your long-term mission to support those who need it most. Their steady presence makes a real difference, not just to you as a manager, but to everyone your charity serves.
4. Active Listening
Another of the most important volunteer characteristics is active listening, which means paying close attention not just to words, but also to body language, tone, and unspoken emotions. When your volunteers have this skill, they’ll be able to fully understand what’s being communicated and respond with empathy and care.
Being an active listener also means being able to follow instructions from charity staff while still offering a calm, attentive presence to the people you’re supporting. A volunteer who truly listens will make sure that everyone feels heard and respected.
5. Passion
As a charity or non-profit, you’ll probably agree that your passion and commitment to the cause have brought you this far. To continue making an impact, you need volunteers who share that same level of dedication. When someone truly believes in your mission, they’re more likely to go the extra mile and inspire others, with the willingness to stay motivated through challenges.
Volunteering is non-remunerated work, and only truly passionate people will be able to give their 100% towards their roles.
6. Team Player
Given that your charity likely relies on volunteer staff, you’ll probably find that your teams are constantly changing, with different people stepping in on different days. Your volunteers come from different walks of life and cultural backgrounds, which is why you need plenty of team players working for your non-profit.
A team player will take everything in their stride and get the job done at the end of the day. A good volunteer doesn’t discriminate, plays fair, is helpful, and keeps everyone motivated, even on a bad day.
7. Commitment
A committed volunteer, who’s dutiful and responsible, is worth their weight in gold for any charity. Good volunteer experiences often involve people who have a long-term commitment to the charity and a mentality towards making a difference.
When you hire a committed volunteer, you’ll no longer have to worry about them cancelling at the last minute or dropping out. With this in mind, one of the most important questions to ask a potential volunteer during recruitment is why they’re passionate about this particular cause over others. This will help you to gauge their level of intended commitment to your charity.
8. Communication
Last but not least, another of the most important qualities of volunteers is being able to communicate.
A good volunteer should be able to empathetically and honestly communicate with other team members and charity staff, as well as the people they serve. They should truthfully and accurately express themselves, even in the most delicate situations.
Recruit and Retain Volunteers for Your Charity With KindLink
If you were unsure about the right volunteer characteristics, this guide should have helped you learn more about the traits and skills to look out for when you’re hiring in the future.
At KindLink, our CRM for charities and non-profit organisations has helped 3300 philanthropic institutions with their volunteer management. Our dedicated marketplace lets you share volunteer opportunities with both the public and corporate clients, helping you connect with individual volunteers as well as company teams and their employees.
You can use our CRM to streamline your volunteer management, with a centralised platform for tracking volunteer activities and turning donors into volunteers (and vice versa). Plus, you’ll also benefit from easy recording and reporting facilities, efficient engagement, and streamlined recruitment and communication.
Get started now with KindLink to change the way you approach volunteer management.