Staff & Volunteer Retention Tactics

Help our nonprofit build long-term sustainability by investing in our people. We are looking for an HR volunteer who can brainstorm employee and volunteer retention tactics alongside our team.

Activities of this project may include:
-Leading a collaborative brainstorming process around retention tactics
-Distilling ideas from brainstorming activities into a prioritized list of recommendations
-Advising our team on best practices for implementing the recommended retention tactics

We estimate that this pro bono project will take from 4-6 weeks to complete and use (on average) 2-4 hours of volunteer time per week.

Taproot's Staff and volunteer retention tactics reinforce your mission
Taproot's retention strategies ensure that your staff and volunteers remain dedicated and committed to your mission. Key tactics include:
Meaningful engagement: Connect volunteers with roles that utilize their specific skills and interests, and regularly communicate the impact of their efforts. This helps them see how their work contributes to the organization's larger goals, reinforcing a sense of purpose.
Effective onboarding and training: A strong onboarding process ensures volunteers understand your mission, values, and how their role fits into the bigger picture. Ongoing training and mentorship allow them to grow their skills, increase their confidence, and feel more valued.
Consistent appreciation and recognition: Regularly acknowledging volunteer and staff contributions through personalized thank-yous, social media shout-outs, or appreciation events boosts morale and strengthens their connection to your cause. This makes them feel respected and valued as insiders, not just extra hands.
Soliciting and using feedback: Listening to volunteers' input through surveys or focus groups shows you value their perspective, builds trust, and allows you to make improvements that address their needs and increase satisfaction.

Our nonprofit has compiled a list of staff and volunteer retention tactics that we've tried in the past, as well as new ideas that we'd like a volunteer's insight on. We will come to this pro bono project ready to share details about our staff members and volunteers so that you can get to know our stakeholders. We will also be prepared to share our current staff compensation package.

Implementing retention tactics generated during this project is a top priority for our team. Our work can't happen without our amazing people! We need your expertise on where to start and which ideas could have the biggest payoff.