Guest Post: Jenny Nelson, The Center for Association Leadership
Volunteers make association work possible, but associations often rely on the same volunteer management processes that staff have been using for decades to engage and retain volunteers. Generally, the tried-and-true works—according to the ASAE Research Foundation’s study on mutually beneficial volunteer relationships, 88 percent of respondents were very or somewhat satisfied with their volunteer experiences.
But the research findings also make a case for volunteer management innovation. Specifically, associations have an opportunity to create lasting engagement with a greater number of members while helping those who volunteer better understand their contributions.
