Volunteers are important to our nonprofit organizations. A really great volunteer program is going to have a process for evaluating volunteers. If you aren’t evaluating your volunteers, you are not alone—many others are not doing this important task. It may seem odd to evaluate people who are donating their time. You may think it’s unappreciative and that your volunteers may not feel good about being evaluated.
Your volunteers are anticipating some sort of return for their efforts and a well-run volunteer program, that includes an evaluation process, is a sign that you and your organization respect and value volunteers. Indeed, this demonstrates treating volunteers as the professionals they are. Volunteer evaluations also provide information to ensure your volunteer program utilizes resources wisely. Read more here: Volunteer Hub Volunteer Evaluations
Volunteers are viewed by your community as a part of your organization and, as such, should be informed. Evaluations are a good way to do this and should be approached with the goal of improving your organization and making sure the volunteer voices in your community are aligned with your organization’s mission and values.
Your volunteer recruitment plans should include detailed information for potential volunteers, including how and when their efforts will be evaluated and how their individual evaluation fits within your overall volunteer program evaluation.
Mission Box shares information at Mission Box Information.
If you are at the beginning of your volunteer evaluation plans, it is easy to find help without reinventing the wheel. Ask fellow nonprofit colleagues in your community how they evaluate volunteers and what tools they use. Look around on the internet. There’s a wealth of information available and most is free! Here are two examples of volunteer evaluation forms:
CASA Volunteer Evaluation Form and the State of Maine.
