Volunteers can be your most loyal donors and an asset for your fundraising efforts, too. Your volunteers already give their time. They are passionate about the mission and work of your nonprofit. You can take volunteers to the next level of support by engaging them in raising funds on behalf of your organization.

There are many opportunities to engage volunteers in fundraising efforts. Perhaps you have a volunteer who works in a communications field, ask them for help writing grants. Volunteers with these skills can help with email and letter campaigns.

Volunteers with marketing or public relations experience can write press releases, promote events, design flyers, etc. And, of course, your events are the perfect opportunity for volunteers. After successful fundraising efforts, bring your volunteers together for writing thank you notes.

The American Cancer Society has a strong volunteer fundraising program. The Society notes that fundraising means effectively communicating why donations are needed. This group seeks volunteers with good communication skills, and they offer a variety of volunteer fundraising opportunities. Read more about this approach at the American Cancer Society.

Engaging Volunteers offers specific ways to engage volunteers in your fundraising plan. The first is to include them on campaign planning committees. This begins the training necessary for a volunteer to be successful at fundraising. Ensure the volunteer voice is heard by other committee members and build upon individual strengths.

Your volunteers can contribute to the discussion about who to ask and how much to ask. These are people from your community, and they know other community members. They probably know and support other nonprofits as well. These volunteers can make significant contributions to this discussion.

A peer-to-peer ask is the next step. Select a volunteer who has been giving regularly and, together, ask another volunteer for a gift or an increase in gift amount. Make it as easy as possible for the volunteer solicitor.

For volunteers reluctant to make a face-to-face ask, engage them in auction effort—silent or live. These volunteers may be most comfortable asking merchants and business people to contribute items or services.

A very important piece of advice to is share volunteer stories and public recognition of volunteer fundraising efforts. Learn more at Engaging Volunteers.