Things Nonprofit Staff & Volunteers Want to Say But Can’t
Submitted and Written by: Jenn Rockefeller
“When things are good, they are really really good. When things are bad, they are really really bad.” It’s a quote I often heard as a child, but never who it was attributed to, nor did I ever understand it until I became an adult.
This quote can apply to any aspect of your life, but none moreso than if you are a volunteer in a nonprofit organization. When things at the nonprofit are going well, you might feel on top of the world. But if things are not going so well, you might feel bleak and downtrodden.
It’s the “bleak and downtrodden” emotions that can trigger a nonprofit volunteer to start thinking about things they’d like to say, but can’t. Perhaps they may fear retaliation. Perhaps they may get dismissed with the wave of a hand and told their feelings don’t matter. Perhaps it could even be they may feel like their voice doesn’t matter. Perhaps it’s a combination of all these reasons – and more.
Below is a list of some things that nonprofit workers and volunteers want to say, but can’t:
“I wish people said “thanks” more often.”
According to Church Fuel, verbalizing your appreciation for your volunteers can go a long way. So can small gifts. “Thank you notes and even little gifts energize me more than you realize,” noted the site.
“Why does one volunteer get recognized more than once, while other volunteers sit back waiting for their chance to get recognized?”
So often, some nonprofit workers and volunteers seemingly go unnoticed or don’t get verbally recognized, while others get that recognition more than once. These volunteers just don’t want to get “passed over” time and time again, because that will just cause their enthusiasm for your organization to wane. So it’s recommended to “make the rounds” and have some kind of recognition for every volunteer, so they have that moment in the spotlight and feel important, like their efforts for your organization are worthwhile.
“We give our spare time to you freely and we want something in return.”
Nonprofit workers and volunteers don’t have to give their time to you. They are doing it because they believe in your mission. They believe in your leadership. They believe in you. And, just like what Live About, says, volunteers this day and age expect something in return when they devote their free time to you. “Today's volunteers may seem more demanding, but they really should be. It's no longer enough to just put out a generic call for volunteers and then treat them all alike once they show up. Volunteers expect to give, in order to get something back.”
“We want you to talk to us more often.”
Nonprofit workers and volunteers do realize you have a life outside of your organization, but another thing they want is to hear from you more often. If you don’t take an interest in them, they will stop having an interest in your organization. So, for their sake (and yours), reach out with an instant message, email or phone call from time to time. Check in on them. Ask how their life is going.
“Is this really about the mission?”
Often, when nonprofit workers or volunteers feel like they are just “a number” and not a person, they begin to feel like they are “filling a slot” and not being appreciated for the work they put into the organization. According to Carey Nieuwhof, “When you lose focus on the mission, volunteers lose heart. Every volunteer wants to give their time to something bigger than us or bigger than themselves. So give them that opportunity.”
"If you don’t lead, why should I follow?”
This is a question that nonprofit workers and volunteers often ask themselves. Why should they continue to support a nonprofit when there’s bad leadership? According to Social Good Connect, one of the reasons why volunteers quit is because of poor leadership. Volunteers “start out full of optimism and big ideas, but without good leadership or support they become dejected and uninspired.”
“If you don’t respect me and my time, why should I continue to do this?”
According to How To Communications, it all boils down to respect. “Respect for a volunteer’s time, respect for their insights and opinions, and respect for how this role benefits the organization (instead of being a checkmark or burden),” the website stated.
Nonprofit workers and volunteers should feel like they can speak up. But they don’t. Many times, they just don’t want to “ruffle any feathers.” Many times, they feel like just a number and feel like they are being taken advantage of. And sometimes, they feel like they just won’t be heard even if they do speak up. Nonprofit organizations need to do better and truly hear their volunteers when they bring up their concerns. Maybe then, workers and volunteers won’t feel like they need to hide their feelings.
