Whenever we join a new place of work or become a part of an organization, we often start our first few days by keeping our heads down and focusing on the assigned tasks. In the beginning, that seems like the best thing to do as one is learning the ropes, figuring out their roles, and adapting to the new environment. As time passes, they gain experience and also develop a deeper understanding of the ins and outs of the nonprofit. In their time there, they also start to see areas for improvement in both themselves and the organization and aspects they can contribute beyond their initial roles.

This progress of volunteers from following instructions to sharing their ideas and suggestions with the organization is a part of the volunteer journey that proves to be a great resource for growth. Volunteers bring fresh perspectives and ideas that can improve the volunteer programs, make the processes easier, and strengthen the organization’s goals. These suggestions can be a great addition to the role a volunteer platform plays in streamlining the processes for nonprofits. Therefore, organizations must ensure that they capture these insights using volunteer surveys and record them safely for future use. In this article, we’ll explore the questions you can include in your survey to receive answers that support organizational growth.

Craft a Perfect Survey to Record Your Volunteers’ Feedback and Suggestion

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Discover their Motivation and Goals

Just like people are encouraged to buy from a business that gives them exactly what they need in a product, for organizations to provide a similar experience to the volunteers, they must understand their goals. People join organizations for various reasons; some do it to give back to the community, and others might join in search of gaining new skills or meeting new people. To know exactly what they want to achieve out of this opportunity, you can consider adding questions such as “What inspired you to volunteer with us?” or “What personal goals or outcomes do you hope to achieve through this program?” For instance, if you find out they are interested in exploring different community service ideas, you can involve them in the brainstorming sessions so they feel heard.

 

Check their understanding of their Role

Clear communication at all times is the only way to have a successful volunteer program. If the roles and expectations that come along with them are unclear to the volunteers, they may feel the disconnect, and it will affect their productivity. To avoid such a situation from arising, consider asking questions such as, “Were your responsibilities clearly explained when you joined?” or “Did the training sessions provide the knowledge and skills you needed for your role?” The responses you receive will help you identify the areas of communication gap that you can fill by providing the necessary information which in turn will result in a positive and productive experience.

 

Evaluate Support and Resources Provided

While volunteers bring the hundred percent of their skills to the table, they need certain resources to work with and give their best. When there is a lack of resources, communication, or support during a task or an event, it impacts their experience. You can ensure they’ve all the necessary tools or the support by asking them, “Did you have access to all the resources needed to complete your tasks effectively?” or “Did you feel supported by the staff or team?” Once you have the answers to these questions, you’ll know the areas to work on. If the problem is about communication you can assign dedicated coordinators to resolve their problems.

 

Learn About their Impact and Experiences

Just like a student is motivated by looking at their results, volunteers are also motivated by looking at the impact their work creates. While organizations have the data that shows the impact they’ve made, it’s also important that they realize the impact on their personal lives. By asking questions such as “How has volunteering with us impacted your personal or professional growth?” you showcase your care toward them and allow them to reflect on their personal experience. You can also use this feedback as testimonials for future recruitments.

 

Ask for Suggestions and Feedback

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Volunteers are the creative minds of the organization who may have ideas nonprofits might not have considered before. You can collect these ideas and suggestions to use in your programs by adding an open-ended question in the survey such as “What changes would you suggest to improve our program?” or “Are there additional ways we can support you in your role?” By doing so, you give them the freedom to express their viewpoints, whether they’re highlighting inefficiencies, sparking innovative ideas, or identifying overlooked needs. This also makes them feel valued and heard.

 

End Note

There’s a saying that you can be successful by asking questions and carefully listening to the answers. Nonprofits can practice this saying by asking questions of their volunteers using surveys as a tool and truly listening to what they have to say. Utilizing the above-mentioned question types can help you cover all the aspects from personal to organizational which you can use to improve and grow together.