Office of Research and Evaluation 

Volunteer Management and 

Engagement Best Practices 

July 2023 

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AmeriCorps.gov 

• A federal grantmaking agency that supports and 

engages Americans through its service and volunteering 

programs: 

• AmeriCorps State and National 

• AmeriCorps Seniors 

• AmeriCorps VISTA 

• AmeriCorps NCCC 

• Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) 

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Learning Objectives: • Gain awareness of the Volunteer 

Generation Fund Bundle Implementation 

Study conducted by the AmeriCorps 

Office of Research and Evaluation 

• Learn what AmeriCorps knows about the 

current research in volunteer 

management best practices from the 

Literature Review and the user research 

conducted with State Service 

Commissions 

• Demonstrate familiarity with identified 

Volunteer Management Best Practices 

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Volunteer Generation Fund 

Implementation Evaluation Study 

Methodology • Comprehensive Literature Review • State Surveys • Case Studies • Cross-Case Study Analysis 

Findings from Comprehensive Literature 

Review • Limited evidence on the effectiveness 

of volunteer management practices 

and volunteer outcomes. 

• Vast practitioner-based knowledge on 

volunteer management best practices 

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Pre-Pandemic Volunteering 

Trends 

❑ Episodic – Short Term Assignments 

❑ Digital Tools and Social Media 

❑ Innovative Engagement is needed to 

reestablish trust and human connection 

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Managing and Engaging 

Volunteers in Post-Pandemic 

America 

❑ Increase in demand for services 

❑ Recruiting sufficient volunteers is a BIG 

problem 

❑ Recognition that volunteers increase 

organization’s Return on Investment

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Volunteer Management vs. 

Engagement 

Both are essential but different 

Volunteer 

Management ❑ The plan and 

processes of 

recruiting, 

tracking, 

coordinating, 

supervising, 

engaging and 

retaining 

volunteers that 

support your 

organization. 

Volunteer 

Engagement ❑ The plan and 

processes 

developed to 

ensure 

supporters are 

continually 

interested and 

actively 

engaged in 

their work. 

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Organizational Level Factors that 

Support Volunteer Management 

❑Leadership Buy-in 

❑Funding and Resources In-Place 

❑Technology and Digital Services 

❑Planning 

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Volunteer Recruitment Best Practices 

Communicate the Organization’s 

Investment in Volunteers Provide easy-entry/onboarding 

and remove barriers 

Match Recruitment Messaging to Write strong volunteer position 

Volunteer Motives descriptions 

Explicitly Invite Different 

Populations of Interest 

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Volunteer Engagement and Retention 

Strategies 

By engaging you are working towards retaining your volunteers 

Match Volunteers to 

Roles Based on Interest 

Support Volunteers 

Professionally and 

Emotionally 

Clearly Define Volunteer 

Roles 

Provide Training and Learning 

Opportunities 

Promote Volunteer Autonomy and 

Open Communication 

Foster Relationships between 

volunteers and organization peers 

Provide Recognition and 

Collect Feedback 

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Volunteering brings out the best of 

America! 

60.7 Million people formally volunteered with 

organizations between 2020-2021. 

Service continues to be a priority for millions of 

Americans. 

Organizations need to be ready to engage those 

who want to give back. 

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Thank you! 

Please check out our 

resources in the link below. 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation 

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