How to be an effective volunteer

Committing to help a nonprofit can be a rewarding experience and have a meaningful impact.

Nonprofits also rely heavily on the quality of the work delivered by their volunteers. In Australia, approximately 50% of the registered ACNC charities have no employees, and instead relied entirely on volunteers to meet their mission¹.

Below are some tips on how to be an effective volunteer for a nonprofit.

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‍Prior to starting a role:

Understand the requirements:

• What is the time commitment?
• What skills are required?
• What tools are needed to complete the role? Will I bring them or will they be provided?
• Are there any prerequisites (qualifications or registrations)?
• When is this due?
• Who will I communicate with?

Define success:

• What would be a great result for the nonprofit?
• How will we track performance?
• Are there any initiatives I can take to go the extra mile?

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‍Once committing to a role:

Make a firm commitment to seeing it through

• Put it in your diary and put time aside to complete the role
• Commit to finishing the deliverables

Communicate regularly

• Ask questions where needed
• Provide updates
• Flag any issues as you go

Remember that nonprofits rely on the quality and timeliness of your contribution.

Helping a nonprofit can be an exceptionally rewarding experience for both sides if communication is clear and expectations are managed appropriately.

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_{1: Source: Australian Charities Report, 9th Edition. ACNC, June 2023}