Volunteer Retention: A Critical Factor

Alongside recruitment and recognition, volunteer retention remains a primary concern of Volunteer Engagement leaders and is one of the basic "3 Rs" of Volunteer Engagement practice.  In addition to ensuring that organizations have the human resources needed to get things done, volunteer retention supports the possibility of giving volunteers greater responsibility and shifting them into leadership roles over time. Indeed, cultivating volunteers as leaders can be a key strategy to grow organizational capacity and advance its mission. In Research to Practice, reviewer Allison Russell explores this issue in the context of environmental organizations, which often rely on large numbers of volunteers to further their objectives and advocate for environmental causes. However, the findings offer relevant insights for organizations and Volunteer Engagement leaders from all sectors and services areas, suggesting ways to encourage and support volunteers who may be interested in taking on greater responsibility and leadership.