Whether your organization is entirely volunteer-led or you have volunteers at the helm of integral committees and programs, there’s no secret that these folks are often the backbone of associations and nonprofits.
And while volunteer management is top of mind for many leaders, addressing your pipeline is just as important. Volunteer recruitment takes intentionality, but it also takes awareness – particularly when you’re looking to build an inclusive culture.
Focusing on creating accessible volunteer opportunities is key – and here’s what associations need to know to get it done.
Accessibility in the context of volunteering refers to the ease with which members with diverse abilities, backgrounds and needs can participate in and benefit from volunteer opportunities. For associations, that means considering aspects like physical accessibility, communication and inclusion when creating and staffing these roles.
However, accessibility isn’t limited to physical or cognitive concerns. When it comes to your volunteering roles, factors like cultural differences and customs, language barriers, socioeconomic concerns and basic availability can all stand in the way of your members getting involved.
This creates a more inclusive culture and, on an organizational level, helps put talented and passionate volunteers in positions to move your association's mission forward.
One of the biggest problems with addressing accessibility in volunteering is understanding where those roadblocks are. For associations and nonprofits, this can include:
For associations, volunteer recruitment and management can be their own challenge, which is often why accessibility moves to the back burner. However, addressing these barriers to participation can have major benefits.
For starters, diverse volunteers help organizations harness different perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and abilities.
This not only assists in addressing the challenges volunteers encounter but also provides a fresh perspective on the obstacles and drawbacks your members potentially face.
Similarly, when we make our volunteering opportunities accessible, we promote social inclusion and community engagement, helping break down barriers and fostering understanding among people with different abilities. At the same time, it also creates opportunities for members to grow their skills and make connections, a key reason they joinyour association in the first place.
Finally, and often most importantly, by making your volunteer opportunities accessible to all, you can tap into a much larger pool of invaluable candidates that weren't able or aware of their opportunities to serve.
As we mentioned before, creating accessible volunteering opportunities takes intentionality. For associations looking to move the needle, some strategies to consider include:
As associations, empowering others is a part of your mission. And when it comes to volunteers – a critical role in all organizations – ensuring your opportunities are accessible to all is key. For starters, associations should spend time understanding the challenges facing specific roles. Whether it’s physical barriers, language difficulties or a lack of flexibility and availability, understanding these concerns can help you adjust and accommodate.
From there, it’s a matter of adding new strategies to your volunteer management. Focusing on adding inclusive language and imagery, creating new volunteer roles with added flexibility and remote opportunities, and even partnering with accessibility-focused organizations are a few of the ways your association can create accessible volunteering opportunities.
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Jose Triana joined the Sidecar team as the Content Manager in 2021. He is a writer and creative focused on helping purpose-driven organizations learn and find value online. When he isn't working on content, you can catch him going for a run or resting with a good book.
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