Volunteer Engagement

This section covers how to engage, lead, and retain volunteers with structure and confidence. You’ll learn to navigate the 9-step Volunteer Engagement Cycle — from planning clear roles and assessing risk, to navigating exits and gathering meaningful feedback. It also highlights practical tools for establishing volunteer guidelines, drafting position descriptions, and creating essential policy frameworks, covering everything from honorariums to legal protections like privacy and workplace safety.

This section is developed by Volunteer Toronto.

Strategy & Volunteer Role Planning

Clarifying volunteer roles

Effectively supporting volunteers starts with appropriately planning roles. A well-planned role includes specific responsibilities and duties, and avoids language like “other duties as assigned.” If it’s not clear what a volunteer will be doing, then a volunteer isn’t needed. To get started planning and building a role, ensure you have the answer to the following questions...

Strategy & Volunteer Role Planning

Sample volunteer position description

When crafting a volunteer position description, always be clear and concise. The position description must match the reality of the role and let potential volunteers know what to expect. Typical volunteer position descriptions include a role title ...

Strategy & Volunteer Role Planning

From recruitment to closing roles: The volunteer engagement cycle

Volunteer Recognition & Appreciation

Meaningful volunteer recognition

Volunteer recognition is an ongoing, year-round component of meaningful volunteer engagement that centres the impact volunteers make. Different methods of appreciation may be an attractive factor for potential volunteers to join your organization. Meaningful recognition must reflect the goals of volunteers. Ideally, recognition is honest, sincere, and delivered in a timely and appropriate manner. This means it aligns with what volunteers want and happens soon after or during their involvement. ...

Volunteer Policy Considerations

Developing HR policiesVolunteer Policy Considerations

Policy considerations for volunteer engagement

Volunteers are not employees. This means they are not subject to the employment standards of your jurisdiction. However, a policy framework for volunteer engagement can help you align with other legal requirements in your region. In many cases, existing HR policies for employees can be extended to include volunteers when appropriate. ...

Sample HR PoliciesVolunteer Policy Considerations

Sample volunteer honorarium policy

The purpose of this policy is to clarify a consistent approach to providing honorariums as a specific gesture of thanks when voluntary services are provided and would not require a fee....