The Scaffolding of New Volunteering: A Comprehensive Guide to Engaging and Retaining Volunteers

Introduction

In today's rapidly changing world, the need for volunteers is greater than ever. From providing essential services to supporting community initiatives, volunteers play a vital role in strengthening our communities and making them more resilient. However, attracting and retaining volunteers can be a challenge, especially in an era of competing demands on people's time and attention.

The Scaffolding of New Volunteering

In her groundbreaking book, "The Scaffolding of New Volunteering," Márcia Pereira Cunha offers a comprehensive guide to engaging and retaining volunteers. Drawing on extensive research and real-world examples, Cunha provides a framework for understanding the motivations and needs of volunteers, and how organizations can create an environment that fosters their success.

Key Concepts

Cunha introduces several key concepts that are essential for understanding the dynamics of volunteering. These include:

• The scaffolding of volunteering: This refers to the support structures that organizations put in place to help volunteers succeed. These structures can include things like training, mentoring, and recognition.
• The volunteer lifecycle: This refers to the stages that volunteers go through from the moment they first become interested in volunteering to the time they eventually leave. Understanding the volunteer lifecycle can help organizations develop strategies to attract and retain volunteers at each stage.
• The motivations of volunteers: Volunteers are motivated by a variety of factors, including altruism, self-interest, and social connection. Understanding these motivations can help organizations tailor their recruitment and retention strategies accordingly.

Strategies for Engaging and Retaining Volunteers

Cunha provides a wealth of practical strategies for engaging and retaining volunteers. These strategies include:

• Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment: Volunteers should feel welcome and valued from the moment they first contact your organization. This means creating a culture of respect and appreciation, and ensuring that volunteers have the resources they need to succeed.
• Providing training and support: Volunteers need training and support to be effective in their roles. This training should cover both the specific tasks that volunteers will be performing, as well as general skills such as communication and teamwork.
• Recognizing and rewarding volunteers: Volunteers should be recognized and rewarded for their contributions. This can be done through a variety of means, such as public thank-yous, certificates of appreciation, and awards.
• Creating opportunities for growth and development: Volunteers should have opportunities to grow and develop their skills. This can be done through training, mentoring, and leadership opportunities.

Conclusion

"The Scaffolding of New Volunteering" is an essential resource for anyone who wants to attract and retain volunteers. Cunha's comprehensive framework and practical strategies will help you create a volunteer program that is successful and sustainable.

Call to Action

If you are interested in learning more about how to engage and retain volunteers, I encourage you to purchase "The Scaffolding of New Volunteering" today. This book is a valuable resource that will help you build a strong volunteer program that will benefit your organization and your community.