I attended the Fort Worth Chamber’s State of Economic Impact event – and it was excellent. (Thank you, Fort Worth Chamber, and Cadence Bank!) All the speakers were great, but three inspired this article:
Ken Buchanan, EVP of Revenue Management at the DFW Airport who described their best-in-class volunteer program as a key part of delivering exceptional customer care.
Steve Montgomery, President of the Fort Worth Chamber, who praised the Chamber’s member volunteers for their work during a recent small business walk.
Robert Sturns, the newly named Executive Director of Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County (WSTC) whose facilitation reminded me of the time he invited me to speak on volunteerism at the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. He was serving the City of Arlington at the time, I think.
That event - years ago - brought together leaders from chambers, nonprofits, corporations, and civic sectors across the region to discuss building organizational capacity. My contribution focused on using volunteer engagement as a capacity-building tool. Reflecting on that presentation, I realize that the advice I shared then is just as relevant today – and perhaps even more so, and I offer it here.
Notes from a Presentation Called “Building Capacity Through Volunteer Engagement”
As leaders advancing community causes, our success hinges on howe we engage volunteers – whether for boards, committees, task forces, community relations, and direct program delivery.
When well-recruited, prepared, and managed, volunteers can:
Energize staff
Help achieve program and fundraising goals
Reinforce your organization’s credibility
Extend the reach of your mission
Provide excellent governance
Why Do People Volunteer?
Understanding why people choose to give their time and talent is key to building an effective volunteer program. People volunteer for many reasons, such as:
Encouragement from an employer
A desire to develop skills and expertise
Building personal or professional networks
Seeking recognition or prestige
Passion for a cause
Alignment with your specific mission
Simply because they were asked
Recognizing these motivations helps tailor recruitment efforts – and creates a more rewarding experience for volunteers.
Challenges Volunteers Face Today
Volunteerism remains vital, but people face real barriers:
Competing demands on their time
Work and family obligations
Higher professional expectations
Demand for specific expertise
Concerns about liability
To overcome these obstacles, organizations must build a culture that respects volunteers’ time, values their contributions, and offers meaningful ways to engage.
Best Practices: Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers
Building a strong volunteer base takes intentional effort. Here is what works:
Set Clear Expectations – Define roles, responsibilities, and time commitments.
Offer Training and Support – Set them up for success from day one.
Highlight Their Impact – Show them the difference they are making.
Foster Teamwork – Help volunteers feel part of something bigger.
Celebrate Them – Acknowledge contributions both privately, among their peers, and publicly.
Creating a Culture That Lasts
Volunteer engagement is not just a program, it’s a culture. To sustain it:
Offer leadership opportunities to long-term volunteers.
Provide ongoing training and skill-development.
Encourage social connections among volunteers.
Regularly gather feedback to improve.
Make volunteering fun, fulfilling, and flexible.
Recognize them among their peers, across the organization, and publicly at every opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Volunteers are the backbone of so much work – in nonprofits, chambers, businesses, and the public sector. When we understand what drives people to give their time, respond to their challenges, and engage them with intention, we build a stronger, more resilient community.
As Margaret Mead famously said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
And we have witnessed that hundreds of times. To all those in our community working to build capacity and engage others through boards and volunteers - your efforts matter! Let us know how we can help.