How to Engage With Virtual Volunteers Through Online Events

This content was originally published on VolunteerMatch.

Online fundraisers are flexible, convenient, and full of potential – making them a great way to rally your community around your cause. But even the best virtual event won’t succeed without a dedicated volunteer team!

Virtual volunteers fuel your fundraising efforts, whether they’re navigating technical logistics for your livestream or marketing your upcoming event. However, because these interactions happen online, engaging volunteers requires thoughtful strategies to keep them motivated and connected. 

Let’s review key strategies to help you successfully engage, inspire, and prepare volunteers to step into their virtual roles with confidence.

Recruit the right volunteers

Before you can kick off your event planning, it’s essential to build a strong virtual volunteer team. Even if you have a veteran group of volunteers ready to help, you’ll likely need new recruits to fill open roles. The most effective volunteers are passionate about your mission and either possess the skills required for the role or are eager to learn and grow in it.

Here are a few winning recruitment strategies that can help you identify the right candidates for your volunteer positions: 

Create clear role descriptions 

Start by creating detailed descriptions for each volunteer position. Make sure to clearly communicate what the role involves and what is expected of the volunteer, including: 

• The role title
• Key responsibilities and tasks
• Expected weekly time commitment
• Required tools or technology (e.g., auction platform, web design tools, etc.)

Providing clarity upfront helps volunteers understand exactly what they’re signing up for and increases the likelihood of finding candidates who are the right fit. 

Make the application process easy

Your nonprofit’s website is a great place to attract volunteers. Create a simple, mobile-friendly application form that asks only for essential information, such as:

• Name and contact information
• Relevant skills and qualifications 
• Specific areas of interest or preferred event roles

Avoid overly long or complicated forms. If your application form is too lengthy or complicated, qualified prospects are likely to abandon submitting their information altogether.

Promote your volunteer opportunities across multiple channels

To effectively market to potential volunteers, use multiple channels and content types. Multichannel marketing will help you increase your reach, ensuring the people with the right skills and interests are seeing your volunteer opportunities online. Promote your open volunteer roles through:

• Social media
• Your nonprofit’s website
• Email newsletters 
• Text messaging campaigns

Also, look for individuals who are eligible for volunteer grants or volunteer time off through their employers. These prospects are highly motivated, and their employers make it easy for them to contribute their time and skills in big ways.

Pro tip: Create a general volunteer inquiry email address, monitored by your volunteer coordinator or veteran volunteers, that prospects can reach out to with questions. This not only improves the application experience but also helps you share more opportunities that are most relevant to their interests.

Provide extensive training

Now that you’ve recruited the right volunteers, you’ll need to provide the necessary resources and training they need to hit the ground running. A well-prepared volunteer team ensures your event runs smoothly and creates a positive experience that encourages volunteers to return for future events. Use these tips to get your volunteers event-ready: 

• Lead an orientation session: Introduce your organization to new volunteers who may not be familiar with your mission, or provide a refresher for current volunteers. This session should cover background information about your nonprofit, as well as key details about your upcoming online fundraiser.
• Share a resource library: Create a digital database where volunteers can access important resources, such as your volunteer handbook and role-specific guides. For example, for peer-to-peer fundraising volunteers, share a guide with best practices for creating a fundraising campaign page. 
• Set up a mentorship system: Allow new volunteers to learn from more experienced supporters and hear seasoned volunteers’ stories through a mentorship program. Encourage your mentors to check in with their mentees weekly and make themselves available for questions. 

A robust training program will prepare your volunteers to meet and exceed expectations, creating a memorable experience for both guests and volunteers that inspires them to continue supporting your cause. 

Conduct a test run of your event

Rather than leaving everything to chance on the big day, schedule a full test run with your volunteers in advance. Choose a specific date and time and aim to have all of your volunteers present so they can experience the event flow and practice their roles before event day.

During the test run, you should:

• Use the same platform: Practice using the exact technology that will host your virtual event to familiarize volunteers with the tools and user interface. The OneCause guide to fundraising platforms recommends investing in an all-in-one solution that comes with built-in virtual event management tools, such as livestreaming, live chat, simple check-in and check-out options, and gamification to increase donor engagement. 
• Check equipment and connections: Ensure your volunteers have everything they need to successfully fulfill their roles, including an internet connection, working audio equipment, computers, and microphones. Troubleshoot any issues as soon as possible so they don’t become a problem on your event day. 
• Pair or group volunteers into teams: Organize volunteers into teams based on their roles. Practicing together will foster a strong sense of community, increasing peer-to-peer engagement and ensuring everyone knows how to collaborate effectively during the event. 

Keep in mind that it’s normal to run into bumps during your test run. Make sure you give your team enough time between the test run and the actual event to address any issues. Your volunteers will appreciate your preparation and feel more confident and ready to succeed.

Wrapping Up

When your event wraps up, take the time to thank your virtual volunteers and review your data analytics to highlight the measurable impact of their contributions, helping them feel valued and motivated to support your nonprofit again in the future.

After all, with their support, you can lead any type of event with ease and exceed your fundraising goals.