The Role of the Nonprofit Volunteer Coordinator

No matter the size of a nonprofit organization, the role of its volunteer coordinator cannot be overlooked. As organizations continue to rely heavily on volunteerism as a means of raising funds, the nonprofit volunteer coordinator plays an essential part in the success of the organization.  

There are specific duties and responsibilities that the nonprofit volunteer coordinator can take on, alleviating some of the stress from the executive director and board of directors. But not just anyone can jump into this role and be successful.  

There are particular traits and backgrounds that trend toward one’s success as a nonprofit volunteer coordinator, and executive directors are increasingly choosy about who they put in charge. 

What Is a Nonprofit Volunteer Coordinator? 

A nonprofit volunteer coordinator is the executive director’s right-hand assistant when it comes to planning and executing fundraising events. This person is responsible for managing and overseeing the volunteer activities within a nonprofit organization. 

According to an impact survey by Deloitte, 77% of nonprofit organizations believe that utilizing skilled volunteers can help improve the business practices of their organizations. Ensuring that there is someone in charge to direct and train volunteers can skyrocket the success of your events.  

With support, efficient nonprofit volunteer coordinators can scale fundraising efforts and help improve hands-on assistance for programming or communication strategies. They can ensure that attendees of an event have a good time and that all aspects of the event meet expectations.

How Does a Volunteer Coordinator Improve an Organization? 

The nonprofit volunteer coordinator takes on a heavy responsibility in an organization. Their ability to communicate, organize, and promote the organization’s mission can improve engagement with its programs.  

In a large organization, the nonprofit volunteer coordinator may participate in recruiting, managing, and evaluating volunteers. Since volunteerism is especially important for fundraising events and board of directors activities, having someone to manage the duties that accompany them can help streamline the process.  

Nonprofit volunteer coordinators can work behind the scenes in different ways. Occasionally they are involved in advancing the organization through outreach, grant and proposal writing, bookkeeping, and other administrative tasks. 

This important role, especially in small nonprofit organizations, can help to push the mission and vision of the organization further.

Responsibilities of a Volunteer Coordinator 

The responsibilities of the volunteer coordinator in a nonprofit are typically the same, regardless of the mission of the organization:

Fundraising 

Volunteer coordinators should have extensive experience and knowledge of fundraising methods. Successful fundraising initiatives create a positive cash flow to fund the programs of nonprofit organizations, the goal of any organization.  

To achieve this, volunteer coordinators may have to carry out various tasks. The tasks may include communicating with stakeholders, maintaining and establishing a good rapport with board members, managing future and current fundraising databases, and working with the team to create a plan of action, finalize dates, and execute events.
 

Event Planning 

Since one of the key responsibilities of the nonprofit volunteer coordinator is event planning and organizing, there are a variety of tasks to undertake in this area.  

As a nonprofit volunteer coordinator, you may find yourself completing the tasks yourself or delegating to other volunteers. Since many charities have switched to virtual donor events, you may find yourself organizing in the online space.  

Considering site selection, handling scheduling and other logistics, purchasing supplies, and promoting the event are all duties that fall to the volunteer coordinator. 

Managing and Evaluating Volunteers 

Someone with exemplary human resources skills can make the role of the nonprofit volunteer coordinator look easy. So much of this position involves working with and managing others, so someone organized and able to stay flexible when people’s personal situations change is key.  

Nonprofit volunteer coordinators may be responsible for hiring the volunteers, interviewing them, supervising their work, and providing them with feedback. Staffing and preparing reward programs for those who help out are also common responsibilities. 

Reward Programs 

Most organizations are adamant about rewarding the people who step up to help with events.  

As volunteers are not paid, it falls back to the volunteer coordinator to track the hours volunteers have put into the organization and create and manage their reward programs. 

This is very important as it can also help the organization track and recognize a volunteer’s effort with mementos like certificates, gift baskets, or other forms of acknowledgment. Organizations sometimes recognize contributions during annual meetings or events, as well. 

What Skills Does a Volunteer Coordinator Need? 

Having the qualifications to support the work required by a position is essential, and there are certain skill sets that are found in effective volunteer coordinators:

Organization 

One of the main roles of a nonprofit volunteer coordinator is event planning. This is an area where stellar project management and planning skills are key.  

When planning an event, you may end up juggling a budget, a volunteer roster, and hands-on duties like picking up supplies. Some events require third-party vendors such as caterers and decorators, so you must be able to manage the workflow that comes along with them as well. 

Interpersonal Skills 

Solid interpersonal skills are crucial for the nonprofit volunteer coordinator. As you may sometimes be managing large numbers of volunteers, being able to communicate with clarity and in a timely manner is important.  

Being crystal clear in your communication can prevent misunderstandings just when you don’t need them (You meant a white cake with green frosting, not a green cake with white frosting, after all.)  

Communicating efficiently through e-mail, messenger programs, or text messages can help keep things on track and clarify any issues quickly. 

Community Outreach and Marketing 

A nonprofit volunteer coordinator with strong marketing skills will help to promote the vision and mission of an organization and can heavily influence the number of “hands on deck” to help with events.  

Fundraising, event promotion and the recruitment and selection of volunteers can all be conducted through marketing strategies, including e-mail marketing and through social media campaigns. 
 

How to Get a Role as a Nonprofit Volunteer Coordinator 

Most volunteer coordinator jobs require a bachelor’s degree, but the subject area of the degree can vary as long as it is relevant to the nonprofit organization where you intend to work. For example, charities concerned with mental health may find a degree in psychology can provide an added advantage. In most cases, organizations operate in special areas and may not require those courses. 

A background in human resources or project management will make you an attractive candidate for a volunteer coordinator position. 

In smaller organizations, some nonprofit volunteer coordinators are unpaid themselves. A background in volunteerism and organization is always helpful for this role. 

Conclusion  

Understanding the duties of a nonprofit volunteer coordinator is important before you take on the role. It is easy to assume that the position may be easy, but depending on the charity and the scale of its events, this can be a highly stressful job.  

Understanding all your responsibilities, from fundraising to planning and organizing events to evaluating and managing your volunteers, can help you decide if you are capable of taking on the job.  

It is also advisable to hone your organizational, interpersonal, and marketing skills to give you a boost in this arena. Overall, giving your best, staying on top of things, and consulting with the executive director when you run into problems or need opinions can increase your success in this position.