Empowered volunteers help programs thrive
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EmailHow engagement, support and trust create stronger volunteer programs.
Volunteers are the heart of 4-H and many other youth development programs. But recruiting them is only half the battle, keeping them engaged is what leads to long-term success. This is where volunteer engagement comes in. A successful volunteer program doesn’t just fill roles, it fosters meaningful experiences that make volunteers feel valued, supported and empowered. When volunteers thrive, so does your program.
By getting to know your volunteers and understanding what motivates them, you can place them in roles where they’ll feel confident and fulfilled. This alignment of interests, skills and responsibilities helps volunteers take ownership of their work, deepens their connection to the program, and encourages them to contribute their best.
Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development encourages volunteer managers to consider the following key ideas to empower and engage your volunteers.
- Assign meaningful roles based on skills and interest. Make it a priority to match tasks with a volunteer’s strengths, experience or goals. Consider the time commitment and availability of the volunteer when assigning roles. Respect their knowledge and expertise and place them where they can succeed and feel good about their contributions.
- Build relationships. Take time to get to know your volunteers as people. Building relationships fosters trust and creates a positive environment where volunteers feel seen, heard and appreciated.
- Set clear expectations. Volunteers want to do well. Provide them with clear roles, expectations and resources so they understand what success looks like—and how to achieve it.
- Support without micromanaging. Empowerment doesn’t mean leaving volunteers on their own, it means trusting them to lead while offering support when needed. Check in, offer feedback and be available, but don’t hover.
- Share tools and resources. Give volunteers access to training, templates and decision-making tools so they can confidently lead clubs, events or activities.
- Encourage growth. Help volunteers build skills and grow in their roles. Offer leadership opportunities, training sessions or peer mentoring. Small investments in growth can lead to big returns for your program. Consider using activities from the Ready To Go: Volunteer Training Toolkit to offer training opportunities for your volunteers.
- Recognize and appreciate. Make sure volunteers know their contributions matter. A thank-you note, public recognition or informal check-in can go a long way in showing you value their time and energy.
When volunteers feel trusted, supported and empowered—they stay. They lead, they problem-solve and they bring energy and ideas that fuel your program’s success. As a volunteer manager, you have the power to create a culture where volunteers thrive—and your program grows stronger because of it.
