The power of boundaries: Why they matter for volunteer managers
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EmailLearn how setting boundaries creates balance for you and empowers volunteers to thrive.
In volunteer management, boundaries aren’t just helpful—they’re essential. Boundaries are the expectations, rules and limits that help shape healthy, respectful relationships between program participants, volunteers and staff. For volunteer managers, boundaries not only protect your time and energy, they model critical life skills for the community you serve.
Boundaries are vital in relationships. They help clarify what’s appropriate, what’s expected and how each person contributes to the relationship. As volunteer managers, we need to set and maintain boundaries for our own well-being. Ask yourself: What are my limits in the relationships I build with program participants and volunteers?
Without healthy boundaries, it’s easy to fall into patterns that lead to burnout or resentment. You may begin to feel overwhelmed, disrespected or like you can never say no. Setting and upholding clear boundaries may be difficult, but they help protect your energy, clarify responsibilities and help you to maintain professional relationships rooted in mutual respect.
Setting boundaries starts with you
To set boundaries effectively, you need to understand your own needs and limits. Notice what causes you stress or frustration. For instance, if responding to emails after hours is disrupting your personal time, set a clear expectation—let volunteers know you check email only during work hours. Or, if you choose not to accept social media friend requests from volunteers, communicate that upfront and kindly.
When setting a boundary, be able to state:
- What behavior is acceptable or not.
- What will happen if the boundary is crossed.
- What action you’ll take to protect that boundary.
Communicate boundaries clearly
Boundaries only work when they’re shared and respected. Communicate them early, be consistent and communicate with kindness. For example: “I value our work together, and to maintain balance with my personal life, I don’t respond to messages after 5 p.m.”
Remember—your boundaries don’t need to be debated. You are allowed to decide what works for you.
Model and support boundaries in others
Talk openly with volunteers about boundaries—yours and theirs. Model the healthy behavior you want to see and respect the boundaries of your volunteers as well. If a volunteer says they won’t respond during work hours, respect that. Establish that you may reach out to the volunteer during your work hours, but that you don’t expect a response until the volunteer is out of work. This mutual understanding builds trust and supports healthy relationships with volunteers.
And when a boundary gets crossed? Don’t ignore it. Recognize it, address it calmly, and renegotiate if needed.
By setting boundaries, you’re doing more than protecting yourself, you’re building a foundation for respectful, sustainable relationships with volunteers. Clear boundaries, communicated with respect, often increase trust over time—even when it takes a moment to get there. If you want to learn more about setting boundaries with volunteers and explore activities to train volunteers about boundaries, Michigan State University Extension has a variety of resources related to setting boundaries in the Ready to Go: Volunteer Training Toolkit curriculum.
