Animal Welfare Professionals

Hey Brianna! One thing we've heard from a lot of organizations is that recruitment is only half the battle; keeping volunteers engaged is usually the bigger challenge.

The rescues that seem to have the most success tend to have a simple onboarding process, consistent communication, and make it easy for volunteers to sign up for opportunities without a lot of back-and-forth. Even small things like recognizing milestones or sending regular updates about animals they've helped can go a long way toward retention.

We built volunteer management into PawPlacer with that in mind. Organizations can customize volunteer applications, keep volunteer information in one place, assign roles, communicate with their team, and manage permissions based on what each volunteer needs access to. It's completely free, but regardless of the software you use, having one central place to manage volunteers makes a huge difference.

I'd also be interested to hear what others are doing, especially creative ways to keep long-term volunteers engaged.

Hey Kyle,

Thanks for reaching out! I have been doing a lot of thinking on how to better appreciate our volunteers and make the onboarding process easier for them, also allow volunteers to switch into different roles to improve their skills and find ways to stay with us while still keeping the day-to-day interesting and enjoyable.

Are you coming from a shelter/rescue space when it pertains to volunteers?

Kindly,

Brianna

Hey Brianna! One thing we've heard from a lot of organizations is that recruitment is only half the battle; keeping volunteers engaged is usually the bigger challenge.

The rescues that seem to have the most success tend to have a simple onboarding process, consistent communication, and make it easy for volunteers to sign up for opportunities without a lot of back-and-forth. Even small things like recognizing milestones or sending regular updates about animals they've helped can go a long way toward retention.

We built volunteer management into PawPlacer with that in mind. Organizations can customize volunteer applications, keep volunteer information in one place, assign roles, communicate with their team, and manage permissions based on what each volunteer needs access to. It's completely free, but regardless of the software you use, having one central place to manage volunteers makes a huge difference.

I'd also be interested to hear what others are doing, especially creative ways to keep long-term volunteers engaged.

Hey Brianna, I used to volunteer a lot with my local shelters, but since then, I've built PawPlacer. It's a free shelter management platform currently used by hundreds of shelters and rescues across the world. My team and I work very closely with the shelters we serve, and their feedback is what has helped us develop our platform. As mentioned prior, we put a lot of that feedback regarding volunteers into the platform to help make onboarding, notifying, and potential recruiting easier. If you'd like to chat more on this I am more than available.

Hey Kyle,

Thanks for reaching out! I have been doing a lot of thinking on how to better appreciate our volunteers and make the onboarding process easier for them, also allow volunteers to switch into different roles to improve their skills and find ways to stay with us while still keeping the day-to-day interesting and enjoyable.

Are you coming from a shelter/rescue space when it pertains to volunteers?

Kindly,

Brianna

Hey Brianna! One thing we've heard from a lot of organizations is that recruitment is only half the battle; keeping volunteers engaged is usually the bigger challenge.

The rescues that seem to have the most success tend to have a simple onboarding process, consistent communication, and make it easy for volunteers to sign up for opportunities without a lot of back-and-forth. Even small things like recognizing milestones or sending regular updates about animals they've helped can go a long way toward retention.

We built volunteer management into PawPlacer with that in mind. Organizations can customize volunteer applications, keep volunteer information in one place, assign roles, communicate with their team, and manage permissions based on what each volunteer needs access to. It's completely free, but regardless of the software you use, having one central place to manage volunteers makes a huge difference.

I'd also be interested to hear what others are doing, especially creative ways to keep long-term volunteers engaged.

I would be more than happy to give you my email to chat more about PawPlacer! Is this compatible at all with Pet point?

Hey Brianna, I used to volunteer a lot with my local shelters, but since then, I've built PawPlacer. It's a free shelter management platform currently used by hundreds of shelters and rescues across the world. My team and I work very closely with the shelters we serve, and their feedback is what has helped us develop our platform. As mentioned prior, we put a lot of that feedback regarding volunteers into the platform to help make onboarding, notifying, and potential recruiting easier. If you'd like to chat more on this I am more than available.

Hey Kyle,

Thanks for reaching out! I have been doing a lot of thinking on how to better appreciate our volunteers and make the onboarding process easier for them, also allow volunteers to switch into different roles to improve their skills and find ways to stay with us while still keeping the day-to-day interesting and enjoyable.

Are you coming from a shelter/rescue space when it pertains to volunteers?

Kindly,

Brianna

Hey Brianna! One thing we've heard from a lot of organizations is that recruitment is only half the battle; keeping volunteers engaged is usually the bigger challenge.

The rescues that seem to have the most success tend to have a simple onboarding process, consistent communication, and make it easy for volunteers to sign up for opportunities without a lot of back-and-forth. Even small things like recognizing milestones or sending regular updates about animals they've helped can go a long way toward retention.

We built volunteer management into PawPlacer with that in mind. Organizations can customize volunteer applications, keep volunteer information in one place, assign roles, communicate with their team, and manage permissions based on what each volunteer needs access to. It's completely free, but regardless of the software you use, having one central place to manage volunteers makes a huge difference.

I'd also be interested to hear what others are doing, especially creative ways to keep long-term volunteers engaged.

The rural municipal shelter where I've volunteered for 10 years has recently increased their volunteer recruitment by doing a volunteer orientation open to the public where another long-time volunteer or the shelter manager gives a tour of the facility and describes what tasks volunteers might do in certain areas. There are usually refreshments, waivers/releases are signed, information is distributed about purchasing volunteer shirts, and by the end (if the new volunteer wishes) they can interact with animals by playing with cats or walking a dog (selected by a staff member of volunteer to be sure they have a positive experience).

I also collaborate with this shelter through the non-profit I run (Pennies for PAWS) and we host work days where we tackle whatever tasks the shelter might need a larger group of people to work on. We've done landscaping, organization, putting together sheds, making enrichment items for dogs and cats, etc. Some of these volunteers return to the shelter to do other things later on their own.

Overall, this particular shelter has very low barriers for entry into volunteering. As volunteers become more comfortable or the staff sees what they are good at, they are asked to take on different tasks. Some volunteers only do dog field trips. Some volunteers focus on enrichment. Some volunteers focus on beagles/hounds and some focus on larger breeds.  Some volunteers only foster cats. There is a volunteer recognition potluck once a year, but I also get a "thank you for your help" from the staff every time I head home.  As a volunteer, the staff knows what I do well but also continues to help me grow in other tasks. 

Hey Rebecca!

That sounds awesome, we have been thinking a lot about an open house to remove barriers and bring in more volunteers to show case the amazing work shelter staff do each day and where their help would make a huge difference! I have to ask is there a database used to onboard and track volunteers? Do you know of anything you'd recommend?

Dose Pennies for PAWS have a foster program?

Kindly,

Brianna

The rural municipal shelter where I've volunteered for 10 years has recently increased their volunteer recruitment by doing a volunteer orientation open to the public where another long-time volunteer or the shelter manager gives a tour of the facility and describes what tasks volunteers might do in certain areas. There are usually refreshments, waivers/releases are signed, information is distributed about purchasing volunteer shirts, and by the end (if the new volunteer wishes) they can interact with animals by playing with cats or walking a dog (selected by a staff member of volunteer to be sure they have a positive experience).

I also collaborate with this shelter through the non-profit I run (Pennies for PAWS) and we host work days where we tackle whatever tasks the shelter might need a larger group of people to work on. We've done landscaping, organization, putting together sheds, making enrichment items for dogs and cats, etc. Some of these volunteers return to the shelter to do other things later on their own.

Overall, this particular shelter has very low barriers for entry into volunteering. As volunteers become more comfortable or the staff sees what they are good at, they are asked to take on different tasks. Some volunteers only do dog field trips. Some volunteers focus on enrichment. Some volunteers focus on beagles/hounds and some focus on larger breeds.  Some volunteers only foster cats. There is a volunteer recognition potluck once a year, but I also get a "thank you for your help" from the staff every time I head home.  As a volunteer, the staff knows what I do well but also continues to help me grow in other tasks. 

The shelter uses Better Impact. It comes with an app that volunteers can add onto their phone to sign in and out or they can use a qr code with a shelter device (ipad kiosk). The one thing I have found is that it does not automatically time out after a certain time. I have forgotten several times to signout until I got home (sometimes even several days later) and staff had to go back and fix my time. It's just something to be aware of so that data about volunteering is accurate. 

Pennies for PAWS is somewhat unique in that we are a resource-based animal-welfare nonprofit and do not take custody of animals. Many of our volunteers do end up fostering for shelters and rescues but not under our organization. Pennies for PAWS has helped shelters build foster programs by giving financial support to purchase crates, carriers, etc.

Hey Rebecca!

That sounds awesome, we have been thinking a lot about an open house to remove barriers and bring in more volunteers to show case the amazing work shelter staff do each day and where their help would make a huge difference! I have to ask is there a database used to onboard and track volunteers? Do you know of anything you'd recommend?

Dose Pennies for PAWS have a foster program?

Kindly,

Brianna

The rural municipal shelter where I've volunteered for 10 years has recently increased their volunteer recruitment by doing a volunteer orientation open to the public where another long-time volunteer or the shelter manager gives a tour of the facility and describes what tasks volunteers might do in certain areas. There are usually refreshments, waivers/releases are signed, information is distributed about purchasing volunteer shirts, and by the end (if the new volunteer wishes) they can interact with animals by playing with cats or walking a dog (selected by a staff member of volunteer to be sure they have a positive experience).

I also collaborate with this shelter through the non-profit I run (Pennies for PAWS) and we host work days where we tackle whatever tasks the shelter might need a larger group of people to work on. We've done landscaping, organization, putting together sheds, making enrichment items for dogs and cats, etc. Some of these volunteers return to the shelter to do other things later on their own.

Overall, this particular shelter has very low barriers for entry into volunteering. As volunteers become more comfortable or the staff sees what they are good at, they are asked to take on different tasks. Some volunteers only do dog field trips. Some volunteers focus on enrichment. Some volunteers focus on beagles/hounds and some focus on larger breeds.  Some volunteers only foster cats. There is a volunteer recognition potluck once a year, but I also get a "thank you for your help" from the staff every time I head home.  As a volunteer, the staff knows what I do well but also continues to help me grow in other tasks. 

Hi Brianna.

I love all the responses you've received! One thing I always want to emphasize when it comes to volunteers AFTER they first show interest, of course, is one word: respect. In our world, we get so caught up in so many things we feel we need to do that we forget volunteers don't NEED to come to us, they choose to. So making them realize how wants they are, how important we feel their impact is, and how difficult it would be without them is really important. While we ask folks to do a lot, we have to remember that there's a learning curve, that they don't necessarily live in our world, and that they have other obligations. Respect their needs, limitations, and hesitancy. Be flexible, open to new ways of doing things, and that some volunteers might dive right in and get crazy involved, but that others can only offer a little (at first) and might need more hand-holding.

When I volunteered at a location with my son years ago, the person we dealt with was very strict and demanding, as if anything we did "wrong" would create issues. My son immediately felt uncomfortable going there and since it seemed silly to be reluctant to volunteer based on a person's bossiness and humorlessness,  we looked elsewhere. When we found that other place - where we were appreciated and embraced and allowed to make mistakes - we felt right at home.

Hi Brianna.

I love all the responses you've received! One thing I always want to emphasize when it comes to volunteers AFTER they first show interest, of course, is one word: respect. In our world, we get so caught up in so many things we feel we need to do that we forget volunteers don't NEED to come to us, they choose to. So making them realize how wants they are, how important we feel their impact is, and how difficult it would be without them is really important. While we ask folks to do a lot, we have to remember that there's a learning curve, that they don't necessarily live in our world, and that they have other obligations. Respect their needs, limitations, and hesitancy. Be flexible, open to new ways of doing things, and that some volunteers might dive right in and get crazy involved, but that others can only offer a little (at first) and might need more hand-holding.

When I volunteered at a location with my son years ago, the person we dealt with was very strict and demanding, as if anything we did "wrong" would create issues. My son immediately felt uncomfortable going there and since it seemed silly to be reluctant to volunteer based on a person's bossiness and humorlessness,  we looked elsewhere. When we found that other place - where we were appreciated and embraced and allowed to make mistakes - we felt right at home.

Hello!

I know this may sound a little off base, but stick with me for a minute.

I used to serve as the Volunteer Coordinator for the American Red Cross, overseeing volunteers across three states. One of my greatest responsibilities was keeping people engaged and connected-especially from a distance. It wasn't something I mastered overnight. In fact, I learned some hard lessons along the way.

Here's what I discovered: volunteers don't give their time because of money or recognition. They volunteer because they care. They have a heart for the mission and genuinely want to make a difference.

Because of that, they don't need grand awards or elaborate ceremonies. More often than not, they simply want to know that what they're doing matters. A handwritten thank-you note that arrives unexpectedly. A quick phone call just to check in. Someone taking a moment to say, "I noticed what you did today, and I appreciate you."

We've all heard the saying, and I believe there's a lot of truth to it: People don't leave organizations-they leave because they don't feel valued by those leading them.

Showing appreciation doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. It just needs to be meaningful. Meet people where they are. If you know someone's "love language," use it.

• If they appreciate gifts, leave a small pack of Life Savers with a note that says, "Thank you for being a lifesaver today." Attach it to the leash or crate. 

• If they value words of affirmation, write them a sincere card or tell them specifically what they're doing well.

• If they value quality time, spend a few minutes with them. Ask about their family. Take a short walk together and don't talk about the animals-talk about them.

• If they appreciate appropriate physical encouragement, a reassuring touch on the shoulder while saying, "You're doing a great job. Thank you for everything you do," can mean more than you realize.

Volunteers give from a place of love. They choose to spend their time helping because they believe in the mission. When we intentionally show them they are seen, valued, and appreciated, they are much more likely to stay engaged and continue sharing that love with others. If you sit back and watch they will show you their love language. If you get a random I saw this and thought of you...they are gift givers. Etc. 

Maybe it's a little cheesy, but sometimes the simplest acts of appreciation have the greatest impact. 

Hello!

I know this may sound a little off base, but stick with me for a minute.

I used to serve as the Volunteer Coordinator for the American Red Cross, overseeing volunteers across three states. One of my greatest responsibilities was keeping people engaged and connected-especially from a distance. It wasn't something I mastered overnight. In fact, I learned some hard lessons along the way.

Here's what I discovered: volunteers don't give their time because of money or recognition. They volunteer because they care. They have a heart for the mission and genuinely want to make a difference.

Because of that, they don't need grand awards or elaborate ceremonies. More often than not, they simply want to know that what they're doing matters. A handwritten thank-you note that arrives unexpectedly. A quick phone call just to check in. Someone taking a moment to say, "I noticed what you did today, and I appreciate you."

We've all heard the saying, and I believe there's a lot of truth to it: People don't leave organizations-they leave because they don't feel valued by those leading them.

Showing appreciation doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. It just needs to be meaningful. Meet people where they are. If you know someone's "love language," use it.

• If they appreciate gifts, leave a small pack of Life Savers with a note that says, "Thank you for being a lifesaver today." Attach it to the leash or crate. 

• If they value words of affirmation, write them a sincere card or tell them specifically what they're doing well.

• If they value quality time, spend a few minutes with them. Ask about their family. Take a short walk together and don't talk about the animals-talk about them.

• If they appreciate appropriate physical encouragement, a reassuring touch on the shoulder while saying, "You're doing a great job. Thank you for everything you do," can mean more than you realize.

Volunteers give from a place of love. They choose to spend their time helping because they believe in the mission. When we intentionally show them they are seen, valued, and appreciated, they are much more likely to stay engaged and continue sharing that love with others. If you sit back and watch they will show you their love language. If you get a random I saw this and thought of you...they are gift givers. Etc. 

Maybe it's a little cheesy, but sometimes the simplest acts of appreciation have the greatest impact. 

Hello!

I know this may sound a little off base, but stick with me for a minute.

I used to serve as the Volunteer Coordinator for the American Red Cross, overseeing volunteers across three states. One of my greatest responsibilities was keeping people engaged and connected-especially from a distance. It wasn't something I mastered overnight. In fact, I learned some hard lessons along the way.

Here's what I discovered: volunteers don't give their time because of money or recognition. They volunteer because they care. They have a heart for the mission and genuinely want to make a difference.

Because of that, they don't need grand awards or elaborate ceremonies. More often than not, they simply want to know that what they're doing matters. A handwritten thank-you note that arrives unexpectedly. A quick phone call just to check in. Someone taking a moment to say, "I noticed what you did today, and I appreciate you."

We've all heard the saying, and I believe there's a lot of truth to it: People don't leave organizations-they leave because they don't feel valued by those leading them.

Showing appreciation doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. It just needs to be meaningful. Meet people where they are. If you know someone's "love language," use it.

• If they appreciate gifts, leave a small pack of Life Savers with a note that says, "Thank you for being a lifesaver today." Attach it to the leash or crate. 

• If they value words of affirmation, write them a sincere card or tell them specifically what they're doing well.

• If they value quality time, spend a few minutes with them. Ask about their family. Take a short walk together and don't talk about the animals-talk about them.

• If they appreciate appropriate physical encouragement, a reassuring touch on the shoulder while saying, "You're doing a great job. Thank you for everything you do," can mean more than you realize.

Volunteers give from a place of love. They choose to spend their time helping because they believe in the mission. When we intentionally show them they are seen, valued, and appreciated, they are much more likely to stay engaged and continue sharing that love with others. If you sit back and watch they will show you their love language. If you get a random I saw this and thought of you...they are gift givers. Etc. 

Maybe it's a little cheesy, but sometimes the simplest acts of appreciation have the greatest impact. 

I'm not sure I have particularly helpful advice here (I think our shelter does fine, but not paragon-of-volunteer-management well!), but the things that we focus on are:

Recruitment:

• Super low barrier to entry - make it for easy for people who want to engage with us to get their hands on animals immediately. We allow anyone into our cat area during any open hours (the rooms are all open, no cages, so this is easy for us); we allow anyone to take a dog out on a field trip or for a walk around our property; anyone can foster an animal the same day they reach out to us. They sign a liability waiver, and off they go! We work to turn those volunteers into regulars by encouraging them to go through an orientation (which allows them to come during a wider breadth of hours; get dogs out of kennels themselves; etc). But if they opt not to, they can continue to volunteer in this way that requires no formal training. 
• Offer orientation regularly (every other weekend, alternating Saturday and Sundays; individualized orientation if we can't get you into one of those). 
• Talk about low-barrier opportunities to volunteer often on social media; and encourage volunteers to share their interactions with animals on their social media. 

Retention (oh, how we struggle!)

• Our conversion rate (of people who go through orientation into people who volunteer "regularly" - at least once a month) is so painfully low :( So take all of this with a grain of salt - this is just stuff we have tried, not stuff we have succeeded with ;)
• We try to create a sense of community between the volunteers, so they enjoy volunteering with each other. Attempts to make this happen: a) we have a monthly happy hour at a local brewery, where we provide non-alcoholic drinks and simple appetizers. The hope was to create friendships between volunteers; it's been kinda meh so far. b) we send a weekly email about things happening at the shelter that volunteers may not know about, to help them get a fuller picture of what's going on around here. c) volunteers get a daily email about who got adopted that day. d) we have private social media pages for volunteers to communicate with each other, share pictures, etc (and we have a private adopters page for updates on adopted pets). 
• We try to give volunteers a sense of ownership over some programs, to get more "buy-in." So, for instance, we have an "Underdogs" program (for dogs who are falling through the cracks on enrichment for one reason or another) - it's managed by a volunteer who wanted more responsibility, with 5-6 handpicked dogs who aren't getting much volunteer attention, and with a communication system between that group of 20 or so volunteers to talk about the dogs, enrichment that works, etc. They have t-shirts. They're basically a gang. Who doesn't want to feel a part of a gang? ;)

Logistically: we use Better Impact for management (volunteers sign up for opportunities); we do annual surveys to get a sense of why volunteers stay or go, what they like and don't (these haven't really been helpful at all, frankly ...); we have done away with all of our volunteer appreciation events because nobody attends them, but we always do appreciation things like send cards, note birthdays or losses of a pet, etc. 

Hey Devon!

Love the sense of community and social pieces offered to volunteers, I know I do enjoy hearing experiences from others, gives me ideas and support, never thought of that for our volunteers, thank you! I would love to chat with you more about the Underdogs program you have and see if that's something that could work for us as well!

If you'd have time I would love to hear from you more, here is my email address - bfahie@spcans.ca

Cheers,

Brianna

I'm not sure I have particularly helpful advice here (I think our shelter does fine, but not paragon-of-volunteer-management well!), but the things that we focus on are:

Recruitment:

• Super low barrier to entry - make it for easy for people who want to engage with us to get their hands on animals immediately. We allow anyone into our cat area during any open hours (the rooms are all open, no cages, so this is easy for us); we allow anyone to take a dog out on a field trip or for a walk around our property; anyone can foster an animal the same day they reach out to us. They sign a liability waiver, and off they go! We work to turn those volunteers into regulars by encouraging them to go through an orientation (which allows them to come during a wider breadth of hours; get dogs out of kennels themselves; etc). But if they opt not to, they can continue to volunteer in this way that requires no formal training. 
• Offer orientation regularly (every other weekend, alternating Saturday and Sundays; individualized orientation if we can't get you into one of those). 
• Talk about low-barrier opportunities to volunteer often on social media; and encourage volunteers to share their interactions with animals on their social media. 

Retention (oh, how we struggle!)

• Our conversion rate (of people who go through orientation into people who volunteer "regularly" - at least once a month) is so painfully low :( So take all of this with a grain of salt - this is just stuff we have tried, not stuff we have succeeded with ;)
• We try to create a sense of community between the volunteers, so they enjoy volunteering with each other. Attempts to make this happen: a) we have a monthly happy hour at a local brewery, where we provide non-alcoholic drinks and simple appetizers. The hope was to create friendships between volunteers; it's been kinda meh so far. b) we send a weekly email about things happening at the shelter that volunteers may not know about, to help them get a fuller picture of what's going on around here. c) volunteers get a daily email about who got adopted that day. d) we have private social media pages for volunteers to communicate with each other, share pictures, etc (and we have a private adopters page for updates on adopted pets). 
• We try to give volunteers a sense of ownership over some programs, to get more "buy-in." So, for instance, we have an "Underdogs" program (for dogs who are falling through the cracks on enrichment for one reason or another) - it's managed by a volunteer who wanted more responsibility, with 5-6 handpicked dogs who aren't getting much volunteer attention, and with a communication system between that group of 20 or so volunteers to talk about the dogs, enrichment that works, etc. They have t-shirts. They're basically a gang. Who doesn't want to feel a part of a gang? ;)

Logistically: we use Better Impact for management (volunteers sign up for opportunities); we do annual surveys to get a sense of why volunteers stay or go, what they like and don't (these haven't really been helpful at all, frankly ...); we have done away with all of our volunteer appreciation events because nobody attends them, but we always do appreciation things like send cards, note birthdays or losses of a pet, etc. 

In a world that seems a bit nutty and with natural disasters affecting so many humans and non-human animals, I just want to say how amazing everyone is for nudging all us beings, bit by bit, into a better place. Your love shines through and it is a beautiful thing to see on a Monday morning.

All the best to everyone this week: it can be a very tough go, but every little bit helps.

Hey Devon!

Love the sense of community and social pieces offered to volunteers, I know I do enjoy hearing experiences from others, gives me ideas and support, never thought of that for our volunteers, thank you! I would love to chat with you more about the Underdogs program you have and see if that's something that could work for us as well!

If you'd have time I would love to hear from you more, here is my email address - bfahie@spcans.ca

Cheers,

Brianna

I'm not sure I have particularly helpful advice here (I think our shelter does fine, but not paragon-of-volunteer-management well!), but the things that we focus on are:

Recruitment:

• Super low barrier to entry - make it for easy for people who want to engage with us to get their hands on animals immediately. We allow anyone into our cat area during any open hours (the rooms are all open, no cages, so this is easy for us); we allow anyone to take a dog out on a field trip or for a walk around our property; anyone can foster an animal the same day they reach out to us. They sign a liability waiver, and off they go! We work to turn those volunteers into regulars by encouraging them to go through an orientation (which allows them to come during a wider breadth of hours; get dogs out of kennels themselves; etc). But if they opt not to, they can continue to volunteer in this way that requires no formal training. 
• Offer orientation regularly (every other weekend, alternating Saturday and Sundays; individualized orientation if we can't get you into one of those). 
• Talk about low-barrier opportunities to volunteer often on social media; and encourage volunteers to share their interactions with animals on their social media. 

Retention (oh, how we struggle!)

• Our conversion rate (of people who go through orientation into people who volunteer "regularly" - at least once a month) is so painfully low :( So take all of this with a grain of salt - this is just stuff we have tried, not stuff we have succeeded with ;)
• We try to create a sense of community between the volunteers, so they enjoy volunteering with each other. Attempts to make this happen: a) we have a monthly happy hour at a local brewery, where we provide non-alcoholic drinks and simple appetizers. The hope was to create friendships between volunteers; it's been kinda meh so far. b) we send a weekly email about things happening at the shelter that volunteers may not know about, to help them get a fuller picture of what's going on around here. c) volunteers get a daily email about who got adopted that day. d) we have private social media pages for volunteers to communicate with each other, share pictures, etc (and we have a private adopters page for updates on adopted pets). 
• We try to give volunteers a sense of ownership over some programs, to get more "buy-in." So, for instance, we have an "Underdogs" program (for dogs who are falling through the cracks on enrichment for one reason or another) - it's managed by a volunteer who wanted more responsibility, with 5-6 handpicked dogs who aren't getting much volunteer attention, and with a communication system between that group of 20 or so volunteers to talk about the dogs, enrichment that works, etc. They have t-shirts. They're basically a gang. Who doesn't want to feel a part of a gang? ;)

Logistically: we use Better Impact for management (volunteers sign up for opportunities); we do annual surveys to get a sense of why volunteers stay or go, what they like and don't (these haven't really been helpful at all, frankly ...); we have done away with all of our volunteer appreciation events because nobody attends them, but we always do appreciation things like send cards, note birthdays or losses of a pet, etc. 

Hey Brianna!

We are a small puppy rescue, but have been very fortunate to have people reach out to help after we post the need on our social media platforms.  Our volunteers foster for us, until we can get the puppy spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and chipped.  Once all of that is done and the puppy is old enough, our fosters will give the puppy back to us or adopt him/her.  One thing I learned that really keeps them interested is posting their updates on our Facebook or Instagram pages.  They like seeing themselves with the puppy, or just like watching the videos they share.  We give them kudos because we really appreciate their help, especially when someone brings five or six puppies to our door.  It's also helpful to provide all the essentials such as puppy beds, pads, leashes, collars, puppy food, etc.  Knowing that they won't be expected to have these expenses makes them more willing to help.  We have only had our 501c3 for a year and three months, but as we try to grow, we've met some amazing people within our community.