---
title: "Volunteer Retention: 5 Tips That Actually Work"
description: "Keep volunteer turnover low and build a culture of community that keeps people involved for the long run. Five practical retention tips for small nonprofits."
canonical_url: https://volunteerreminder.com/article/improve-volunteer-retention
md_url: https://volunteerreminder.com/article/improve-volunteer-retention.md
last_updated: 2026-07-22
---
# Volunteer Retention: Our top 5 Tips

The longer that a volunteer is with your organization, the more effective and dedicated they become. We have compiled a list of our top 5 tips for keeping your volunteer turnover as low as possible and inspiring your volunteers to stay with your organization for the long run.

1. **Engage your Volunteers Frequently**

Engagement will keep your volunteers committed to your organization and passionate about their service. One of the best things you can do as a coordinator is to reach out to see how your individual volunteers are doing and ensure that they know all the opportunities available to get involved.

1. **Express Gratitude**

A simple thank you can go such a long way. Make sure that your volunteers know that they are appreciated and that they are making a difference; this does wonders to prevent volunteer burnout.

1. **Take Training Seriously**

Volunteers don’t want to give their time if they feel unprepared and ineffective. Provide a training process that ensures that they are equipped and have a strong purpose. Try to keep this process as hands-on as possible instead of loading them up with too many reading materials and spreadsheets.

1. **Communicate Clearly**

Your volunteers should never be confused about when and where they need to show up; take the guessing and double-checking out of the equation for them by providing multiple text or email reminders of their next shift and role. [VolunteerReminder](/) makes this simple, automatic, and friendly so that you don’t have to put even more on your plate as the coordinator.

1. **Set goals for your Volunteer Program**

This is a great way to provide your volunteers with a purpose and to help them see the difference that they are making. It will motivate your volunteers and help them all to align their priorities.

1. **Build Community Among your Volunteers**

Plan group bonding activities so that all your volunteers can get to know each other. A united team will communicate better together and in turn work better together.

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