When you work in fundraising at a nonprofit, chances are high your path not often crosses with the volunteer division, if in any respect. Regardless of being a part of the identical mission-driven group, these two groups typically function in silos, centered on totally different metrics, programs, and methods.
However right here’s the factor: their objectives deeply overlap. Volunteers are sometimes amongst your most loyal and engaged supporters—and plenty of of them are even eligible for volunteer grants, a robust but typically underutilized supply of funding.
On this publish, we’ll define how one can actively construct team-wide volunteer grant buy-in from the bottom up—even if you happen to’re ranging from scratch (and volunteering isn’t at the moment in your wheelhouse). The steps we’ll cowl embrace:
Volunteer grants are a golden alternative for fundraisers—however provided that you will get the broader crew aligned and engaged. Let’s discover out precisely how you are able to do so!
Step 1: Purchase volunteer crew buy-in.
Volunteer grants, or {Dollars} for Doers packages, are company giving initiatives the place firms donate to nonprofits based mostly on their workers’ volunteer hours. However right here’s the catch: with out coordination between your fundraising and volunteer groups, these grants typically fall by means of the cracks.
When you’re on the fundraising crew, step one to unlocking volunteer grant income is beginning a dialog together with your volunteer division. Even when your groups don’t at the moment collaborate a lot, it is a pure space for partnership. In any case, volunteers aren’t simply useful palms; they’re a number of the most deeply invested supporters your group has. And plenty of of them are eligible for volunteer grants by means of their employers, including additional financial worth to their assist.
Opening the door to this dialog doesn’t must be difficult. The truth is, a easy outreach message that explains the chance and invitations collaboration can go a good distance.
Right here’s a message template you’ll be able to adapt:
Hey [Name],
Over on the fundraising crew, we’ve been wanting into company volunteer grants as a extremely worthwhile potential income stream for us. These packages permit firms to donate to nonprofits based mostly on their workers’ volunteer hours—generally a whole lot and even 1000’s of {dollars} per volunteer every year.
For instance:
- About 40% of Fortune 500 firms supply volunteer grant packages.
- Some firms will donate $25+ per hour volunteered.
- Simply 10 volunteers submitting grants might lead to $2,500+ in unrestricted funding.
We’d like to discover how our groups can collaborate to establish eligible volunteers and assist them in accessing these grants. Might we arrange a fast chat to speak by means of this and see the place there could be overlap?
Thanks a lot!
[Your Name]
Bringing the volunteer crew into the fold early helps be certain that programs are aligned, volunteers are supported, and no alternative is missed. They’re those with direct entry to the individuals who could make these grants occur—so your success depends upon their partnership.
Step 2: Set up volunteer and fundraising crew tasks.
When you’ve obtained volunteer grant buy-in from the volunteer crew, the following step is defining how your departments will work collectively to assist the packages. There’s no one-size-fits-all construction right here—the extent of collaboration versus delegation will rely in your group’s dimension, programs, and crew capability. What issues most is readability.
At some organizations, the volunteer crew would possibly take the lead on educating volunteers about grant alternatives, whereas the fundraising crew manages the follow-up and monitoring of submitted grants. At others, fundraising would possibly deal with a lot of the outreach, with volunteers’ merely offering assist round eligibility and hour verification. Whatever the construction, clearly outlined roles will make your efforts simpler and extra sustainable.
Some key inquiries to reply collectively embrace:
- Who shall be chargeable for educating volunteers about grants?
- Who will confirm volunteer hours (if required)?
- Who will observe and observe up on submitted grants?
- How typically will the groups sync as much as evaluation outcomes or modify technique?
By mapping out tasks and connecting the precise individuals throughout departments, you’ll create a course of that feels easy internally and supportive externally in your volunteers.
Remember the fact that in case your group makes use of a Volunteer Management System (VMS) that integrates with Double the Donation Volunteering, it’s particularly vital to loop in the precise technical leads early on. In different phrases, make sure that the particular person on the volunteer crew who manages your VMS is related with whoever manages your Double the Donation platform on the fundraising aspect. These platforms can work collectively to mechanically floor volunteer grant alternatives—however provided that the combination is correctly configured and nurtured properly.
Step 3: Safe management buy-in.
Getting inside assist is simpler mentioned than executed—however with out management buy-in, even probably the most enthusiastic efforts to advertise volunteer grants can stall. In case your nonprofit is caught at a “blended buy-in” stage, the place just a few people see the worth however there’s no organizational momentum, it’s time to shift your focus to management.
At this level, volunteer grants might not but be in your management crew’s radar—however they need to be. These packages supply a scalable, low-lift fundraising stream that additionally deepens relationships with a few of your most engaged supporters. When management understands and endorses this chance, it turns into a lot simpler to safe workers time, cross-department collaboration, and even advertising actual property to advertise these packages.
So, how do you get them on board? A focused, data-informed method is essential.
Make the Case: Why Management Ought to Care
Begin by reframing volunteer grants as strategic fundraising with built-in engagement. You’re not simply asking for extra duties to be added to somebody’s plate—you’re providing a pathway to extend unrestricted income whereas strengthening donor retention and volunteer loyalty.
Take into account these high-level speaking factors:
- Volunteers are your most dedicated supporters—and plenty of are eligible for company grants, price a whole lot and even 1000’s of {dollars} per particular person yearly.
- 40% of Fortune 500 firms supply volunteer grant packages, and a few donate as much as $25+ per hour volunteered.
- These are untapped funds that already align together with your mission and the work you’re doing.
Leverage Inner Knowledge
With the intention to safe top-level volunteer grant buy-in, present management what’s already taking place—or what they’re lacking out on. As a substitute of simply speaking about potential, visualize it by answering the next questions:
- What number of volunteers are at the moment lively every month or yr?
- What number of of them work at firms with recognized volunteer grant packages?
- If 10–20% of your volunteers submitted grants, what would the income influence be?
When potential, use instruments like Double the Donation’s analytics dashboard to showcase potential income, real-time engagement stats, or missed alternatives. Management is extra prone to act once they see the numbers and perceive the long-term return potential.
Maintain the Dialog Going
With regards to volunteer grant buy-in, getting the preliminary inexperienced mild is just the start. Request an everyday slot in quarterly management or cross-departmental conferences to report on volunteer grant efficiency, spotlight wins, and suggest methods to enhance the method. This would possibly embrace:
- Advertising and marketing assist for volunteer grant consciousness
- VMS integrations or tech upgrades
- Staff objectives tied to volunteer grant engagement
Ongoing visibility ensures volunteer grants keep top-of-mind—and that your nonprofit continues to deal with them as a strategic income stream relatively than an afterthought.
Step 4: Enhance your processes.
As soon as your groups are aligned on their worth and have began collaborating, the following step in securing volunteer grant buy-in is to strengthen the programs that assist your efforts. Good processes don’t simply make it simpler for employees—they make it simpler for volunteers to observe by means of.
Listed here are just a few key methods to optimize your method and guarantee long-term success:
Drive consciousness about volunteer grants with proactive advertising.
You possibly can’t seize volunteer grants if individuals don’t know they exist. Create a easy, constant communication plan to teach volunteers about this chance.
For instance, add mentions of volunteer grants in locations like:
- Volunteer onboarding supplies
- Publish-event thank-you emails
- Month-to-month newsletters
- Social media posts
The aim is to normalize the concept volunteering at your group might result in further donations from their employer.
Add our volunteer plugin to your web site.
Make it straightforward for volunteers to examine their eligibility for grants proper out of your web site! Double the Donation’s volunteer grant plugin permits supporters to:
- Search their employer’s volunteer grant coverage
- Entry eligibility and submission tips
- Get step-by-step directions for submitting a request
For the most effective outcomes, you’ll need to place the plugin on high-traffic pages—comparable to your volunteer touchdown web page, occasion registration and affirmation pages, and post-volunteering thank-you messages—to satisfy volunteers the place they already are.
Join your VMS with Double the Donation’s Volunteering integrations.
In case your group makes use of a Volunteer Administration System (VMS), connecting it to Double the Donation’s volunteer grant instruments is a game-changer. In any case, these integrations assist automate eligibility checks, observe up with automated outreach, and streamline the grant request course of—lowering workers workload whereas growing your probability of capturing extra grant {dollars}.
Use our automated emails to remind about volunteer grants.
Following up with a reminder after a volunteer has supported your trigger is usually the distinction between a missed alternative and a submitted grant. For that reason, Double the Donation Volunteering gives automated e mail reminders that:
- Immediate eligible volunteers to submit their hours
- Embrace employer-specific directions
- Are triggered based mostly on volunteer exercise
These follow-ups are low-effort in your crew (suppose: set it and neglect it) however high-impact when it comes to changing volunteer time into funding.
Monitor outcomes and repeatedly make enhancements.
As soon as your programs are in place, it’s vital to observe how they’re performing over time. So as to take action, control metrics comparable to:
- Variety of volunteer grant submissions
- Complete {dollars} raised by means of volunteer grants
- Main employers of your volunteers
- Engagement charges with reminder emails
- And extra!
From there, you should utilize this knowledge to establish gaps and refine your technique for extra future successes.
Volunteer grants aren’t a one-and-done marketing campaign—they’re an ongoing technique of iteration and enchancment. By investing in scalable processes now, you’ll set your crew as much as seize extra income and make a stronger case for volunteer engagement long-term.
Wrapping up & further volunteer grant assets
Getting began with volunteer grants doesn’t require overhauling your fundraising technique—it simply requires a shift in how departments work collectively. Whereas the volunteer and fundraising groups might have totally different day-to-day tasks, you’re in the end working towards the identical aim: constructing robust, lasting assist in your mission. And buying volunteer grant buy-in can go a good distance in doing so!
By fostering collaboration, sharing assets, and serving to your crew see the fundraising potential behind volunteer engagement, you’ll be able to unlock new income streams and deepen donor relationships. Volunteer grants are low-hanging fruit—however provided that everybody is aware of the place to achieve.
Able to increase your volunteer grant information? We suggest exploring the next further assets:
