Volunteering often requires extra time, energy, and a deep commitment. It’s not always easy, but the impact of member volunteerism is invaluable.

As the heartbeat of associations, dedicated members contribute their time and talents to advance the association’s mission by serving on boards, committees, and chapters and by helping to ensure the success of meetings and events. Many also give back through community service initiatives—whether organized by the association or pursued independently. Regardless of the form, encouraging and promoting volunteerism offers significant value to associations.

Why Do Members Volunteer?

Despite the demands, members are motivated to volunteer for a variety of reasons, including to:

• Make a difference: The intrinsic reward of guiding an important project or advancing a meaningful initiative keeps volunteers motivated and engaged.
• Grow professionally: Volunteer roles challenge members to stretch their skills, take on new responsibilities, and return to their jobs with fresh, real-world experience.
• Build relationships: Collaborating in small groups for extended projects helps members forge lasting professional connections and build strong reputations within their industry.

No matter what drives them, one thing is clear: Volunteers deserve your support and recognition. While most don’t expect praise, appreciation goes a long way in sustaining their commitment and enthusiasm.

How to Keep Members Energized

Recognizing your member volunteers not only honors their work; it reinforces their value to the organization. Storytelling and celebration help amplify their impact while enhancing your association’s culture.

To show appreciation:

• Spotlight your volunteers: Tell their stories, highlight their contributions, and share fun facts. These features are perfect for social media, newsletters, and your website.
• Shine a light on community impact: When you acknowledge how volunteers serve both your association and their local communities, it builds pride and inspires others to get involved.

The Ripple Effect

Highlighting member volunteerism doesn’t just recognize individual contributions—it strengthens the entire association. Publicizing your members’ involvement in community service, fundraising, or civic initiatives can:

• Deepen member engagement and pride.
• Encourage continued involvement.
• Attract new members who share similar values—especially millennials, who tend to align with mission-driven organizations.
• Enhance your association’s public image.

Strategies to Showcase Member Involvement

Here are some tactics to consistently highlight your members’ community efforts:

• Member spotlight features: Share individual stories of impact on your website and social platforms.
• Dedicated community engagement section: Create a space online to showcase volunteer stories, photos, and updates.
• Member-driven events: Host charity walks, food drives, or volunteer days that allow members to give back together.
• Recognition programs: Introduce awards or special honors for outstanding volunteer contributions.
• Social media campaigns: Launch hashtags and shareable posts that encourage members to share their own volunteer experiences.
• Newsletter highlights: Include a recurring section on community service and volunteer milestones.
• Community partnerships: Collaborate with local nonprofits to create meaningful service opportunities.

Highlighting member volunteerism is a win-win. Members feel valued and proud of their work, and associations strengthen reputation, drive recruitment, and fuel engagement.

Member Volunteerism in Action

It’s an honor to collaborate with partners who make giving back a priority. Here are just a handful of examples:

• The National Association of REALTORS^® supports member volunteerism through many initiatives, such as REALTOR^® Volunteer Days, offering effective toolkits to help local associations plan and promote their events.
• The American Bus Association recognizes industry heroes through ABA Cares and gives back through its “Marketplace Gives Back” program, which collaborates with local charities at the annual ABA Marketplace event.
• The Greater Capital Association of REALTORS^® forged a three-year partnership with Junior Achievement of Greater Washington in January, advancing financial literacy by encouraging members to teach local students through JA Finance. More details on this partnership can be found in the forthcoming Summer issue of Capital Area REALTOR^®.

YGS, too, walks the walk. Our associates are involved in community initiatives year-round, including Junior Achievement. YGS supports these pursuits by allocating up to four hours, per associate, per year, to volunteer.

Bottom Line

It’s not just nice to have member volunteerism—it’s a strategic imperative. Associations that support and celebrate volunteers are better positioned to grow, retain members, and fulfill their mission. By making volunteerism visible, valued, and accessible, you’re not only unlocking the magic of your members—you’re building a stronger, more connected, and more impactful organization.

Ready to boost membership growth, retention, and engagement? Let’s talk about how we can help move your mission forward.

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