4 Lessons for Engaging and Retaining Volunteers for Catholic Nonprofits: Lessons from St. Vincent de Paul

We all know that volunteers are vital to our ministries. Without them, we would have to spend more money doing things that need to be done or forgo doing them entirely. An engaged volunteer believes in your mission, and even learns more about it on the job.

How we treat volunteers matters, not only because we value their work, but also because volunteering can be a first step in financial support.

 A Model of Volunteer Engagement at St. Vincent de Paul

When my kids were young, I wanted to volunteer and give them the experience of volunteering. So I went to my local St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. The store sold donated clothing and household items at a low cost, which gave those in need the dignity of being able to make their own choices. Proceeds from the store were channeled into helping the poor with rent, utilities, medications, and food.

Gretchen ran the local store and was its only paid employee. Whenever I visited to drop off gently used items, there were always busy volunteers cheerfully doing what the store needed. I asked Gretchen about the possibility of me volunteering with my kids in tow, promising that I would keep track of them and do my best to put them to work too. Gretchen not only welcomed me, she was happy to get my kids involved.

When we showed up on our appointed day to help out, Gretchen had a job ready-made for a mom with her six and four-year old. She quickly put them to work sorting hangers for clothes. She explained to them that the people who sorted the donated clothes needed to hang them up so they could be sold in the store. But the hangers she had—and she had thousands—were all mixed up together. If the hangers were organized, it would be much easier to get the clothes into the store faster. The customers would be able to buy what they needed, and the money they spent would help people who didn’t have enough to eat or needed medicine to stay well.

I marveled at how Gretchen elevated that simple job into something noble. And my kids responded by enthusiastically sorting hangers for about an hour! They took great pride and pleasure in seeing their piles of hangers grow. Gretchen stopped by every so often and praised them for their work.

After about an hour, Gretchen brought the children a small glass of Coke (with my permission) and a couple of cookies. It was break time. She sat down on the floor with us and talked to them. Then it was back to work for another half hour.

Right before it was time for us to leave, Gretchen had one more job for the children. She asked them to strike a pose in the store window for a few minutes. Can you imagine how much fun it was for my two small children to be live models in a store window?!

Of course we returned to volunteer during that summer, and my children sorted mountains of hangers. We even brought trash bags full of hangers home to sort. I never had to drag them to the store. They wanted to go.

A few years later, when I worked in a school, I got my kindergarten class to sort hangers too. Gretchen taught me how to communicate this simple task in a way that excited them about being an important part of something that helped others.

As I think about those experiences, I realize that Gretchen offered the perfect model of how to attract, treat, and appreciate volunteers.

Let’s look at what she did:

4 Key Strategies to Engage and Appreciate Volunteers

Gretchen’s approach to volunteer engagement teaches us how to attract, treat, and retain volunteers, even for the smallest tasks. Let’s explore these strategies.

1. Be Prepared for Volunteers, No Matter Their Age or Skills

Gretchen was ready with a role suited for my young children. She understood that volunteers come with unique talents, abilities, and limitations. Having a job prepared for them made them feel valued.

• Lesson: Plan roles in advance to match volunteers’ strengths and abilities, even if they drop in unexpectedly. Being prepared fosters a welcoming environment and makes each volunteer feel integral to your mission.

2. Communicate the Impact of Their Work

Sorting hangers may seem trivial, but Gretchen explained its importance: organized hangers helped get clothes on the sales floor faster, directly benefiting the community. She transformed a simple task into a meaningful contribution.

• Lesson: Volunteers want to feel they’re making a difference. Even the most mundane tasks should be communicated in a way that shows their importance to the mission. This sense of purpose is key to volunteer retention.

3. Make Volunteering Fun

By adding creativity, Gretchen made sorting hangers enjoyable for my kids. They proudly watched their piles grow, took snack breaks, and even posed as models in the store window, creating a memorable experience.

• Lesson: Infuse fun and creativity into tasks, no matter how routine. Volunteers who enjoy their work are more likely to return and recommend the experience to others.

4. Recognize and Reward Volunteers in Meaningful Ways

Gretchen’s gestures—praise, snacks, and the fun modeling experience—were simple but impactful. Her tailored approach made my children feel proud and appreciated.

• Lesson: Recognition isn’t one-size-fits-all. A thank-you letter, a small gift, or a unique experience can show appreciation in a way that resonates with each volunteer. Creative, personalized recognition strengthens volunteer loyalty.

Bonus Insights: Volunteers as Lifelong Supporters

My experience at St. Vincent de Paul didn’t just create lasting memories; it also cemented my lifelong support for the store through ongoing donations. Volunteers are often your most dedicated financial supporters. By giving them a positive experience, you’re investing in both immediate and future support for your organization.

My children grew up to be passionate volunteers themselves. Positive volunteer experiences can instill a lifelong commitment to service, making your investment in volunteer engagement truly invaluable.

Mary P. Walker is a member of the Petrus Blog Contributor Program. She has published hundreds of articles in Catholic and secular publications. After a career in technical marketing with IBM, she was the communications specialist at St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M for nearly ten years. During that time, the base of donor support grew five-fold. Presently, she serves on three nonprofit boards.