Every mission-motivated organization would be nowhere without volunteers who care. Seasoned leader of volunteer development operations Tracy Ingersoll reflects on the importance of relationship building in volunteer development.
Assembling a capable, adaptable and versatile team is crucial for a nonprofit organization to succeed in making an impact. From nonprofit leaders in strategic operations to volunteers with boots on the ground: each member of the team matters. Once you’ve found your nonprofit’s dream team, the organization is almost guaranteed to achieve impactful goals.
Turning a Group of Volunteers into a Team
Before a group of volunteers become a team, they are just that: a group of volunteers. By building relationships across the organization, positive connections foster an environment for collaboration and camaraderie that builds a mission-motivated crew.
In her many years of nonprofit leadership, Tracy Ingersoll has consistently been reminded of the importance of relationship building in volunteer development. The Chief Program Officer and VP of Operations believes firmly that volunteers are at the heart of an organization’s ability to have an impact. Establishing a team-centric culture within an organization’s group of volunteers is crucial. But how is it done?
Seasoned Nonprofit Leader Tracy Ingersoll encourages organizations to create a sense of team culture by practicing inclusive leadership — that means hearing out the ideas, thoughts and perspectives of your team members: from fellow leaders to volunteers! Actively listening and communicating with volunteers can go a long way in ensuring that a team remains a team — and goals continue to be met.
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