Burnout can happen in any job, including that of a volunteer or volunteer treasurer. People love to help others and particularly when there is a lack of volunteers, others stand up and take on more duties than they perhaps should. While they are keen to do the job, the extra time and effort they spend assisting the organisation can result in volunteer burnout, and it can take a while to recover. So what can a nonprofit do to avoid volunteer burnout?

Create guidelines for each role

Regardless of the job, every position, volunteer or otherwise, needs to have a basic set of guidelines put in place. If each position is only held for a limited tenure, then the information needs to be given up front. New volunteers and new practices will keep the ideas flowing and will stop negativity and disinterest setting in.

Give your volunteers a break

Even volunteers need a break from time to time. As volunteering can be emotionally draining, it is necessary to come up with some kind of plan so your volunteers can take some time off without it interrupting the services you offer. Schedule someone to take over the odd shift or two, so they can have a break and come back feeling refreshed.

Show them they are appreciated

Everyone needs to know they are appreciated, so make sure you recognise their contributions and hard work and thank them on a regular basis. Shower them with praise and follow up with a coffee or a bunch of flowers from time to time. Knowing that they are appreciated, will go a long way into ensuring they continue to stay motivated and dedicated to the cause at hand

Connect them back to the NFP purpose

As your volunteers go about their role, it can be hard for them to see just how their job fits into the overall purpose of the nonprofit. Remind them of the difference they are making and show them in no uncertain terms how their work directly helps the purpose and mission of the NFP. Regularly tell them and show them how their work matters.

Create useful milestones

While not all things are measurable, it is important that you can find something that can be regarded as a worthwhile milestone to celebrate. If someone has been volunteering for 12 months, or has raised over a certain amount, then mark that as a win for the NFP. Let them know you recognise their abilities and hard work by celebrating in a group environment. Post their efforts on your social media accounts so everyone can see the benefits of a job well done.

Make the job description achievable

While you want your staff to reach for the stars, having a job description which is difficult at best, and unachievable at worst, can be soul destroying. No one wants to be overwhelmed on a daily basis by the difficulty of their job. Set manageable tasks, so everyone understands what they need to do. Too many responsibilities and unrealistic objectives will create burnout very quickly.