4 Ways to Turn Volunteers Into Donors

2. Give them a rewarding volunteer experience
Volunteers provide incredible service and resources, but your organization has to invest in supporting volunteers. Be sure that you provide regular communication and support to your volunteers. Ask them how you are doing and how the experience can be improved upon. Give them a personal experience and connection to your organization, and they will invest their time and money with you.

3. Ask them
Don't be timid. While honoring their volunteer service, invite volunteers to participate financially. Two health clinics we are assisting are nervous about asking doctors, nurses and other medical profession volunteers for donations. Create a positive culture of philanthropy among volunteers, celebrate giving regularly and ask in an appropriate manner. The timing and manner of a gift request to donors must be honed, as any special constituency. Give them time to be settled and fulfilled in their volunteer experience, but don't let a year go by.

4. Recognize them
Pay special attention to those who both volunteer and give to your organization. There are lots of opportunities, ranging from your website, to volunteer gatherings, to the annual report.

An arts organization had a major donor self-identify — at $1 million. There had been no track record of financial support, but years of volunteer service. Consider wealth screening or at least a peer review of your volunteer roster to find potential major donors who are already committed to your cause.