Motivating volunteers: lessons learned from Regard Libre

Le Regard Libre Le Regard Libre carried out a survey to understand what motivates its all-volunteer team to commit themselves for over ten years and one hundred issues. Although specific, our experience offers useful pointers for other initiatives.

With 56.5% of its working-age population involved in an organization, Switzerland ranks among the countries with the highest rates of volunteerism in the world—not counting service in the military or political engagement, which are integral parts of this organizational fabric. Although this participation has remained stable over the past twenty years, the Swiss Volunteerism Observatory noted In 2020, there was a shift in volunteers' interests from sports to the cultural sector.

This trend could stem from a search for meaning—particularly among younger generations—who struggle to find it entirely in their paid work. At least, that is what the initial findings of our survey suggest; a significant portion of the team from the Regard Libre: The main motivation for its volunteers stems from their commitment to a project that upholds strong values, such as open debate, pluralism of ideas, and democratic engagement.

Volunteering doesn't mean there are no benefits

While the mission and underlying values remain central, the nonfinancial rewards of volunteer engagement are significant. Contributors to the Regard Libre They thus enjoy a variety of benefits that enrich their experience, such as increased visibility on the magazine's platforms, which highlights their profile and expands their network.

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In addition, the skills they acquire during their assignment—particularly through training and guidance from professional journalists—can be put to good use in the job market. Access to events and reimbursement of certain operational expenses are also factors that make the program attractive.

Integrating Volunteers into Your Organization

A volunteer’s enthusiasm and availability peak at the time of onboarding. Association leaders should therefore seize this opportunity to clarify the benefits offered and specific expectations, as well as to introduce all the tools at the volunteer’s disposal. A process of’onboarding High-quality work and a warm welcome are essential.

Formalizing this commitment through a written agreement—even if it is not legally binding—can strengthen the sense of belonging and clarify responsibilities. Furthermore, adopting effective communication tools greatly simplifies day-to-day management. During the onboarding process, it is crucial to ensure that volunteers have access to these tools to avoid wasting time and energy later on, which could lead to a loss of motivation.

Maintaining Volunteer Engagement

Volunteers leave when they feel overwhelmed. Therefore, effective time management makes all the difference. It is essential for the nonprofit organization to form a small, highly dedicated committee to handle the project’s financial, organizational, and promotional tasks. This allows volunteers to devote themselves fully to the activities they enjoy.

This committee, whose mandate is defined by the general assembly, ensures the project’s development by clearly communicating its vision and progress, thereby regularly paving the way for new opportunities for the association’s members. However, to ensure that members feel involved in the decision-making process, the committee may consult them through tools such as surveys or by organizing occasional interactive sessions during group meetings.

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The success of unpaid work is measured above all by the satisfaction it brings to the person doing it and the connections it allows them to build. It is therefore important for a project manager to remain flexible and maintain regular contact with the organization’s grassroots members to identify and address any decline in motivation, adjusting their workload as needed. It is sometimes better for a volunteer to reduce their commitment—or even withdraw from the project—rather than have their situation negatively affect the rest of the team through a ripple effect, to which nonprofit projects are particularly vulnerable.

Write to the author: yann.costa@leregardlibre.com

You have just read an article from our MILICE file, published in our print edition (Le Regard Libre N°109).