Volunteer survey template
To help you get started, we have created a volunteer survey template. This downloadable resource includes a range of sample questions and can be customised to suit your organisation’s needs.
What is a volunteer survey?
A volunteer survey is a tool used by organisations to collect feedback from their volunteers about their experiences, motivations, and satisfaction levels. It helps in identifying areas of improvement within the volunteer programme, aligning volunteer roles with organisational goals, and recognising the contributions of volunteers. Regularly conducting volunteer surveys fosters a culture of continuous improvement and engagement.
Common survey questions for volunteers
Volunteer survey questions are usually categorised into the following 5 categories:
- Satisfaction and motivation
- Skills and training
- Communication and support
- Impact assessment
- Future engagement and recommendations
Satisfaction and motivation
- What prompted you to volunteer with us?
- On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your overall satisfaction as a volunteer here?
- Do you find the tasks you are assigned fulfilling?
- Do you think your time as a volunteer is well-utilised?
- Is there anything we could do to make your volunteer experience more rewarding?
Skills and training
- Was the orientation training sufficient for you to start your volunteer work?
- Do you feel confident in carrying out your assigned tasks?
- Are there specific areas in which you would like additional training?
- What skills do you hope to gain or develop further during your time volunteering?
- Have you been able to use any of your existing professional or personal skills?
Communication and support
- Are you comfortable approaching your supervisor or team leader with concerns or ideas?
- How effective do you find our methods of communication (e.g., emails, meetings)?
- Do you feel well-informed about the organisation’s goals and activities?
- Are there any changes you would suggest to improve our internal communications?
- Do you feel like a valued member of our volunteer team?
Impact assessment
- Do you think your volunteering efforts have a tangible impact on our cause?
- Can you share an example of a positive experience you've had while volunteering?
- Do you believe that your role contributes to the organisation's objectives?
- What improvements have you noticed in the community as a result of our work?
- How has volunteering impacted your own personal or professional development?
Future engagement and recommendations
- Do you plan to continue volunteering with us in the next year?
- Would you recommend volunteering with our organisation to friends or family?
- What are some ways we could make our volunteer programme more appealing to prospective volunteers?
- Are there any other roles or projects within the organisation you are interested in?
- Do you have any other comments, questions, or suggestions for our volunteer programme?
Step-by-step guide to creating your volunteer survey
- Identify your objectives
- Determine what you aim to achieve with the survey, such as understanding volunteer satisfaction or identifying areas for improvement.
- Develop clear and concise questions
- Ensure that your questions are straightforward and cover key areas such as motivation, training, communication, impact, and future engagement.
- Use a mix of question types
- Include a combination of open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, and rating scales to gather comprehensive feedback.
- Pilot the survey
- Test the survey with a small group of volunteers to ensure clarity and relevance before full deployment.
- Deploy the survey
- Use online survey tools or paper surveys to distribute to your volunteers. Ensure anonymity to encourage honest feedback.
- Analyse the results
- Review the responses to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement. Use this data to inform your volunteer programme strategy.
- Act on the feedback
- Implement changes based on the survey results and communicate these changes to your volunteers to show that their feedback is valued and acted upon.
Conclusion
A thoughtfully designed volunteer survey is a powerful tool for enhancing your volunteer programme. By regularly gathering and acting on volunteer feedback, you can create a more satisfying and impactful volunteer experience, ultimately strengthening your organisation’s ability to achieve its mission.
