Volunteer Orientation: Improving Volunteer Retention with Thoughtful Onboarding

A volunteer's experience with your organization starts as soon as they're touched by your cause. Give them a warm, memorable welcome to the team with an engaging orientation.

As a non-profit organization, you've got a lot on your plate. Saving the world requires a never-ending to-do list...and all hands on deck. We know you rely on committed volunteers to help carry out your important work, and recruiting, training, engaging, and retaining them are challenges.

Although volunteerism is on the rise, retention rates are decreasing. Folks are contributing their time and effort, but not quite committing to the same organizations year over the year. We're happy that people are passionate about helping different causes, but also recognize this spells a challenge for you, who constantly needs to recruit, train, and orient volunteers.

So, what can you do differently to improve volunteer retention? Start at the beginning: improve your volunteer orientation. Not to be confused with volunteer training, where you focus on the specific details and processes associated with the volunteer role, volunteer orientation is all about deepening your volunteers' emotional connection to the cause, and setting up a comfortable community environment they get excited about contributing to.

A thoughtful volunteer orientation process should help volunteers:

• Feel welcome, comfortable and part of the team
• Deepen their understanding of and connection to your organization's vision, mission, goals, and culture
• Build community amongst fellow volunteers
• Build confidence in the organization and its leadership

Let’s be real—Gen Z is not going to sit through a 90-minute PowerPoint about your nonprofit’s mission. They crave interactive, social, and purpose-driven experiences. Instead of a traditional lecture, make your volunteer orientation fun and immersive by incorporating a scavenger hunt with Goosechase. Create missions that introduce them to key staff, showcase impact stories, and encourage teamwork. A short "day-in-the-life" video series or a social media challenge (like posting their favorite part of orientation) can also make them feel more connected. The goal? Keep it fast, fun, and relevant, so they leave inspired—not looking for the exit.

Throwing a 50-page volunteer manual at new recruits is a surefire way to see their enthusiasm drop faster than a Wi-Fi signal in the basement. Instead, focus on a "learn by doing" approach. Break training into small, digestible tasks with hands-on activities. Pair new volunteers with seasoned ones for on-the-job shadowing. Use microlearning modules—short, 3-5 minute videos or interactive quizzes—to reinforce key concepts without information overload. And, of course, a Goosechase challenge with real-time practice Missions will keep them engaged and boost retention. The trick is keeping it simple and action-focused, so they feel ready to hit the ground running.

Here's a simple template you can customize for your organization's needs. It includes Missions for volunteers to get to know each othe and your organization, and collects some important data (like paperwork requirements, contact details, and schedule availabilities) in the process.

We know you've got a lot to do, and we hope this helps check something off your list.

If you're already using Goosechase to run experiences, you can click the button below to copy this scavenger hunt to your account.

Here's a sneak peek...

Want to create a fun, engaging game for your community? Take a look at our How It Works page to see how easy it is to get started on Goosechase!

Volunteer retention is essential for nonprofits, and it starts with making volunteers feel valued, connected, and part of something bigger. First, create a sense of community—whether through a private group chat, volunteer appreciation events, or fun team challenges. Show their impact regularly with stories, photos, and updates about how their work is making a difference. Give them opportunities for growth, like leadership roles or specialized training. And most importantly? Keep it fun and rewarding. Whether it’s an occasional friendly competition (who can complete the most shifts?) or surprise perks (free coffee, anyone?), a little creativity goes a long way in keeping volunteers engaged for the long haul.

Looking for more inspiration?

• Use Goosechase to crowdsource heartfelt messages for your beneficiaries
• New to creating Goosechase experiences? This checklist is a must-read.

What is Goosechase?

At Goosechase, experience is everything. Originally inspired by scavenger hunts, Goosechase is an online platform that enables organizations and schools to engage, activate, and educate their communities through delightful interactive experiences. Sign up and try creating a free recreational Experience, or check out our Pricing!