Many nonprofits depend heavily on volunteers to achieve their mission, such as great organizations like God’s Love We Deliver (where I volunteered for several years) and Dorot (for whom I work currently). Clearly it is important to thank volunteers, since their role is often as important as that of paid staff. But should volunteers be asked to support these organizations financially also, as is suggested in 4 Ways to Turn Volunteers into Donors.
My take – it depends on how the ask is made. When I choose to volunteer for a nonprofit, I have already chosen causes that I feel strongly about, e.g. helping seniors. So I might not be averse to adding financial support, as long as my volunteer efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. But if I choose not to donate, I want my work to be considered as important as those who help with contributions. After all, there are many ways to help a nonprofit, and many organizations would not exist without the help of volunteers.
For more on this topic, the NY Charities NYC event on Feb. 27 will discuss Best Practices for Attracting, Managing and Retaining Volunteers with participating staff from several nonprofits such as JASA (for which I also volunteer). And if some of your volunteers decide to make donations also, consider it a bonus – not a requirement.