Job titles are critical in effective recruitment.  Even the short-term volunteer is attracted by an intriguing title for four hours of work on a weekend.  Titles are a reward.  Subway workers are called Sandwich Artists, as an example.

Those who provide long-term continuous service should have titles that reflect that level of commitment.  Not everyone is "about" a title, but it is a way to gain attention for a position.  “Volunteer” as someone’s title is just not doing it for the new volunteer.  Here are some options for common volunteer positions to give you and idea how you might revise the titles for your volunteer tasks and services.

More and more volunteers are leaving their jobs because they have reached a plateau of experience.  It is more of the same thing every time the come to the work site.  One tactic to retain the interest of experienced long-term volunteers is to provide new opportunities for work.

The Volunteer Office could act as a “temp service,” providing temporary volunteers to various departments in the organization.  It begins with a thorough understand of the skills that are in the volunteer corps now.  Volunteers interested in such service might complete a form listing skills and experience.  You also need to be sure that they are willing to “drop” their normal assignment and go somewhere or do something he/she has never done.  Or work some additional hours to the ones currently being provided. A database is set up (good job for younger volunteer) to sort information based on those skills and experiences.  Then departments can request people for short assignments around specific tasks.

Best to field-test this with a cooperative department and volunteers who can flex. This will help work the bugs out. Then advertise internally to bring in the requests for volunteers.  This service can provide needed hands for areas of operation and those volunteers who are looking for new challenges might stay put longer with the challenge of new things to do to support the organization.