Skip to main content
Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation
Information
1 minute read

Steps for setting up a volunteer programme

Meeting National Standards and Strategy Seal Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

This guide outlines key steps to consider when setting up a volunteer programme. It provides an overview of planning, recruitment, support and recognition practices required to build a successful and sustainable volunteer program.

The resource supports organisations to take a structured approach to volunteer involvement, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and providing positive experiences for volunteers.

Benefits for volunteer managers

  • faciliate structured planning for volunteer programs
  • align volunteer involvement with organisational goals
  • strengthen volunteer recruitment and retention
  • improve volunteer engagement and experience.

How to apply this resource

This guide is most useful when creating a new volunteer program, reviewing existing structures, or strengthening planning and volunteer involvement practices.

Downloads and sources

More about the author

National organisation supporting volunteering and volunteer-involving organisations across Ireland.

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

Make a Suggestion

If you find a great resource that isn't in the directory or want to provide feedback on the Volunteering Gateway, drop us a line!

More like this

Articles & Reports

A new model for citizen engagement

Review paper exploring new approaches to citizen engagement and local volunteering groups.
1 minute read
Stanford Social Innovation Review
General
Examples

Sample exit interview template

Template providing an example format for conducting volunteer exit interviews.
1 minute read
Volunteer Ireland
General
VIKTOR
Tech

VIKTOR

VIKTOR is a volunteer recruitment system designed to run a referral service for volunteers. It allows you to create and advertise volunteer roles, enter volunteers and match them to roles offered by your members.
Volunteer database Recruitment Reporting
Better Impact
Tech

Better Impact

Better Impact offers a comprehensive software solution for volunteer program management, to simplify administrative tasks and enhance volunteer engagement across every stage of the volunteer lifecycle.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Social media Donations
Rosterfy
Tech

Rosterfy

Rosterfy is an end-to-end volunteer management software solution, that helps organisations streamline their volunteer management and engagement. Rosterfy offers automated solutions to manage volunteers efficiently.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management
scheduled

Becoming an Inclusive Volunteer Involving Organisation

This free inclusion workshop explores how to build inclusive volunteering opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Learn to identify and reduce barriers, support young people, and create inclusive teams and workplaces.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

Becoming an Inclusive Volunteer Involving Organisation

This free inclusion workshop explores how to build inclusive volunteering opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Learn to identify and reduce barriers, support young people, and create inclusive teams and workplaces.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

Privacy Laws for Not-for-profits: Protecting Personal Information - Aug 2026

Stay up to date on privacy laws for not-for-profits in this practical webinar. Learn key obligations, recent reforms, data breach trends and OAIC priorities, plus how to manage personal information and respond to breaches.
Justice Connect's Not-for-profit Law Training
A$49.00