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What motivates volunteers and how do churches keep them motivated? Understanding what makes volunteers tick is key to keeping them.

Many factors are at play, according to Bill Allison of Cadre International ministry, who wrote “Recruiting, Motivating and Retaining Volunteers in the Church.”

First, spiritual gifts and ministry passions are important, Allison said.

This story and all the great free content on Church Central is supported by: Logos Management Software

“Show me a person who is serving in an area in which he or she is not gifted and passionate and I'll show you a high maintenance volunteer.”

So churches should be in tune with their volunteers' gifts. And that becomes simple with church management software. What once may have been an administrative nightmare — even for the gifted — is now available to ministers at the proverbial touch of a button.

Tuning in

“In our database you define all the ministry skills each individual has,” said Dan Smith, Logos Management Software national manager. Group leaders, nursery workers, ushers, greeters, worship leaders, readers, Sunday school teachers are all categorized.

In addition, the Ministry Scheduler defines all events, such as morning worship and Wednesday programming and what volunteer effort they entail. Sophisticated and complete, Smith said, once the data is entered into the system it automatically produces a schedule. Then the schedule can be e-mailed, posted to a Website or sent in a letter to volunteers, increasing communication — another motivating factor for volunteers according to Allison.

“If you don't take the time to clarify exactly what you want from volunteers, not only will you frustrate your current volunteers, but you will add one more barrier to getting new volunteers,” Allison said.

“Communicating the schedule in various ways helps the volunteers,” said Smith. “You know how many times it happens that people didn't show up because they didn't know.”

Volunteers are also interested in what Cadre terms “the relationship factor.” For example, a family may want to serve together. Likewise friends may enjoy serving together. “Volunteers who work together and experience genuine community with each other will most likely be motivated volunteers,” Allison said.

Smith said this is easily accomplished in the Logos program, by grouping people together according to serving preferences.

Keeping up

Finally, feedback motivates volunteers. Feedback is the No. 1 motivator, according to Ken Blanchard's “The One-Minute Manager.”

Cadre recommends church leaders offer volunteers verbal and written praise as well as ideas for improvement. “There is a connection between appreciation and motivation for volunteers in the church,” said Allison.

Smith said Logos software can also expedite that process by defining a group of volunteers. “It's really easy for any group leader to grab that list and automate an e-mail,” Smith said. The leader in charge of the group can then communicate with everyone.

Leaders can also use the list to mail merge invitations to a volunteer appreciation dinner, for example, or print group nametags. Quick access to volunteers' data is a simple first step in retaining their service in ministry.