25 Volunteering Survey Questions to Boost Retention & Impact
Discover 25 essential volunteering survey questions with expert tips to boost volunteer engagement, retention, and program success.
Surveying volunteers isn’t just a feel-good exercise—it’s a power move that fuels retention, sharpens recruitment, and boosts the impact of your initiatives. Volunteers cycle through distinct phases: from the excitement of recruitment to the bittersweet moment of exit and beyond. Each stage calls for tailored questions to unlock unique insights. Ready for practical, copy-paste-friendly question sets and smart tips to master volunteer surveys? Let’s dive in.
Volunteer Recruitment Survey
Why & When to Use
First impressions matter! After someone shows interest or attends orientation, a recruitment survey can reveal what’s working (and what’s not) in attracting top volunteer talent. Are your marketing channels hitting the mark? Is your messaging clear and inspiring? The answers help you fine-tune your outreach and role descriptions to snag the best folks for your cause.
The best time to send this survey is soon after initial contact but before volunteers get fully onboarded. That way, you capture impressions while they’re fresh and can smooth out any bumps early.
5 Sample Questions
- How did you first hear about our volunteer program?
- Which of the following motivates you most to volunteer? Select up to 2.
- How clear were the role descriptions provided on our website?
- What skills or experiences are you hoping to gain through volunteering with us?
- What factors might prevent you from committing to a volunteer role at this time?
Use these questions to tailor your messaging and dispel roadblocks. Curiosity about prospective volunteers’ motivations and doubts will supercharge recruitment efforts.
Create your survey, it's 100% free
Creating your volunteering survey with HeySurvey is a breeze! Just follow these 3 easy steps to launch your survey in no time:
1. Create a New Survey
Log in to your HeySurvey account (or get started without one) and click “Create Survey.” Choose either a blank survey for full customization or pick one of the pre-built templates designed for volunteer surveys. Give your survey an internal name so you can find it later easily.
2. Add Your Questions
Hit the “Add Question” button to start building your questionnaire. Select from question types like multiple choice, scale ratings, or open text to match the needs of your volunteer survey. Type in your questions, set answers as required if needed, and organize the order by dragging questions around. Pro tip: use branching to tailor questions based on previous answers for a personalized experience.
3. Publish Your Survey
Preview your survey to make sure everything looks perfect on desktop and mobile. When satisfied, hit the “Publish” button to get a shareable link. You can send this link via email or embed the survey on your website. Remember, publishing requires an account so you can track responses later.
Bonus Steps to Make It Shine
- Apply Branding: Upload your organization’s logo and choose colors and fonts in the Designer Sidebar to make the survey feel like your own.
- Define Settings: Adjust start/end dates, response limits, and redirect URLs in the Settings panel to control how and when your survey is available.
- Add Branching: Use branching logic to skip irrelevant questions or create custom survey paths based on volunteer answers, improving respondent experience and data quality.
Ready to get started? Just hit the button below to open a volunteer survey template and dive right in!
Volunteer Onboarding & Training Needs Survey
Why & When to Use
Once volunteers have taken the plunge and attended orientation, it’s time to make sure they’re set up for success. A training needs survey within the first two weeks helps identify if your onboarding hits the mark or if adjustments are needed. This early pulse can prevent confusion and frustration down the line.
Knowing how volunteers learn best and what extra support they want encourages confidence and smooths the transition from newbie to pro. This survey can guide enhancements in training format, content, and communication protocols.
5 Sample Questions
- How confident do you feel about performing your assigned tasks after orientation? Rate 1–5.
- Which topic(s) would you like additional training on?
- Was the training format (in-person, video, handbook) effective for your learning style?
- Do you understand who to contact if you have questions during your shift?
- What could have made your first day smoother?
These questions offer a peek into how well your onboarding supports volunteers’ needs. Use the feedback to tweak training sessions, resources, or contact points. A well-trained volunteer feels empowered—and empowerment sticks.
Volunteer Engagement & Experience Survey
Why & When to Use
Quarterly check-ins are the heartbeat of a thriving volunteer program. A volunteer engagement survey captures real-time vibes from active volunteers, revealing what fuels their passion or sparks burnout. Checking in regularly spotlights issues before they snowball and highlights the stars in your volunteer galaxy.
This pulse survey should balance quick, quantitative questions with open-ended ones to get the full picture. Plus, the answers inform how you communicate, reward, and resource your volunteer force.
5 Sample Questions
- On a scale of 1–10, how valued do you feel by our organization?
- How satisfied are you with the level of communication from staff?
- Do you have adequate resources and supplies to perform your role?
- How likely are you to recommend volunteering with us to a friend? (NPS)
- What one change would most improve your volunteering experience?
These queries aren’t just data points—they’re a love letter check to your volunteers. Show you care by acting on their responses to boost morale and retention.
Volunteer Satisfaction Survey
Why & When to Use
Once a year, it’s time to go deep with a volunteer satisfaction survey. This heavyweight tool benchmarks how happy volunteers are, shines light on standout program elements, and flags where improvements are due. The annual reflection helps you align your strategy with volunteer expectations and goals.
Use this survey when you want a granular understanding of the volunteer experience over time. It’s perfect for shaping future initiatives, celebrating wins, and fixing persistent pain points.
5 Sample Questions
- Overall, how satisfied are you with your volunteer experience this year?
- Which aspects of the program exceeded your expectations?
- Which aspects fell short of your expectations?
- Has volunteering met your personal goals (e.g., social, professional, altruistic)?
- What is the likelihood you will continue volunteering with us next year?
Collect responses that guide improvements and spotlight program strengths. Satisfied volunteers are your best ambassadors and repeat volunteers.
Volunteer Impact & Outcome Survey
Why & When to Use
Knowing that your volunteers feel they’re making a difference is huge motivation. A volunteer impact survey collects perceptions about community impact and personal growth during or after a project. These insights spotlight how your program changes lives—both within the community and among your team members.
Sending this mid- or post-project generates data you can share as successes and also adjust future efforts to deepen impact. It’s about celebrating wins and learning for next time.
5 Sample Questions
- To what extent do you feel your efforts made a positive difference to the community served?
- Which project outcomes are you most proud of?
- Have you developed any new skills through this project?
- How has volunteering affected your views on the cause?
- Would you be interested in taking on a leadership role in future projects?
Use these to boost motivation and identify future leaders. Feeling impactful = volunteers sticking around longer.
Volunteer Exit Survey
Why & When to Use
Volunteers leaving your program? Don’t let their departure be a mystery! An exit survey uncovers why volunteers resign or complete their terms. This feedback highlights retention gaps and helps design better experiences to keep folks coming back.
Trigger this survey when someone gives their notice or wraps up a fixed commitment. It’s a chance to gently ask what would make them stay and how to keep the bond alive through alumni efforts.
5 Sample Questions
- What is the primary reason you are ending your volunteer service?
- How satisfied were you with your overall experience?
- What, if anything, would have encouraged you to continue volunteering?
- Would you consider volunteering with us again in the future?
- May we contact you about alumni events or advocacy opportunities?
Exit surveys are gold mines for retention clues. Plus, don’t underestimate the power of alumni to advocate or even rejoin when the timing’s right.
Post-Service (Alumni) Follow-Up Survey
Why & When to Use
Months after volunteers say goodbye, it doesn’t mean the relationship has to end. A post-service follow-up survey 6–12 months later checks in on alumni engagement, donation likelihood, and interest in mentoring or advocacy.
It’s a smart way to nurture long-term connections and cultivate your volunteer base beyond active service.
5 Sample Questions
- Since leaving, have you participated in any of our events or campaigns?
- How connected do you still feel to our mission?
- Would you be interested in mentoring new volunteers?
- Have you supported us financially since your service ended?
- What communications channels do you prefer for future updates?
This survey keeps alumni in the fold and can spark new opportunities for support and engagement when you least expect it.
Best Practices: Dos and Don’ts for Crafting Volunteering Survey Questions
Crafting volunteer surveys isn’t rocket science—but some key rules will make all the difference. Here’s your cheat sheet for getting it right:
- DO keep surveys short and sweet—pulse checks should max out at 10–12 questions.
- DO mix quantitative scales (like Likert or NPS) with open-ended questions to strike a balance of data and context.
- DO clearly share the purpose of the survey and communicate key findings to build volunteer trust and buy-in.
- DON’T ask double-barreled questions like “Do you find the training useful and engaging?” which confuse respondents and muddy data.
- DON’T bombard volunteers with surveys; sync them with natural touchpoints in the volunteer journey to avoid fatigue.
- DO optimize your surveys for mobile devices since 60–70% of volunteers will likely answer on their phones.
- DON’T forget to offer anonymity or confidentiality options for sensitive topics—this encourages honest feedback.
- DO experiment with different subject lines and send times using A/B testing to boost response rates.
Follow these tips to create surveys volunteers actually enjoy taking—and that provide you with actionable insights.
Conclusion
Targeted volunteer surveys are the secret sauce to better satisfaction, stronger retention, and bigger program impact. Customize these sample questions to your unique needs, craft a smart schedule, and most importantly—take action on what you learn. Ready to level up your volunteer program? Download the free survey template or launch a pilot survey this week and watch your volunteer experience soar.
