29 Volunteering Survey Questions to Boost Engagement

Volunteer Engagement & Motivation Survey

Why & When to Use

Picture this: your volunteers start feeling bored, disconnected, or even a bit crispy around the edges (burnout alert!), and you are not quite sure why. That’s when the volunteer engagement survey quietly steps in to save the day.

Run this quarterly, at midpoints in big projects, or anytime you need to re-ignite some enthusiasm in your squad.

Here’s the thing: happy, engaged volunteers do not just stick around, they energize everyone else too!

With this survey, you can:

• Track dips and spikes in motivation.

• Find out if your mission still lights a fire in their hearts.

• Plan ahead to prevent people from ghosting you out of boredom.

Plus, these survey moments give you a fun excuse to send upbeat emails like “We miss your sparkle! Tell us how you feel!”

You’ll discover who’s at risk of burning out, who’s itching for a bigger role, and who just needs a pep talk.

On top of that, this keeps your vibe alive and becomes your secret to marathon-long relationships with volunteers, not just short sprints.

Need inspiration for structuring your questions? Check out volunteer survey questions proven to boost engagement and reveal actionable insights.

Sample Questions

1. I feel a strong personal connection to the mission.

2. How motivated do you feel before each volunteer shift?

3. Which factors keep you engaged with us? (Select all that apply.)

4. Have you considered reducing your volunteer hours in the next three months?

5. What could we do to re-energize or inspire you as a volunteer?

Volunteers who feel more respected in their roles are significantly more likely to continue volunteering over 10 to 20 years and experience higher well‑being and positive daily affect source

Volunteer Skills & Competency Survey

Why & When to Use

Sometimes your volunteers are hiding superpowers, and this volunteer skills survey is your superhero radar. You can use it during onboarding, then check in once a year to see how everyone’s talent has grown or shifted.

Maybe Sarah from event logistics is secretly a wizard at TikTok reels. Or Carlos, the painting volunteer, might casually mention that he speaks three languages, and if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

Here’s why this survey rocks your program and keeps things running smoothly:

• It helps you match skills with the right roles.

• You spot gaps before they trip you up mid-project.

• Volunteers love when you help them learn something new or use secret talents.

On top of that, you can spot mentors and trainers in the making, which makes leadership development a lot easier. A skills survey shows you the treasure trove of talent you have right under your nose.

Ready to unleash hidden potential and make everyone feel like a hero? This survey is your map.

Sample Questions

1. Which professional or technical skills do you bring to our organization? (select all that apply)

2. Rate your proficiency in the following areas: fundraising, event planning, digital marketing, and others.

3. Which new skills would you like to develop while volunteering with us?

4. Would you be willing to mentor or support new volunteers in your areas of expertise?

5. List any certifications or languages you possess that could benefit our programs.

Volunteer Onboarding & Training Feedback Survey

Why & When to Use

First impressions stick, and your volunteer onboarding survey helps you catch small wobbles before they turn into full-on wobble-fests.

You’ll want to send this feedback form about two weeks after a volunteer’s first official day so you can check if your warm welcome actually feels warm.

Great onboarding makes people want to come back again and again.

Plus, spotting issues early helps you fine-tune the experience for every rookie who joins after.

Here’s the thing: this survey gives you a simple way to spot early wins and problems.

Here's how it helps:

• Gauge if your materials and initial training clear up confusion or accidentally make it worse.

• Show new folks you value their voice from day one.

• Pinpoint where nerves or “new kid syndrome” might be sneaking in.

On top of that, who doesn’t secretly enjoy rating a handbook, at least a little?

Sample Questions

If you want more inspiration for what to ask, check out these volunteer survey questions.

1. The onboarding process prepared me well for my volunteer role.

2. How clear were the safety protocols explained during your training?

3. Which topics were missing or need more in-depth coverage?

4. Rate the usefulness of the volunteer handbook or orientation guides.

5. What additional resources would have made your first shift smoother?

When you treat volunteers like partners, you help them feel respected and committed.

Volunteers who feel respected are significantly more likely to continue volunteering over the next 10 and 20 years and report higher well‑being and positive daily affect. Source

Event-Specific Volunteer Survey

Why & When to Use

You just crushed an event, whether it was a food drive, rally, or glitter-filled fundraising gala. The event-specific volunteer survey jumps in while memories are fresh (within 2 days) to grab honest feedback before it fades.

Deploy this after every major community gathering or campaign. Plus, details stick in people’s minds right after, so strike while the iron (or, let’s be honest, the leftover pizza) is hot.

Here’s why this snapshot matters:

• Pinpoint what worked and what fizzled, in the context of a single event.

• Get granular feedback on logistics, instructions, supplies, and communication.

• Collect heartwarming stories or maybe even catch a life-saving tip for your next bash.

On top of that, you get to ask about the highlight reel, because every event has its “wow” moment and you do not want to miss it.

Sample Questions

1. How effectively were tasks assigned and explained during the event?

2. Did you have access to all the supplies and support you needed?

3. How would you rate the clarity and frequency of communication from event coordinators?

4. What was the highlight of your volunteer experience at this event?

5. Would you volunteer for this event again? Why or why not?

Volunteer Exit & Retention Insight Survey

Why & When to Use

It’s bittersweet when someone decides to move on, and your volunteer exit survey helps you turn those goodbyes into learning moments.

Try to gather feedback from departing volunteers as soon as you can, while their reasons and feelings are still fresh in their minds.

Here’s the thing: exit feedback reveals tough truths others might not say out loud, and it gives you a rare peek behind the curtain.

With this info, you can:

• Spot trends in why folks leave and focus on fixing what is actually fixable.

• Leave the door open for a “boomerang” return later if life clears up for them.

• Capture both fond memories and pain points so you get a real, honest pulse check.

Plus, it doubles as a classy, appreciative send-off that quietly says, “We care about what you think, even on your way out,” which is never a bad last impression to leave.

Sample Questions

1. What primary factor influenced your decision to pause or stop volunteering?

2. How satisfied were you with leadership support and organization?

3. What could we have done to encourage you to stay as a volunteer?

4. Would you consider volunteering with us again in the future?

5. Please share any final thoughts or comments about your volunteer experience.

Community Impact & Program Effectiveness Survey

Why & When to Use

If you want to know whether your programs are truly making a difference, ask the people doing the work: your volunteers’ on-the-ground insights.

The community volunteer program survey lets your volunteers weigh in on real-world results and your strategic direction.

Run this annually or right after the big finale of a project or campaign.

Volunteers see things you might miss, so think of them as your secret evaluators with front-row seats.

Here’s why this is so important:

• Get volunteer perspectives on success (or stumbles) you might not spot from the top.

• Understand which goals feel achievable and inspiring from a “boots on the ground” view.

• Crowdsource ideas for new initiatives or urgent improvements.

On top of that, you show volunteers their voices help guide next year’s big plans, or at the very least earn a well-deserved round of applause for major wins.

Sample Questions

1. I believe my volunteer work makes a positive difference in the community.

2. Which program goals do you feel we’re meeting most effectively?

3. Where do you see gaps in our community outreach or services?

4. Rate the overall effectiveness of our volunteer program.

5. In your view, what new initiatives should we prioritize to deepen our community impact?

Virtual/Remote Volunteer Experience Survey

Why & When to Use

Remote volunteers can be incredibly powerful partners for your mission, but if you are not intentional, they can start to feel pretty invisible. The virtual volunteer feedback survey helps you keep them connected, listened to, and genuinely happy.

You will want to check in with new remote volunteers at the one-month mark, then quarterly after that. Technology can trip people up, and online teamwork needs thoughtful, intentional inclusion so no one feels like they are volunteering on an island.

This survey is a must for:

• Spotting tech troubles, from glitchy log-ins to confusing workflows.

• Checking if remote volunteers feel like part of your family tree, not just a floating branch.

• Finding small tweaks that can make people feel less like avatars and more like VIPs!

Plus, you get to look like a tech-savvy leader instead of the person in a lifelong wrestling match with the Wi-Fi.

Sample Questions

1. How easy is it for you to use our chosen collaboration tools (Zoom, Slack, etc.)?

2. Do you feel connected to staff and other volunteers while working remotely?

3. What technical issues, if any, have hindered your ability to contribute as a volunteer?

4. How would you rate the frequency and quality of virtual check-ins with volunteer coordinators?

5. What would most improve your remote volunteering experience?

Best Practices: Dos & Don’ts for High-Impact Volunteer Surveys

Your volunteer feedback survey design is your secret weapon. When you do it well, you bring in fresh ideas, boost loyalty, and even cut your recruiting costs over time.

Let’s get practical! Here’s what works best, without making anyone’s eyes glaze over.

Dos:

• Keep questions clear and to the point.

• Mix rating scales, checkboxes, and open-ended gems.

• Segment feedback based on volunteer tenure or role to get sharper insights.

• Always share key results, even if it’s just a one-page summary.

• Act quickly on feedback by responding with thanks, updates, or visible changes.

Don’ts:

• Don’t overload people with endless questions, and keep 15 as the upper limit, with fewer being even better.

• Avoid “double-barreled” questions that smush two topics into one confusing mess.

• Respect privacy and remind folks of anonymity every time.

• Never send a survey without a plan to follow up soon.

For a friendly, modern touch, make surveys mobile-first so they look good on phones. Most people check their messages on the go, and nobody wants to pinch and zoom or scroll until they’re dizzy.

Plus, automate your thank-you messages to save time and still be thoughtful. A simple “Your feedback matters!” can do more than you might expect.

Aim to use a flexible volunteer survey template you can adapt for onboarding, annual health checks, or that community volunteer program survey you’ve been dreaming of. On top of that, you can build a small library of versions that keeps your questions fresh without recreating everything from scratch.

Here’s the thing: you can’t just sit on the data. Make changes, tell your team what you learned, and invite volunteers to help co-create solutions, because collaboration turns feedback into real momentum.

Ready to build your own survey? Download a free volunteer survey template or try out a digital survey tool to get started right away, and you will make your volunteers (and your future self) very happy.