Why Volunteers Make Exceptional Donors (and What Nonprofits Should Do About It)

If you manage or coordinate volunteers, you know their value can’t be overstated. They’re the ones showing up, rolling up their sleeves, and making your programs happen on the ground. But there’s another layer to their value that often gets overlooked: Volunteers are among your most likely and loyal donors.

Despite this, many organizations think of fundraising and volunteerism as parallel but separate tracks. Volunteers are tapped for time. Donors are asked for money. But growing research shows this division doesn’t reflect reality—or potential. In truth, these tracks overlap much more than most nonprofits realize.

And for organizations ready to deepen supporter engagement, this connection could be a game-changer.

Summary: Volunteers are 10x more likely to donate, and 85% already do. They see your nonprofit’s impact firsthand and trust your mission. To boost fundraising, track volunteer engagement, include them in donor campaigns, and promote both time and monetary giving.

Volunteer Donorship by the Numbers

• 79% of donors have volunteered in the past year, and two-thirds (67%) of volunteers have committed more than 50 hours to their favorite charities
• People who volunteer donate 10x more money than those who do not volunteer
• A person who volunteers is 66% more likely to donate than someone who doesn’t
• 85% of volunteers donate to the nonprofits they volunteer for 

Why Do Volunteers Donate?

There are plenty of reasons that volunteers become donors, but it’s primarily because they:

• Have front-row access to your impact: They see exactly where their money will make a difference—witnessing the moment a child learns to read, watching families receive emergency assistance, or observing how new equipment transforms your programs.
  
  
• Develop personal connections with your staff and community: Giving becomes personal rather than transactional when they know the program coordinator by name, have relationships with clients, and feel like part of the organizational family.
  
  
• Experience the urgency and need of your work firsthand: They've seen the empty food pantry shelves, heard the stories that don't make it into newsletters, and understand which programs are hanging by a thread without additional funding.
  
  
• Already trust your organization enough to give time: Time is often the scarcest resource of all—if someone will volunteer regularly, they've already vetted your credibility, effectiveness, and worthiness of support.

How to Turn Volunteers into Donors in 5 Ways

For many volunteers, giving money is simply not presented as a natural next step. That’s a missed opportunity—not just for fundraising, but for deepening relationships with people who already believe in your cause.

As a volunteer leader, you don’t need to become a fundraiser overnight. But you do have an essential role in helping your organization build a stronger pipeline between service and giving. 

Here’s how you can start to convert volunteers into donors:

1. Talk about giving in ways that honor both time and money

When you thank a volunteer, say: “Your time and support mean the world to us.” Not just “Thanks for helping.” This language opens the door for broader participation without pressure.

2. Document engagement and make it visible to your team

A robust volunteer management platform like Get Connected makes it easy to see which volunteers are highly engaged, how often they serve, and when they’re most active. 

This data helps development teams tailor outreach and identify natural moments for donation appeals, without over-asking.

3. Advocate for joint campaigns

Work with your fundraising and marketing colleagues to ensure volunteers are included in annual campaigns, donor newsletters, and impact updates. Consider special messaging that honors them as both volunteers and potential donors.

4. Train your team to embrace hybrid supporters

Whether it's your staff, volunteer leaders, or board, make sure everyone is aligned around this idea: People who care deeply about your mission may want to give in more than one way—and that’s something to celebrate.

Create clear protocols for when staff should mention donations, like after orientation, during campaigns, or when volunteers express deeper program interest. 

5. Build a relational culture

Most volunteer programs operate transactionally—volunteers show up, complete tasks, and leave. But when you shift toward fostering a relational culture, volunteers become invested in outcomes rather than just activities, making them far more likely to contribute financially.

This means creating space for volunteers to connect with each other and your mission beyond their assigned shifts, sharing program updates and impact stories during gatherings, and fostering conversations about why people choose to support your work.

Turning Volunteers into Donors Simply and Effectively 

At its heart, the volunteer-to-donor connection and volunteer donorship isn’t about extracting more from people. It’s about offering more ways to belong. 

Want to better understand your volunteer pipeline and create deeper engagement?
Get Connected helps nonprofits track, manage, and communicate with volunteers throughout the entire supporter journey — and can even prompt them to make a donation. 

Learn more about Get Connected's Volunteer Donation features

Ready to find out how Get Connected can help you create a stronger link between volunteers and donors? Schedule a free demo today →