Creating Quality Matches

  • Matching volunteers with participants in the same community may help keep the participant and their caregiver active, engaged and immersed in the community.
  • Generating quality matches between volunteers, care recipients and family caregivers takes significant time. Incorporate an efficient and effective method to gather necessary information into your onboarding process for both participants and volunteers. This information should assist you in making high quality matches that will bring enjoyment to all impacted. Ask questions that will help you develop a short bio on the volunteer and participant with information about their history. For example, where they have worked, what type of work they have done, information about their families, current and past interests, past travels, music preference, what their expectation of program participation is, etc. Use this information to match the experiences, interests and expectations of those who will be part of the match. Also consider the types, distance, and duration of the assistance and ensure it is aligned with the volunteer and participant expectations. To foster a successful match, everyone included must have their needs met.
  • After identifying a match, provide a warm hand off by gathering organization staff, the program participant, and volunteer in person or on Zoom to welcome all parties to the program, have introductions and discuss next steps.
  • A good volunteer match is a key component to a successful volunteer-based model. Organizations must understand each individual’s expectations, experiences and interests to make an effective match between volunteers and participants.
  • Generating quality matches between volunteers, care recipients and family caregivers takes significant time. Your onboarding process for both participants and volunteers, should incorporate efficient and effective methods to gather pertinent information that will allow you to establish high quality matches that will deliver maximum benefit and impact.
  • A quality connection between the volunteer and the care recipient and/or caregiver can happen naturally without intervention. On other occasions it may need cultivating to ensure participant satisfaction. A quality connection may not always come naturally, to foster a connection between volunteer and program participant, provide opportunities for the program participant and volunteer to spend time together with a staff member to help facilitate conversation. Encourage both individuals to share their interests and what activities they enjoy. When necessary, provide a virtual introduction facilitated by staff members for every volunteer and program participant match. Host a volunteer and program participant match meeting with staff before any assistance starts. As well as improving the comfort level of participants and volunteers, these meetings can improve the comfort level between participants and volunteers as well as providing you with the opportunity to observe the interactions and evaluate the match. Meeting with the volunteer and the participants separately later to discuss the quality and success of the match in a judgement-free environment will also help to determine if changes are needed.
  • Matching is complex and can be time consuming but there is immense value in personalized matches. Time availability and core preferences should come first. Next think about hobbies (past and present), personality, desired support from the family, ways volunteers enjoy providing support, etc. Volunteers can be asked for this information in their application and during the interview process. Program participants and their caregivers can document their preferences as part of the intake process. Discussing these responses in person may give you a better understanding and feel for how you will establish a match.

Alternative Volunteer Match Approaches

  • Because not all volunteers can provide recurring services, offer opportunities for episodic volunteerism. This can work well for individuals and groups such as community organizations, businesses, faith-based groups and schools.
  • Consider matching new program participants and their caregivers with a volunteer pair. This can provide a sense of safety for all participating in the match as there will always be another person present observing interactions.
  • It is often easier to recruit a care recipient or family caregiver than to recruit a volunteer. To avoid placing prospective participants on a lengthy waitlist, consider short-term surrogate matches who keep in contact with the participant(s) until the long-term match is secured.
  • At the beginning of a new match, monthly check-ins are beneficial. Once a match is established, you may start checking in once every few months. For volunteers, regular follow-up fosters a sense of purpose, recognition, and support. As for program participants and their caregivers, these check ins can be used to evaluate the impact the assistance is having on them and potentially providing additional resources referrals and engagement.