Volunteer coordinators keep a nonprofit's volunteer force running. They recruit people, train them, schedule them, thank them, and make sure every shift is covered. Many nonprofits couldn't operate without volunteers, so a good coordinator directly multiplies what the organization can do. If you're organized, good with people, and have ever rallied a group to get something done, this role may be a natural fit.

What the job looks like

Volunteer coordinators work at food banks, hospitals, animal shelters, museums, youth programs, disaster relief organizations, and faith-based charities. The work mixes outreach (recruiting at churches, schools, and businesses), administration (applications, background checks, scheduling, hour tracking), and relationship building (answering questions, solving problems, and recognizing volunteers). Weekend and evening hours are common, since that's when many volunteers are available.

What hiring managers look for

They want to see that you can keep a large group of people organized and coming back. Recruitment results, retention, scheduling systems, and events you've staffed all count. So does experience with volunteer management software, from dedicated platforms to shared spreadsheets and sign-up tools.

Resume summary

Energetic volunteer coordinator experienced in recruiting, training, and keeping volunteers engaged so programs have the help they need. Builds schedules, tracks hours, and makes every volunteer feel valued. Looking to bring strong organization and people skills to a new role.

Skills to list

  • Volunteer recruitment
  • Orientation and training
  • Scheduling and shift coverage
  • Volunteer database and hour tracking
  • Background check and onboarding process
  • Recognition and retention
  • Group and corporate volunteer days
  • Event staffing
  • Social media and outreach
  • Friendly, clear communication

Experience bullet points

  • Recruited volunteers through churches, schools, businesses, and social media
  • Led orientations and trainings so new volunteers felt prepared on their first shift
  • Built weekly volunteer schedules and filled open shifts on short notice
  • Tracked volunteer hours and contact information in the volunteer database
  • Managed onboarding steps, including applications, background checks, and waivers
  • Planned recognition events and thank-you efforts that kept volunteers coming back
  • Organized group and corporate volunteer days from sign-up through wrap-up
  • Matched volunteers to roles based on their skills, interests, and availability
  • Served as the main contact for volunteer questions and concerns
  • Reported volunteer hours and impact numbers for grant reports and annual reports

Your numbers are your strongest selling point

Volunteer work produces easy-to-count results. Use them: how many volunteers you recruited or managed, how many hours they gave, how many shifts or events you staffed, and how many came back. Some organizations also put a dollar value on volunteer hours, which you can mention if your organization tracked it.

Volunteer Coordinator, Regional Food Bank, Birmingham, AL. 2021 to Present. Managed a pool of 400+ active volunteers; filled 95% of weekly shifts; organized 30 corporate volunteer days a year; tracked 12,000+ volunteer hours for annual and grant reports.

Tips for this role

  • Count your own volunteer leadership. If you've organized volunteers for a church, school, or community group, that's directly relevant experience, even if it was unpaid.
  • Show retention, not just recruitment. Keeping volunteers is harder than finding them. Any numbers on returning volunteers stand out.
  • Consider the CVA credential later. The Certified in Volunteer Administration credential is for professionals with at least three years of volunteer management experience, and it signals serious commitment to the field.
  • Mention safety steps. Background checks, waivers, and training for volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults show you take risk seriously.

Build your resume free

Open the 360 Quick Resume builder, choose Non-Profit Employees & Managers, then pick Volunteer Coordinator. This summary, skills list, and these bullet points load in for you to edit. Add volunteer roles as jobs, too. Download as PDF, Word, or plain text, free.

For more help, read our full guide on how to write a nonprofit resume, including how to show impact with numbers and make volunteer work count.

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