Managing and Releasing Volunteers.

Handle the delicate case of a volunteer who is a poor fit, will not meet the need, or raises a concern, with care for the person, the team, and the mission.

First, the safety edge, and it is not optional

If a volunteer poses a genuine safety or legal concern, harm or risk to the people you serve, a boundary violation, anything that puts someone at risk, that is not a management conversation. It is a safety matter for the right professional, it routes to the compliance, legal and risk work, and where a vulnerable person may be at risk it is acted on at once. Do not treat a safety concern as a fit problem.

For a fit or reliability problem, not a safety one

Reassign first, where it fits. Is the issue the role rather than the person? Is there a better-fitting role?

Release with grace when you must

Thank them genuinely for what they gave

Be clear and kind about why it is not working

Protect their dignity; a volunteer let go with grace still speaks well of you

A volunteer gives from goodwill, and even ending it should honor that. Reassignment before release where fit is the issue. Safety concerns are never a management conversation.

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Follows the Coordination and Accountability tool. Routes safety concerns to a professional and to the compliance and risk work. Back to the guide, or start over.