Client
- Organisation: Wildlife Victoria
- Sector: Wildlife welfare & community engagement (NFP)
- Context: 1,300+ volunteers requiring improved communication, recognition and belonging
Client Need
- Build a volunteer communications strategy that lifts engagement and retention
- Introduce recognition initiatives, feedback loops and segmented messaging
- Connect volunteers more closely with the organisation’s mission, training and operations
Our Approach
- Searched for candidates with dual capability: communications + hands-on volunteer engagement
- Targeted advertising in specialist channels; outreach to community-building and volunteer management professionals
- Assessed experience with CRM/volunteer systems (e.g., Salesforce/thankQ), segmentation, eDM journeys, and recognition frameworks
- Evaluated stakeholder skills with regional coordinators, trainers, operations and comms teams
Outcome
- Role filled within 3 weeks with a candidate skilled in comms and volunteer program design
- Rapid rollout of recognition initiatives, refreshed newsletter and eDM journeys, and community-building activities
- Improved sense of belonging, increased participation rates, and better feedback capture
Key Success Factors
- Focus on candidates with technical comms plus volunteer leadership experience
- Clear alignment to values, inclusion and community-building
- Practical tools: content calendars, CRM segmentation, event cadence, two-way comms
Impact
- A more connected, motivated and valued volunteer community; stronger retention and program support for Wildlife Victoria
