8 Strategies for Reducing Conflict in Your Volunteer-Based Nonprofit

Volunteer-based nonprofits are the backbone of many communities. At MoneyMinder, we’ve been working with these groups since 2003 (and volunteering with them for a lifetime). We’ve witnessed how even the most well-intentioned groups can experience conflict.

Nonprofit conflict can stem from a variety of sources, such as differing opinions, personality clashes and misunderstandings. Most of the time, all of the parties involved have the best of intentions, but conflict still arises. And while it’s not possible to eliminate nonprofit conflict completely, there are strategies to minimize the impact by dealing with it appropriately. Consider the following for your volunteer-based group.

1. Create and Follow the Rules in Your Bylaws

Our first recommendation is one of the most effective ways to reduce conflict in your nonprofit: have clear and concise rules and procedures. How, you ask? Your bylaws, of course. Bylaws are an invaluable tool for outlining how to resolve conflicts and disagreements. Adhering to these guidelines can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure order is maintained in the conflict resolution process.

2. Establish Standing Rules

In addition to your bylaws, creating and following standing rules for internal operating procedures can also help minimize conflict. These rules can cover everything from meeting etiquette to the decision-making process.

3. Foster a Positive and Supporting Environment

When conflict does arise, ensuring that every voice is “heard” can go a long way. Support your volunteers by listening to them, collaborating, and providing training and support when appropriate. Creating a sense of community (maybe even one that isn’t always focused on the immediate business at hand) can create more positive feelings between members.

4. Address Conflict Promptly and Effectively

When conflict does arise, don’t let it linger. Address nonprofit conflict with promptness and effectively mediate disputes if necessary. By addressing issues head-on, you can prevent them from escalating and damaging relationships beyond repair.

5. Prioritize Volunteer Well-Being

Burnout is a real thing in the volunteer world. Resist the temptation of overworking volunteers, which can lead to burnout, resentment, and eventually, conflict. Set reasonable expectations, be flexible with scheduling and schedule changes, and prioritize the well-being of your volunteers.

6. Lead by Example

Whether you are the board president or just a regular volunteer, you can help set the tone for your group by modeling good behavior. Be respectful. Be patient. Be understanding with different opinions. Be a good listener. All of these actions can inspire other volunteers to do the same.

7. Encourage Communication

While meetings and working sessions have a certain order to them, you can still encourage a culture of open, honest communication when the time is right to do so. That could look like an “open comments” or “other business” period at the end of the meetings, or even office hours where volunteers can come to you privately with their concerns. Create a safe space for volunteers to express their thoughts without the fear of judgement or retaliation.

8. Celebrate Your Volunteers

Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. Celebrate the successes of your group, no matter how small. When you recognize and appreciate the hard work of your volunteers, you inherently foster a sense of camaraderie. When people feel this way when they are contributing to your mission, they are more likely to handle little rifts in a way that they don’t become big conflicts.

Create a volunteer environment that people want to be a part of. Remember, conflict is inevitable, but how you handle it can make all the difference.