Nonprofit organizations, charitable trusts, and community foundations rely heavily on passionate volunteers to staff soup kitchens, build community gardens, sort food bank donations, and run fundraising galas. However, engaging volunteers without a written volunteer agreement exposes the organization to liability for volunteer injuries, disputes over intellectual property, and even Department of Labor claims regarding unpaid employee wage classifications.
Core Sections of a Nonprofit Volunteer Agreement
To safeguard the charity and clarify expectations, every volunteer agreement should include:
- Unambiguous Volunteer Status (FLSA Compliance): Explicit acknowledgment that the individual is volunteering purely for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, receives no wages, salary, or employee benefits, and does not anticipate future paid employment.
- Assumption of Risk and Liability Release: Language releasing the nonprofit, its board of directors, and its sponsors from liability for accidental injuries sustained while handling tools, lifting heavy boxes, or working at event venues.
- Photo and Media Release: Broad authorization for the charity to publish photos and video recordings of volunteer activities across donor newsletters, grant applications, and social media campaigns.
- Confidentiality and Code of Conduct: Agreement to protect confidential donor records, client identities, and abide by the organization's anti-harassment policies.
Streamlining Volunteer Intake
- Add Link to Volunteer Portal: Embed your public signing link directly inside volunteer orientation emails or on the website's volunteer sign-up page.
- Volunteer Coordinator Sign-Off: The coordinator reviews the signed digital list before deploying volunteers to their stations.
Protecting Intellectual Property and Volunteer Inventions
Occasionally, volunteers in technology or creative nonprofits design custom software tools, logos, or fundraising databases. Your digital volunteer agreement should clearly state that any creative materials, campaign copy, or software tools developed during volunteer service become the exclusive property of the nonprofit, preventing subsequent copyright claims.
Nonprofits can use Undersign's free and low-cost digital signing options to manage volunteer agreements effortlessly, keeping records organized without diverting donor funds to expensive software.