When applied well, volunteer engagement can solve some of the greatest challenges that nonprofits...
Super Scout Supporters or Volunteers for the Scouting Program? Obviously, the first name is better! Names for volunteer groups are important, and every nonprofit and corporate volunteer program should consider them when designing events and programs.
One of the main reasons people volunteer is to deepen a sense of belonging in the community. When people are part of a fun, named team, they are much more likely to receive that feeling. That is why volunteer group names have become status quo in recent years.
Studies show that there are multiple factors to “why” most people are volunteering. They are compelled to by their employer, or possibly they are looking for new job skills. Some are lonely and seek community connection and new friendships.
Almost all volunteers, however, no matter why they started volunteering, concur that a sense of belonging is a meaningful result of their work. Naming a group improves that impact, in turn improving your volunteer recruitment and retention.
Fun, creative names can be tricky to conjure, however! That’s why we put together this starter list for different program areas, to spark your imagination.
10 Volunteer Group Names for Community Service
Most volunteer work is for community service initiatives, such as feeding programs or general work to help those going through a difficult circumstance. Group names for this type of work can focus on the community nature, the helping aspect, and the kindness being shared. These names can work across any sector.
Another place to look for inspiration is our list of volunteer quotes aimed at inspiring and supporting people. The heart of the work is what is important. As Aesop wrote, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” The volunteer group name should make your volunteers feel good about helping out!
- Helper Heroes
- Community Changers
- Making Us Great Again
- Service Solidarians
- Poverty Eradicators
- Grass Roots Rockers
- Random Kindness Crew
- Spread the Love Helpers
- Outreach Champions
- Everyone Matters Masters
10 Group Names for School Work
Young people in school groups rally behind a good name! It can be put on shirts, spread through social media, and uplift groups to make an impact.
- Youth Community Crusaders
- Heroes United
- Friends for the Future
- Teens for Change
- Positivity Prowlers
- Changemakers for the Future
- Power Up Progress
- Rising Up Stars
- Learners Who Lead
- Compassion Kids
When you’re organizing a group of students for a volunteer opportunity, think about letting them pick their own name. Friendly competition between groups can make your event even more fun.
10 Great Names for Environmental Volunteer Groups
Another hot sector for volunteering is environment and outdoor work. Whether you’re getting a group together to clean a trail or advocate for better water quality, the values behind the group are similar. A great name can attract more volunteers and generate more impact.
- Eco Champions
- Trail Blazers
- Earth Action Team
- Mother Nature’s Soldiers
- Earth Avengers
- Pollution Warriors
- Tree Huggers
- Park Protectors
- Conservation Cohort
- Planet Guardians
10 Group Volunteer Names for Sporting Events
Sporting events, like marathons and bike-a-thons, are increasingly popular for volunteer engagement, especially for corporate volunteer groups. Fundraising and participation is even more successful with a great name. Here are some ideas.
- Righteous Runners
- Sporty Support Squad
- Benevolent Bikers
- Kicks for Kindness
- Teammates for Good
- Do-Good Golfers
- Fitness Philanthropists
- Playtime for Charity
- Charge for Change
- Wonderful Walkers
Volunteers for sporting events, like fundraising marathons, will appreciate a great team name.
10 Fun Names for Groups Helping Animals
Another popular volunteer genre is animal welfare and support. Even though volunteers are focused on the animals, the human camaraderie is also important!
- Friends for the Fuzzy
- Furry Defenders
- Tails of Wonder
- Weekend Waggers
- Allies of Wildlife
- Guardians for the Voiceless
- Paw Patrol
- “Paw”sative Protectors
- Care Crew
- Stray Saviors
10 Group Names for Seasonal Volunteers that Pop
Across all charitable areas, we often get groups together that are specific to seasons. Here are some ideas to help them feel the holiday spirit.
- Christmas Chrew
- Holiday Hopers
- Spring Cleaners
- Falling for Change
- Summer Champions
- Thanksgiving Givers
- Winter Warriors
- Snow Angels
- March for Good
- Season for Generosity
Tips to Structure Your Volunteer Program
A great name for your group is just one piece of the volunteer management puzzle. Once you have drawn in your new volunteers with your great name, you want to make sure you are applying best practices to retain them and to recognize them, ideas that go hand-in-hand.
Volunteers need to be thanked. They are dedicating their time and energy for free, and acknowledging that amazing gift and its impact on your work is critical to retaining them for future support. Volunteer appreciation ideas include:
- Posting images and videos with tags in your social media channels. Tools like Golden make it easy to do so, as volunteers have their own profiles and social media channels linked into the system with your management program. You can send personal messages, or thank the whole group and tag individual contributions.
- Sending thank you notes (see Golden’s tips for putting together “Thank a Volunteer” messages, with the help of new tech tools).
- Using rewards systems for gifts and prizes. Golden works with Karats, a system that automatically logs “points” for volunteers to receive chances for fantastic prizes and rewards.
What’s in a Name?
When it comes to volunteering, a name is very important! You want your volunteers to understand they are part of a group and making a viable community impact through their work. And volunteering should always be fun and engaging. A good group name sets the tone for a meaningful experience.
Names for volunteer groups are just the first step in your volunteer management, however. Tech tools like Golden volunteer management platform can help you organize your entire program to work for you. Golden integrations with the best technologies, like Salesforce, can ease your administrative time and make tasks like recruitment and appreciation seem simple.
