In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Day, I decided to review the latest version of the Girl Scouts of the USA volunteer bill of rights and responsibilities.
I couldn’t find one.
So I decided to do a bit of research and found similar documents from other non-profit organizations, including Catholic Charities, Scouting America, World Scouting, DC Central Kitchen, University of California at San Diego, and Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley.
I discovered that they are largely compatible, with the same meaning conveyed in differing phrasing.
I’ve tried to combine the examples into one document.
Volunteer Rights
It is your right:
- To be assigned a task that is worthwhile and challenging that is carried out in a safe and comfortable environment.
- To receive the orientation, training, equipment, supplies, and supervision needed to do the job.
- To feel that your efforts have real purpose and contribute to the agency’s mission.
- To receive useful feedback and evaluation about your work.
- To be treated with respect and as an equal partner, not just free help.
Rockwood National Girl Scout Center (author’s collection)
- To be trusted with confidential information necessary to carry out your assignment.
- To be consulted on matters that directly or indirectly affect you and your work, including staff turnover.
- To expect that your time will be used efficiently; not wasted because of poor coordination by the agency.
- To ask any questions that will clarify a task or assignment and receive a prompt, substantive reply.
- To give the agency input or advice on how to better accommodate the needs of present and future volunteers.
- To receive prompt processing of purchase and reimbursement requests.
Volunteer Responsibilities
It is your responsibility:
- To not take on more responsibility than you can handle.
- To specify and fulfill deadlines.
- To perform the tasks assigned to you to the best of your ability.
- To provide constructive feedback on ways your tasks might be better performed.
- To follow agency policies and procedures.
- To be open-minded and respectful towards opinions shared with you.
- To notify the agency in advance of absences or schedule changes that may affect them.
- To accept and follow through reasonable tasks without complaints.
- To communicate and work with others in the agency if the task calls for it.
We’re All in the Same Troop
But the key to making a successful volunteer-staff partnership, is making sure staff abide by these provisions as well.
Consider whether that “thank you” message is spontaneous and genuine
or just meant to pacify a grumpy volunteer?
There is no point in trying to “communicate and work with others in the agency” if no one is genuinely listening.
Sometimes it seems that a refresher course might be needed.
© 2026 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.