Church Volunteer Questionnaires Every Ministry Needs

If you’re wondering how to recruit more volunteers to participate in your events, a church volunteer questionnaire is a great place to start.  

The good news is that people who belong to a church volunteer twice as often as those who don’t. In fact, the average churchgoer volunteers up to twelve times a year. 

This number seems like it’d be enough to keep a ministry boat afloat but channeling this enthusiasm can be difficult for churches. 

That’s why it’s important to regularly ask volunteers about their experiences. Because it can be time-consuming to build the questions for a church volunteer questionnaire, our team did it for you, allowing you to get started right away. 

Use the questionnaires below to gauge how your ministry programs are going. It will also remind them their opinions matter. 

How to Create a Church Volunteer Questionnaire 

Surveys for volunteers should be about 15 questions or fewer. Anything longer might make your volunteers feel burdened or discouraged. Leadership should check in with each volunteer group once or twice a quarter. 

Not sure where to start? Here are a few survey templates to get you started. The first of these two survey templates are church volunteer questionnaires to assess their experience after they've served. 

Church Volunteer Questionnaire One

Make sure to thank them for their efforts before doing anything else. Starting with gratitude also sets the tone for a positive second volunteer experience. Here's a good example of some text you can use to introduce the church volunteer questionnaire.

Thank you for sharing your gifts and time as a volunteer at [church name]. We appreciate your willingness to serve. Please tell us about your volunteer group experience. 

1. How did you find out about this volunteer opportunity?

Note: This will help your church staff know if one form of communication is working better than another. If most people signed up via social media, you could communicate that way again. If nobody reads the bulletin board announcement, it's important to know.

2. Did the tasks of this opportunity align with the church's mission?

Note: This would be a great place to summarize or link to your church's mission statement. 

• No 
• Somewhat
• Yes
  
  

3. Do you feel valued as a volunteer?

Note: Volunteers who feel valued have a better return rate of service. They're more likely to ask friends to join them as well. 

• No 

• Somewhat
• Yes 

4. Did you have fun as a volunteer?

• No 

• Somewhat 

• Yes 
  

5. Were fellow volunteers and church leadership supportive during this opportunity?

Note: The remaining survey questions will help you find out how well you are equipping your volunteers. Poor preparation can lead to volunteers feeling like they aren't helping or can't do what they need to do. When volunteers are well trained, they feel empowered to carry out their job(s). 

• No 
• Somewhat 
• Yes 

 6. How did you feel after you completed this volunteer opportunity? Circle all that apply

• Exhausted 
• Energized 
• Proud to have helped 
• Excited to volunteer again 
• Burned out 
• Like you made a difference 
• Like you grew in your faith 
• More connected to (ministry or organization) 

7. Were the preparation and training you received enough to equip you for this opportunity?

• No 

• Somewhat 

• Yes 

8. Did you have all the supplies you needed for this opportunity?

• Yes 
• No 

Please explain what was available and what was not available. 

9. What did you like about this opportunity?

10. Where do you see room for improvement in future volunteer opportunities?

11. Please explain anything else you want us to know about this volunteer opportunity.

Note: Leave plenty of space here for volunteers to talk freely about their experiences. This will also help them feel valued. If you only leave a small space, survey takers may be less likely to share. 

A Final Thank You:

Ending your survey with a "thank you" is a great bookend to your survey form.  Here is a good example you can use:

On behalf of [church staff/leadership] we would like to thank you for generously sharing your time and gifts with [ministry/project/organization]. 

Church Volunteer Questionnaire Two

The second church volunteer questionnaire is to find out interests and experiences that may match volunteer opportunities. Keep the greeting short and enthusiastic. Make sure you thank survey takers at the beginning and end of the survey form. 

Text to Include at the Intro of the Church Volunteer Questionnaire: We are excited for you to share your gifts and talents with [ministry/church]. We want to make sure this volunteer opportunity is a good fit for you. Please tell us more about your interests and skills. Thank you. 

Note: The first five questions will tell you how involved members are in current ministry opportunities. If you see someone who is already involved in three things, adding something else is too much. You don't want to burn your volunteers out. 

Availability is also important. It doesn't matter if a volunteer can sing if they're not available when worship team practices or worship times. 

1. What is your name?

2. How long have you attended [church name]?

3. How many times a month do you attend church services (on average)?  

4. Are you currently serving in church ministry/ministries?

• No 

• Yes 

If yes, which one(s)? 

5. How many hours per week are you available to volunteer?

• 1-2 

• 3-4 

• 5-6 

• Every Day/Evening 
  

Note: Questions 6-15 focus on specific gifts and interests. You wouldn't want someone gifted in childcare running a soundboard (unless the survey indicates they have both skills, of course!). 

6. Do you enjoy spending time with children?

• No 

• Yes 

If yes, what ages? Circle All That Apply 

• Infants 

• Toddlers 

• Preschoolers 

• Elementary Age 

• Middle School 

• High School 

7. Do you enjoy singing? Circle all that apply.

• No 

• Yes, with a group 

• Yes, by myself 

• I can sing melody 

• I like to harmonize 

8. Do you play a musical instrument?

If yes, please list which instrument(s)? 

• No 

• Yes

9. Do you enjoy speaking to groups of people?

• No 

• Yes, small groups of 2-10 

• Yes, large groups of 15 or more 

10. Do you have formal theological training?

If yes, please explain. 

• No 

• Yes 

11. Do you enjoy preparing food?

• No 

• Yes, 10 to 30 people 

• Yes, 30 to 50 people 

• Yes, 50 to 100 people 

• Yes, 100 or more people 

12. Do you enjoy serving food?

• No 

• Yes, 10 to 30 people 

• Yes, 30 to 50 people 

• Yes, 50 to 100 people 

• Yes, 100 or more people

13. Do you enjoy visiting with senior members of our congregation?

• No 

• Yes, one-on-one 

• Yes, in a group setting 

14. Do you have a heart for missions within our community?

If yes, please explain. 

• No 

• Yes 

15. Are you technologically savvy?

If yes, please explain. 

• No 

• Yes 

16. Do you have any allergies or medical conditions that may shape/affect your volunteer experience?

Note: It's very important to find out about any potential medical emergencies. If your volunteer has a food allergy or other condition, work with that person to make a safe environment and an emergency action plan. This will help set you and your volunteer up for a successful experience.   

17. Please list any other gifts or skills you would like to share with our church community. How would you like to share them?

Text to Include at the Conclusion of the Church Volunteer Questionnaire: Thank you for taking the time to tell us more about your gifts and interests. We appreciate your willingness to serve in church ministry.

Every Church Survey Sample You Could Ever Use