9 Quick Tips for Recruiting Volunteers

As a Volunteer Manager, you know that when it comes to running a volunteer program for a nonprofit organization – and creating change in the community through volunteerism – one of the most important pieces of the puzzle is volunteer recruitment. Sure, there are other factors (such as your budget!) that are also extremely important, but volunteers are the backbone of any volunteer program and finding good volunteers is like striking gold. That brings us to the question this blog addresses: What are some great ideas for recruiting volunteers? This is a question most Volunteer Managers ask themselves often. That’s because they have a difficult time finding new volunteers who fit with their organization’s mission and culture. Do you share this concern? Maybe your nonprofit relies on one simple recruiting method like posting volunteer opportunities to a single online website or only promoting volunteer roles via bulletin boards at the community center. This strategy may work to fill your volunteer slots but finding new ways and places to recruit means recruiting volunteers with a broader range of experience, skills, and availability. It’s not always easy to think of new ways to advertise your organization and its volunteer opportunities, so we are offering some ideas to help! Pair our suggestions below with information cards, brochures and fun swag to get the best and brightest volunteers on your team:

1. Your best resource? Your current volunteers! Ask existing volunteers if they know anyone who would be interested in volunteering to support your organization’s mission.
2. Get your organization on social media! Social media boasts great potential for exposure for your nonprofit. Post photos and tag volunteers participating in volunteer events. Generate excitement about your mission and promote opportunities for new volunteers to get involved.
3. Seeking out Baby Boomer volunteers in particular? Target soon-to-be retirees by contacting corporate HR departments. Ask them to place your organization’s information in their employee retirement packets.
4. Placing small ads in the local newspaper can reach older volunteers too.
5. Looking for weekday volunteers? Find corporate groups that do monthly service days. School groups run volunteer days during the academic year all the time, too!
6. Recruiting on college campuses also reaches a large pool of potential candidates with diverse availability and skills (Hint: fraternity and sorority groups often require members to volunteer a certain number of hours per semester).
7. What’s the difference between volunteering and unpaid internships? Not much. Position your volunteer opportunity as an internship in the nonprofit field.
8. Want even younger volunteers? Partner with service clubs (Key Club, Interact, National Honor Society, Green Team, etc.) at local schools.
9. Finally, reaching out to faith-based groups is a wonderful way to connect with prospective volunteers. Group leaders can host an open house or put notices in the weekly bulletin.

Keep this in mind: the key to recruiting quality volunteers is to look in new, different, and strategic places! What are some of your organization’s unique ideas/tips for recruiting volunteers? We’d love to hear them. Or try one of the ideas above and let us know what kind of results you see. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to share!