Nonprofit organizations often depend on volunteers to help stretch their limited resources. Recruiting dedicated and talented volunteers who can serve as substitutes for one or more full-time employees can mean the difference between thriving and simply surviving as an organization. If you’re a running a new nonprofit, or one that has never utilized volunteers, how do you start building a volunteer team, and how do you keep them engaged?
Where to Find the Best Volunteers
The best volunteers are often right under your nose. They are those who come to all of your events, comment on or share your social media posts, and/or donate to your organization.
At the nonprofit organization I work for, VitalChurch Ministry, some of our most dedicated volunteers are the ones who have been impacted by our ministry’s work in the past. They are often members of churches in which our interim pastors have served. They worked directly with our interim pastors to help their home churches make much-needed changes that put them on the path to health and vitality. They have seen, firsthand, the work that goes into our ministry and the dedication of our pastors and support staff, and they have decided they wanted to be a part of helping other churches make positive changes.
As you look to grow your volunteer team, seek out those who are the most enthusiastic about what your organization is doing and how it is impacting the communities you serve.
How to Ask for Volunteer Help
So many people never volunteer because they are never asked! You may be thinking: “We ask for volunteers all the time, and no one ever steps up!” But how are you asking? Are you requesting help in mass emails or newsletters, or putting a blurb on your website? When people see these types of requests, they don’t always think these requests apply to them specifically, or they think someone else will step up.
The best way to enlist volunteers is to personally ask people to help! Maybe you know someone with a specific skill that your organization could benefit from who is also sympathetic to your cause. Ask him or her if they would be willing to donate some of their time to help your organization on a pro bono basis. Or maybe you have a regular donor who you know is retired and would love to engage in some meaningful work. You could also approach students who might be looking to boost their resumes through volunteer work.
The key is to approach people with an ask that is specific to them. Mention the skills or qualities they possess, and then ask if they would be able and willing to use them to benefit your organization. For example, you could say something like, “I know you’re great with social media. Would you be willing to meet with someone from our team once a month for a couple of hours to set up a social media campaign to help promote our programs and events?” Or, “You’ve been such an enthusiastic supporter of our organization! Would you consider making phone calls to local businesses to ask for donations for our upcoming auction?”
Of course, you can still put out requests for volunteers in your emails, newsletters, and on your website, but make sure the request is specific and there is a clear call to action. If you just need one-time volunteers for an event, mention what they will be doing and what the time commitment is. If there are any “perks,” be sure to mention those—like if you’ll be providing a meal for all volunteers, or if they will be able to attend portions of your event for free. Ongoing positions should also be clearly outlined, as far as what is expected from volunteers. (“We need help in our [city] office on Fridays from noon-5:00 to answer phone calls and stuff envelopes.”)
Thank Volunteers Regularly and Give Them Real Responsibilities
One-time volunteers are great, but even better are those who serve consistently or who you can call on regularly for help. Developing this type of volunteer team takes time and requires intentional cultivation.
One of the easiest ways to keep volunteers coming back is to thank them! Thank them in person and thank them publicly. Consider hosting a volunteer appreciation event on occasion, where you provide volunteers with a meal and take the time to explain what their work means to your organization. You might also want to do some sort of “volunteer spotlight” in your email newsletters or on your social media pages, where you highlight a specific volunteer and talk about what he or she does at your nonprofit organization. Not only will these things bolster your current volunteers, but they might also inspire others to give of their time.
You should also consider giving your most dedicated and reliable volunteers some actual responsibilities and ownership over certain tasks. So many times, volunteers stop showing up because they don’t feel like they are making a difference. They are given “busy work,” and feel like their time is being wasted.
Put in the effort to get to know your volunteers and where their skills and experience lie. You might be surprised to find out that a volunteer who has been stuffing envelopes has experience with grant writing, or the one who helps you set up and tear down at events owns an IT company. They may be thrilled to be asked to take on more responsibility in areas in which they are gifted or skilled!
Once a volunteer has proven himself or herself to be reliable, ask them to be in charge of something. You could even offer them a title to make it “official.” Not everyone will take you up on it, but if they do, you may just gain a valuable team member who will help propel your organization forward—at no cost to your nonprofit!
short url:
