Introduction
Do you have a special project you’re working on? Do you want volunteers to help with it? If so, then we’re here to help! Volunteers are a great way for your organization to get the most out of your resources, save money and make the most impact. Here are several tips to recruit candidates.
Ask them
- Ask them to help you with a special project.
- Be clear about the time commitment, and how their work will impact the organization.
- Praise their work and make sure they know that what they’re doing is important!
Be specific
Now that you’ve determined what your special projects are, it’s time to recruit volunteers. It’s a good idea to ask people specifically if they want to volunteer for a specific project or if they’re willing to help with any of the special projects that might come up in the future. Asking people to volunteer for general projects is usually a bad idea because some volunteers may be better at handling one type of project than another and it can be confusing for them if their assignment changes midstream. If you do have a general volunteer position available (and there are no special projects), then make sure this information is included in your job description so that potential candidates know what they’re getting into before applying for the position.
Outline a timeline
A project timeline is a very important step in the volunteer recruitment process. The timeline should be specific and flexible, yet reasonable and achievable. It should also take into account the nature of the project, as well as the skills and experience of your volunteers.
Here are some examples:
- If you’re organizing a bake sale for charity, your timeline could be something like “First Weekend in May”. This doesn’t give too much time to bake cookies before hand (for example), but it does make it so that you know exactly when you want things done by. It’s also fairly easy to predict how far ahead people will need to plan their baking schedule if they want to participate in this type of event.
- If you’re planning an art show with multiple artists who are all submitting different pieces at different times throughout the year (or even over several years), then perhaps create more than one timeline—one per artist—and put them all together under one heading titled “The Art Show” or something similar so it’s clear what they relate too each other might look something like this:
Outline expectations
The next step is to outline the expectations for volunteers. Let them know what you’re looking for and how long it will take. You’ll also want to establish a timeline, so everyone knows when they should be done with the task at hand.
Describe benefits – common good, good Public relations, growth opportunity, stretch goal, experience
- Common good. This project benefits the whole community, so you’ll be giving a gift to everyone involved.
- Good Public relations. Volunteers will be proud of the work they’ve done and will share their experience with others, creating positive buzz for your organization in the process.
- Growth opportunity. Volunteering is an excellent way for people to grow in their abilities and responsibilities, which can help them advance in their career or education goals.
- Stretch goal: It’s no secret that people get nervous when they’re asked to do something out of their comfort zone—but stretching yourself will help build confidence and make you feel more competent overall, so consider this an investment in yourself!
- Experience: Volunteering allows you to put your skills into practice on real projects that would otherwise go undone—while learning new skills along with it!
Encourage people to volunteer or help with special projects by being clear about the call to action and the expected outcome.
Be clear about the call to action and the expected outcome.
- Be specific about what you want. Tell us exactly what you are looking for and where to find it.
- Outline expectations. Let people know exactly what they should be doing when they volunteer or help with special projects. This will make sure everyone is on the same page and no one is confused about their roles in any given project or activity, which can save time and frustration down the line!
- Describe benefits. A good way to convince people that volunteering is worthwhile is by describing how it will benefit them personally—mentioning how volunteering makes them feel good, helps others, provides a sense of accomplishment etc., which could encourage others who may not otherwise have considered getting involved as well (depending on their personality type). For example: “Volunteering at this event gives me an opportunity to give back while also meeting new friends; being around others who share similar interests makes me feel better about myself.” Another idea would be including testimonials from previous participants who were happy with their experience working together towards common goals like these ones here from our last campaign called “No Room Left Behind” which raised money for those affected by Hurricane Irma.”
Conclusion
Research shows that the best way to encourage people to volunteer or help with special projects is by being clear about the call to action and the expected outcome. When you can clearly define what needs to be done and why it’s important, people will be more likely to get involved. A volunteer fair may also be worth the effort. Please visit our article on Hiring Fairs to learn some strategies. Or to get involved in other programs please visit the United Way Website.
