Volunteer Recruitment Strategies for Non-Profit Organizations

Volunteer Recruitment Tools, tips, strategy and planning

From your volunteer matching friends at

Step by Step Volunteer Recruitment

1 - Know your audience

Step by Step Volunteer Recruitment

2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”

Step by Step Volunteer Recruitment

3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)

Step by Step Volunteer Recruitment

4 - Create your toolbox

Step by Step Volunteer Recruitment

5 - Make it easy

Step by Step Volunteer Recruitment

6 - Say “Thanks”

Why do people volunteer?

Let’s start with the basics:

Step 1 - Know your audience

Why do people volunteer?

• They’ve been affected by the cause

Step 1 - Know your audience

• They’ve been affected by the cause

• They want to build their skills/resume

Why do people volunteer?

Step 1 - Know your audience

• They’ve been affected by the cause

• They want to build their skills/resume

• They want to connect to their community

Why do people volunteer?

Step 1 - Know your audience

• They’ve been affected by the cause

• They want to build their skills/resume

• They want to connect to their community

• Their friends are doing it

Why do people volunteer?

Step 1 - Know your audience

Step 1 - Know your audience

Have volunteers take the “Volunteer Quiz” to find out what kind of volunteer experience suits them best.

How does someone go from THINKING about volunteering

to ACTUALLY volunteering?

Step 2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”

Step 2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”

Did you know?

It takes 5-7 touch points for someone to go from thinking about volunteering to actually being engaged.

Step 2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”

I. Watch your YouTube video

II. Like your Facebook page

An example:

Before committing to volunteering,your potential volunteer might...

IV. Subscribe to your newsletter

III. Find an online volunteer posting

V. Email you for information

VI. Fill out an online application

VI. Come in for an interview

Reflect on our original question:

Why do people volunteer?

What will motivate your volunteers to get started?

Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own)

“Ask a friend” recruiting

Recruitment Tips:

Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)

“Ask a friend” recruiting

Write your volunteer posting like a job posting, (and focus the skills and benefits gained)

Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)

Recruitment Tips:

“Ask a friend” recruiting

Write your volunteer posting like a job posting, (and focus the skills and benefits gained)

Multiple interactions on multiple platforms

Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)

Recruitment Tips:

There are hundreds

(thousands?)

of ways to reach potential volunteers.

What are some of the best resources?

Step 4 - Create your toolbox

Step 4 - Create your toolbox

• Volunteer recruitment is core competency• Provide employee volunteer project management• Deliver training & volunteer management resources• Provide one-on-one consultation

Volunteer Centres

Step 4 - Create your toolbox

• One-on-one introduction to 100’s of volunteers• Provide opportunity to connect with other orgs• Greater volunteer engagement

Volunteer Centres

Volunteer Fairs

• Meet skilled students who want to build resume• Present your opportunities in classrooms• Opportunity to develop internship programs• Students are more likely to volunteer with friends

Volunteer Centres

Volunteer Fairs

Schools & Clubs

Step 4 - Create your toolbox

• Employee volunteer programs are numerous• Access to hundreds (or thousands) of skilled volunteers• May be able to post opportunities on company intranets• Often companies pay for resources for the project

Volunteer Centres

Volunteer Fairs

Schools & Clubs

Companies & Corporations

Step 4 - Create your toolbox

• Able to target locally• Provides broad reach to a wide audience• Can use physical space, or online posting boards

(eg. Kijiji or Craig’s List)

Volunteer Centres

Volunteer Fairs

Schools & Clubs

Companies & Corporations

Community Boards

Step 4 - Create your toolbox

Facebook Pages

Step 4 - Create your social media toolbox

Twitter

Step 4 - Create your social media toolbox

YouTube

Step 4 - Create your social media toolbox

Search

Step 4 - Create your social media toolbox

Step 4 - Create your onlinevolunteer listing toolbox

A Little Bit About

The largest set of opportunities in Canada

Fresh content-- opportunities are managed and up to date

• Over 2400 organizations• Over 5000 volunteer opportunities • 10-15% virtual opportunities• Over 7000 skilled volunteers • FRENCH version @ Actionbénévolecanada.ca (Getinvolved’s sister

site)• Plus customized content- over 100 inspirational videos, resources,

and research

Step 5 - Make It Easy

How Getinvolved.ca Works

Go to Getinvolved.caCreate a profile

Step 5 - Make It Easy

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

How Getinvolved.ca Works

Step 5 - Make It Easy

Write a catchy headline& tell us a little bit about your volunteer opportunity.

How Getinvolved.ca Works

Step 5 - Make It Easy

“Get Matched” to 1000’s of volunteers,based on skills, interests, and location

How Getinvolved.ca Works

Step 5 - Make It Easy

See someone good?

Good!

Click “Add to My Favs”

How Getinvolved.ca Works

Step 5 - Make It Easy

Want to contact them?

Click “Contact this volunteer” and send them a message

or,

Leave a comment at the bottom of their profile and it will be sent to their e-mail (remember - these are public)

How Getinvolved.ca Works

Step 5 - Make It Easy

• Create a full page profile plus posted volunteer opportunities

•Review profiles of hundreds of volunteers, save the ones you like.

• Contact volunteers from their profile page.

• Get content tailored to your cause and needs

In 15 minutes, you can....

Step 5 - Make It Easy

Need a little extra promotion?

We do that!

Not only do we promote our members on our website, but we also feature our members through our social media channels.

Step 5 - Make It Easy

Having problems?

Contact Getinvolved’s community manager,Shannon from Monday to Friday 9-5.

shannonh@getinvolved.ca

or by phone (!)

416-361-5907

Step 5 - Make It Easy

THANKS.

Step 6 - Say “Thanks”

THANKS.

(Don’t forget to show appreciationfor your volunteers!)

Step 6 - Say “Thanks”