It can be difficult to obtain volunteers to help with events and programs, and sometimes retaining them is even harder. Here are a few easy to implement and effective ideas that have helped education and youth nonprofits recruit volunteers by showing their appreciation.
7. Ask volunteers for feedback. Learn what their volunteers need through face-to-face conversations and online surveys. We’ve learned that volunteers want to understand the job before they sign up for it. I can relate. As a parent, I remember being intimidated about setting up at a fundraiser or even timing at a swim meet. Once I received training, it was easy (see #5). Some of the points below are from other things I’ve learned from surveys.
6. Provide job descriptions. Define when, where, and the duration of the job on your signup sheet (I recommend Signup Genius). When I assume the person has never been to the event, for example, it helps me add lots of details, which helps recruit new volunteers. It also helps existing volunteers try new jobs.
5. Post jobs on volunteermatch.org. There are free accounts and upgrades. If you haven’t seen this site, I highly suggest checking it out. Volunteers search by location and cause (children & youth, education & literacy) and people can sign up on the web site and find opportunities that match their unique skills.
4. Train volunteers and don’t waste their time. I’ve noticed volunteers looking really uncomfortable when they’re in a new situation and don’t know what to do. I’ve helped set up for fundraisers that I’ve never attended, and because I didn’t know what to do, I’d feel useless. I’d also wonder why I was there, since I wasn’t helping (and had a million other things to do). A documented onboarding process also makes it easier for seasoned volunteers to train new volunteers.
3. Give them free stuff. If it’s an event, provide free access to the event, food, and t-shirts or whatever else you have to offer.
2. Have fun. They’re volunteering because they believe in your organization’s cause, and when your community gets together to help others, it can be a celebration.
1. Thank them. Here are some effective ways to thank people:
· Write hand-written thank-you notes
· Take their photos and post them on the organization’s web site and social media accounts
· Tell stories about how their volunteering helped, for example, buy new lab equipment which Suzy used and now she wants to be a scientist
· Give them a t-shirt or tote bag they can show off
· Ask students to help you make a thank you card that they sign or handprint
· Throw a thank you party. It can be easy! A foundation I work with throws one every year. One year it was a potluck. You just get a chance to relax with everyone and make new friends, who you’ll see again at the next volunteering opportunity.