Aside from being a vital resource for a nonprofit, volunteers are also precious to a public organization. They typically perform their duties to support the organization’s mission and goals. Nonprofits rely on these individuals for their time and skills to deliver effective programs.
According to studies, about a hundred million individuals give their time and resources to a nonprofit each year. The estimated value of this volunteer work is around $150 billion.
Volunteering can help a nonprofit save money and provide better support to its beneficiaries. It can also help increase the organization’s contact with the community. Here are some ways to recruit more volunteers from your community.
Be Flexible
When recruiting volunteers, it’s vital that you clearly state the type of work you expect them to perform.
This should also be clearly stated so that the volunteer can make an informed decision regarding their volunteering commitment. This will allow them to know how much time they’re expected to spend.
You can also offer short-term volunteer opportunities. For instance, you can allow individuals to commit to volunteering for 8 hours a week for a month. This is ideal for people who have flexible schedules.
Some volunteers prefer shorter commitments. However, some individuals have a lot of energy and time to give back to the community. If you’re looking for people with expertise or time, consider offering them a longer-term volunteer opportunity.
One of the most critical factors that you should consider when it comes to recruiting volunteers is flexibility. This will allow you to determine the type of work you expect them to perform and enable them to join the organization’s mission.
Recruit Strategically
Although you should always keep the doors open to people who are passionate about your organization’s mission, some positions require specific skills. For instance, greeting event attendees at the door requires a lot of intelligence and an extroverted personality. If you’re planning on hiring people capable of performing this role, ensure you’re also looking for individuals with the necessary skills.
You should also include information about the skills you’re looking for in a volunteer position. This will allow you to determine the type of work you expect them to perform and enable them to join the organization’s mission.
If the volunteer position doesn’t require a lot of technical or hard skills, it’s an excellent opportunity for people passionate about the organization’s mission. You can also envision an ambassador who can listen to and provide helpful advice to the attendees.
Your volunteer profile should also include information about yourself so that potential volunteers can easily recognize who you are.