Recruiting and managing volunteers is crucial for the success of any nonprofit organization.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of many nonprofits, providing the passion, energy, and hands-on support that keep operations running smoothly.
But how do you recruit volunteers effectively? And once you have them on board, how do you keep them engaged and motivated?
In this post, we’ll walk through practical strategies for recruiting and managing volunteers for your nonprofit. Plus, don’t miss our free resource—the Top 10 Donor Stewardship Strategies for Nonprofits + Free Donor Engagement Checklist—which you can download at the end of this post.
Why Volunteers Matter for Nonprofits
Volunteers are often the backbone of nonprofit organizations. They bring a wealth of skills and enthusiasm to your mission without the financial burden of additional staff. But finding the right people, getting them involved, and ensuring they stay invested can be challenging. The key is to be intentional about your recruitment and management strategies.
1. Know Who You’re Looking For
Before you start searching for volunteers, it’s important to define the skills and qualities you need. Are you looking for people with technical skills, like graphic design or web development? Or do you need people who can interact with the community and help spread the word about your mission? By creating a volunteer profile, you’ll have a clear idea of who to target.
Example: If your nonprofit focuses on youth mentorship, you might look for volunteers who have experience working with children or those who are passionate about education. This helps you find people who will not only enjoy the work but also excel in their roles.
2. Use Multiple Channels to Recruit Volunteers
Just like with job openings, you need to advertise volunteer opportunities in various places to reach a broad audience. Here are some effective ways to recruit volunteers:
- Social Media: Post on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Share photos of current volunteers in action, along with a compelling story about why volunteering makes a difference.
- Volunteer Websites: Websites like VolunteerMatch or Idealist can help connect you with people actively looking for volunteer opportunities.
- Community Events: Attend local events, school fairs, and church gatherings to spread the word about your volunteer needs.
Example: One nonprofit, “Green Trees,” which focuses on environmental conservation, created a Facebook event for a local clean-up day. They encouraged their followers to sign up and bring a friend. The event attracted over 30 new volunteers who were excited to get involved.
3. Create a Smooth Onboarding Process
A well-organized onboarding process is essential for setting your volunteers up for success. When people feel welcomed and understand what’s expected, they’re more likely to stay engaged.
- Welcome Packet: Provide a welcome packet that includes an overview of your nonprofit’s mission, expectations, roles, and training materials.
- Orientation Sessions: Host a virtual or in-person orientation where new volunteers can learn about the organization, meet the team, and ask questions.
- Assign a Mentor: Pairing new volunteers with a more experienced volunteer or staff member can help them get comfortable and feel supported.
Example: At “Helping Hands,” a nonprofit that delivers meals to the elderly, each new volunteer is paired with a mentor for their first three delivery routes. This allows them to learn the ropes while building a personal connection with the team.
4. Engage Volunteers with Meaningful Work
No one likes to feel like their time is being wasted. To keep your volunteers motivated, make sure they’re doing work that aligns with their interests and your organization’s mission.
- Match Skills with Tasks: If a volunteer has graphic design skills, ask them to help create promotional materials for an upcoming event rather than stuffing envelopes.
- Show Impact: Share stories and statistics that show how volunteers’ efforts make a difference. For example, “Thanks to your help, we were able to provide clean drinking water to 500 families last month.”
How One Volunteer Changed Everything
Let me tell you about Sarah. She joined a small animal rescue nonprofit with no idea of the impact she would have. At first, she just wanted to walk the dogs on weekends.
But after a few months, Sarah noticed that the nonprofit struggled with fundraising. She had experience with online campaigns, so she offered to help. Her GoFundMe campaign raised over $10,000 in just one month, which covered medical expenses for rescued animals and helped the organization buy supplies for the next six months.
Sarah’s story is a powerful reminder of how the right volunteer can make a huge difference when their skills are matched with a nonprofit’s needs. It’s also a reminder to listen to your volunteers—they might bring solutions you haven’t even considered.
5. Recognize and Appreciate Your Volunteers
Volunteer appreciation is not just about saying thank you—though that’s important too! It’s about creating a culture where volunteers feel valued and respected. Recognizing their hard work will encourage them to stay involved.
- Host Volunteer Appreciation Events: Organize yearly appreciation events or award ceremonies to recognize top contributors.
- Spotlight Volunteers: Use your social media channels and newsletters to highlight volunteers’ contributions.
- Small Gestures Count: Send personalized thank-you notes or a small token of appreciation like a coffee gift card.
Example: A local food pantry called “Nourish Now” sends out a monthly volunteer spotlight in their newsletter, sharing a photo and a short story about a volunteer who made an impact that month. It helps the volunteers feel seen and appreciated.
6. Offer Opportunities for Growth and Learning
Many people volunteer because they want to learn new skills or gain experience in a specific field. Offering training sessions or giving volunteers the chance to take on leadership roles can keep them engaged.
- Training Workshops: Offer workshops on communication skills, event planning, or public speaking.
- Leadership Roles: Create volunteer roles like team leader or event coordinator for those who are interested in taking on more responsibility.
Example: A nonprofit that supports literacy in schools started offering a quarterly workshop on “How to Lead a Successful Reading Group” for their volunteers. The workshops helped volunteers improve their skills and boosted their confidence in leading reading sessions with kids.
7. Collect Feedback and Continuously Improve
Listening to your volunteers is key to building a successful program. Feedback helps you identify what’s working and what needs improvement.
- Surveys: Use online surveys to ask volunteers about their experiences and what you could do better.
- One-on-One Check-ins: Regularly check in with long-term volunteers to understand their needs and any challenges they’re facing.
- Open Communication Channels: Create a space where volunteers feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, whether through an anonymous suggestion box or a dedicated email address.
Example: “Bright Futures,” an after-school tutoring nonprofit, sends out a survey after every semester to ask volunteers what they liked, what could be improved, and whether they’d like to continue volunteering. The feedback helps them tweak their programs and keep volunteers engaged.
Conclusion:
Recruiting and managing volunteers for your nonprofit is all about connecting with people, engaging their passions, and making sure they feel valued every step of the way.
With the right approach, you can build a team of dedicated volunteers who are excited to help you achieve your mission.
If you found these tips helpful, subscribe to the Nonprofit Navigators Newsletter for more expert advice on managing volunteers, improving your donor relations, and taking your nonprofit to the next level. And don’t forget to download our Top 10 Donor Stewardship Strategies for Nonprofits + Free Donor Engagement Checklist to keep your supporters engaged and loyal to your cause!
