Category Archives: Volunteer Recruitment
How to generate action and deliver change
Check out this presentation on social and behavioural change from Jon Howard, Planning Director at Quiet Storm, a UK-based advertising agency. He addresses the question of how to engage your audience and mobilise them for action.
Key points include:
- less guilt tripping, more positive reinforcement
- harnessing the power of “everyone else”
- having a clear simple vision
- empowering your supporters
- making it easy for people to become involved with your cause
View the presentation on SlideShare
5 ways Facebook can attract volunteers to your cause
So you have set up your Facebook page for your non-profit? Great! Now your next task is to maintain and leverage it if you hope to attract more volunteers and ambassadors to your cause. Read on to find out how.
1. Encourage more likes on your page
You want your Facebook page to appear on as many newsfeeds as possible, so encourage more likes on your page to make this happen.
2. Take lots of pictures at your volunteer events
Post pictures, videos and notes of your events as soon as it happens. Everyone likes to have their efforts recognized so make sure you take the opportunity to feature your volunteers at work. Encourage supporters to tag themselves in the pictures and leave comments. Chances are these supporters will repost the pictures on their own Facebook wall and others will see the recognition and satisfaction they get from being part of your organization. This builds community and a sense of motivation and pride in being a volunteer with your group. A knock-on effect to this may very well be that others will be encouraged to join too when they see their friends activity.
3. Maintain an active image gallery of hosted events
Encourage supporters to send you their pictures of fundraising and awareness raising events they host for you. Aim to maintain an active gallery of images to motivate and inspire potential supporters and to recognize the efforts of current volunteers.
4. Use comments to gather feedback
Many organizations are wary of the comments facility on Facebook but it is an opportunity to be embraced. Be open to all feedback – good and bad. See it as a chance to address any concerns supporters might have. When followers see the considerate and timely way you deal with these concerns, their trust in your organization will increase.
5. Use direct appeals sparingly
Your facebook presence is not about direct advertising – it is about community building and keeping your volunteers energized, motivated and connected with each other and you. If you only use your Facebook page to appeal for donations or help, you will soon overwhelm and put off your current and potential volunteers. That is not to say you cannot make direct appeals in this way, but do so judiciously and strategically.
How to recruit fundraising volunteers
Volunteers are important members of many fundraising teams, and often play a critical role in the overall success of your fundraiser. The following are a few tips to help you recruit volunteers to your fundraising team.
1. Invite, Don’t Push
You are working hard to support a meaningful and rewarding cause. You feel good about the work you’re doing and you want to share the joy of giving back with others. Remember that when you approach volunteers. Remember that you are inviting them to be a part of something great. Share your feelings with them and ask them to join you.
You’ll have more success recruiting volunteers by inviting them rather than pushing them into helping out, and the ones that you are able to recruit will likely share your passion for the cause.
2. Plan Your Tasks Before You Ask
People are more likely to volunteer if they have a clear idea of what you’re asking them to do. Divide your fundraiser into tasks and make a note of all tasks that require volunteer help. Take the list when you go recruiting and refer to it when asking volunteers. Say things like, “We need a few people to work on setup, and a few to supervise the event. Could you help out with one of those tasks?”
When you give people a clear understanding of the work involved, they’ll be more likely to sign on. Also, you’ll be assured that those who sign on will be up to the tasks at hand.
3. Be a Team Leader
Once you’ve recruited your volunteers, you want to keep them on board and keep them motivated. The best way to do this is to be an effective, well organized, energetic team leader. Let your enthusiasm show at all times, and be there to answer questions or offer support. You are who they will look to for guidance, so be prepared with a smile!
4. Get the Word Out There
There are several online resources on which you can post free adverts for volunteers, where you can expect your advert to be read by thousands of like-minded people interested in the work that community and voluntary groups do.
Source: efundraising.com
