Finding volunteers for your nonprofit organisation can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. By the time you finish reading this guide, you will have mastered all the right tips to recruit volunteers.
A lot of NGOs rely on volunteers to deliver essential services within the company and community. This is because non-profit organisations function for the common good and social benefit, unlike other types of businesses that function primarily for profit. Asking people to volunteer is the easy part; getting them to work for you can be challenging. But with the right tips, you can start to attract volunteers like a magnet. Read on to discover 10 proven strategies that can help you attract volunteers.
How to Attract Volunteers to Your Non-Profit: 10 Tips and Strategies
There are many benefits of recruiting volunteers to your organisation. Some of these benefits include getting more hands to work towards your cause and increase your impact; creating more awareness about your organisation, reducing operational costs, and strengthening your community. Volunteers can also increase your funding, as a report showed that volunteers are ten times more likely to donate to charities than non-volunteers.1
Now that we have some of the benefits of getting volunteers, here are some tips to get them involved in your organisation:
1. Harness the Power of Social Media
Social media is a great way to engage with your community and find people who care about the work you are doing. Besides posting updates about your company, you can also use social media to announce your need for volunteers. NGOs like UNICEF leverage platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase their projects, share impactful stories, and engage with potential volunteers.
2. Create Compelling Content
You might wonder how content relates to getting volunteers. It does!
One of the best tips to get people to care about what you do is by showing what you do. Create content around the work you do, use storytelling to showcase the impact of your NGO and paint a picture of how volunteers contribute to your cause. People love to be part of a community that creates impact, and you are likely to attract volunteers when they see you are doing the work. Organisations like Amnesty International, through their blog series and video testimonials, highlight the impact of their work and how volunteers contribute to their cause. Refer to this article on content ideas for non-profits.
3. Publish on Online Databases and Volunteer Matching Platforms
Websites like VolunteerMatch, Idealist and even Linkedin can be helpful in connecting organisations with individuals interested in volunteering. Post your need for volunteers on online job boards as you would for any other role in the company. Clearly start the role, hour required, location, and benefits in the volunteer job description.
4. Advertise at Schools and Universities
One of the organisations I have worked with, Slum and Rural Health Initiative (SHRIN), attracted tons of volunteers when the company decided to create a network in universities. Today, the non-profit has a network of volunteers in top universities in Nigeria and almost every state of the country.
Establish partnerships with schools, colleges, and universities to tap into the pool of young, passionate individuals. Offer internship programmes, volunteer opportunities, and educational workshops. Plan international collaboration with educational institutions to promote youth volunteering and ignite a spirit of activism.
5. Celebrate Volunteer of the Month
Highlighting volunteers in your organisation will give them a sense of importance; it makes them feel seen and foster a positive experience. Celebrating volunteers can also encourage other people to work with you because it shows you care about your team. You can celebrate your volunteers on social media, websites, events, and other platforms you use to engage your audience. Highlight their role in the company, thank them for their work, and mention one or two contributions they make to the organization.
You can also make this more robust by giving highlighted volunteers awards or a prize for being outstanding. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital honours volunteers annually with awards ceremonies, acknowledging their invaluable role in advancing their mission.
6. Offer Benefits
Some non for profit organizations like the United Nations often offer stipends for their volunteers. That’s not all, they offer certificates of appreciation/recognition that can help their volunteers to stand out and apply for related jobs.
Offering volunteers an incentive will encourage them to work for your company. These benefits can come in different forms: a stipend if you can afford it, lunch, certificates, training workshops to improve their skills, and so on. You can also leave room for outstanding volunteers to become a full-time member of your team.
7. Cultivate a Positive Volunteer Experience
I have avoided a lot of volunteering opportunities after hearing how the organisation treats their employees and volunteers. This is the same for many other people. You should cultivate a healthy work culture within your organisation and make volunteering a fulfilling journey by providing training, support, and recognition. NGOs should invest in volunteer training programmes, empowering individuals to become ambassadors for conservation.
Volunteers with positive experience in your organisation are likely to encourage others through word-of-mouth recruitment.
8. Consider Virtual Volunteers
People are more likely to volunteer with your nonprofit organisation if they can work from anywhere. Virtual volunteers can work in roles like graphic design, social media management, administration and fundraising. Recognise that volunteers lead busy lives and offer flexible schedules to accommodate them. Greenpeace allows volunteers to contribute from the comfort of their homes through online advocacy and fundraising campaigns. It would help if you also treated your virtual volunteers as you would any other volunteers.
9. Have a Volunteer Database
There is a chance that a past volunteer, when reached out, might indicate interest in getting involved again. Also, there is a probability that a volunteer job advertisement might get more applicants than you need. Invest in a volunteer management system where you store information of past volunteers and other people who have at one point indicated interest in volunteering. With a database, you can always get in touch with people to let them know there is an opening for volunteers instead of publishing on job boards.
10. Form Meaningful Partnerships
Grow your network by forging alliances with communities, businesses, and corporations committed to corporate social responsibility. This can help you expand your network and attract more volunteers with unique skills. Do your research to find organisations and communities with similar interests as yours and partner with them to work together on a common cause. For example, Coca-Cola partners with NGOs like UNICEF to implement water sanitation projects, mobilising both resources and volunteers. You can also leverage collaborative initiatives such as employee volunteer programmes and donation matching schemes to form partnerships with organisations.
Bonus: Survey Your Volunteers
Feedback is one of the best ways to improve your volunteer recruitment strategy. Create a survey for your volunteers with questions that will help you get insight into how to improve your volunteer retention. In the survey, you can ask questions like:
- Why did you decide to volunteer for our organisation?
- What is your favourite thing about the organisation?
- What roles did you enjoy doing?
- What roles did you dislike?
- How can we improve our volunteering experience?
- If you are no longer a volunteer, why is that?
These questions will help you gain insight into how you can be better and might even provide the opportunity to re-engage past volunteers.
Conclusion
The strategies discussed above are sure ways for your NGO or organisation to attract, nurture, and retain volunteers. Remember to value your volunteers, celebrate them, and offer them some benefits, as they are often catalysts that propel NGOs towards their noble causes.
How Can Astract9 Help Your Nonprofit Organization
Astract9 offers a robust digital marketing strategy and digital marketing services for NGOs who want to increase their awareness, influence and impact in the world. It’s a digital marketing age, so whether you run a business for profit or a social change, having a digital marketing strategy is essential to reach your audience.
We have worked with nonprofit organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Population Council with services like mobile and app development.
Are you interested in working with us? Browse our portfolio, explore the services we offer, and reach out to us today at hello@astract.com.ng!
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