19 Creative Volunteer Recruitment Ideas You Should Try

Volunteer recruitment FAQs

Why is volunteer recruitment so crucial for nonprofits?

For many nonprofits, volunteers are the face of the organization. They actively engage with the community, providing services, collecting donations, and working to help the nonprofit achieve its mission and goals.

Volunteer recruitment is essential because it can offer your nonprofit tangible benefits and long-term support for advancing its mission. Specifically, volunteers provide the following advantages:

• Volunteers are numerous: Volunteers comprise one-third of the nonprofit workforce, demonstrating the importance of recruiting reliable supporters to keep your programs in motion.
• Volunteers are valuable: They provide unpaid support to your nonprofit because they feel a personal connection to your cause. The current estimated value of an hour of volunteer time is $33.49.
• Volunteers are donors: 79% of people who volunteer with a nonprofit also give to that organization. With thoughtful volunteer stewardship, you can earn more donations from volunteers, fostering a dedicated giving pipeline.

Volunteers offer valuable skills, time, and enthusiasm to ensure nonprofit programs and events can take place. They’re long-term partners who contribute significantly to the success of the nonprofits they support.

What does a volunteer recruitment plan look like?

A volunteer recruitment plan is a strategy for attracting and recruiting new volunteers who have skills and interests that align with a nonprofit’s core needs.

An optimal volunteer recruitment plan should include the following components:

1. A well-defined target audience. Develop your volunteer recruitment plan with a specific audience in mind. Defining a target audience ensures that your recruitment efforts reach and resonate with the right people. We cover this in detail below.
2. Your volunteer program’s case for support. This is your argument for why potential volunteers should consider working with your organization. Your case for support should detail the impact volunteers can have through their participation and the personal benefits of volunteering. These benefits could include social and networking opportunities or earning new skills.
3. Clear role descriptions. Communicate expectations clearly with potential new volunteers about what they’ll be working on. Clear guidelines help new volunteers feel more comfortable in their roles, creating a better experience.
4. Marketing channels. Determine how you’d like to spread the word about your volunteer opportunities. Consider using a multichannel marketing approach that combines traditional channels like direct mail and flyers with digital channels like social media, email, and your website. This blended approach will help reach a larger audience and different demographics within your target audience.
5. An easy-to-use volunteer registration form. Your signup page should only ask for necessary information, like volunteers’ names, contact information, emergency contact, and details about their skills, interests, and availability.

We’ll examine these elements more closely later, but this is a basic overview of the points you should include when developing your volunteer recruitment plan.

19 creative and effective volunteer recruitment strategies

1. Target the right audience.

Dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life and backgrounds. Understanding which groups are most likely to get involved in your efforts is key to recruiting the right people.

Here is a quick list of volunteer demographics to consider targeting in your volunteer recruitment approach, along with ways to better meet their needs:

Previous volunteers

In your volunteer management solution, you may have profiles for volunteers who have not actively participated in programs or events in a long time. These volunteers are often considered inactive and are generally underutilized in recruitment efforts.

While it’s always great to try and encourage active volunteers to sign up to join new opportunities, it’s also a fantastic idea to do that same thing for your inactive volunteers.

Consider segmenting or filtering your existing inactive list of volunteers in your volunteer management solution by interest, skills, or other attributes relevant to the roles you seek to fill. Then, email them inviting them to sign up to volunteer for your new opportunities.

This will help you re-engage them and can be the first step in converting them into active supporters and donors.

Repeat donors

Many nonprofit organizations strategize how to convert volunteers into donors. But what about getting your donors involved in hands-on volunteer work? Your donors are some of your nonprofit’s most dedicated supporters, and many will leap at the chance to make an even larger impact.

In all your donor newsletters and updates, include easy sign-up links to new volunteer opportunities and information about the purpose and progress of your volunteer program.

Working professionals and the self-employed

Working professionals and self-employed people already highly trained in their fields can be a gold mine for volunteer recruitment. These volunteers offer specialized skills to help fill gaps in your operations. You can find these volunteers through word-of-mouth advertising or searches on social media platforms like LinkedIn.

2. Share well-written role descriptions.

To find volunteers with skills and preferences matching your volunteer opportunities, you must communicate what each volunteer role entails. This way, people know what they’re getting into, and there won’t be any surprises.

Clearly outline everything a potential volunteer should know about a specific role or opportunity before they agree to work. Cover the following components in your role descriptions:

• Who: Who do you need to fill the role? Are there any special requirements or skills volunteers should have?
• What: What will volunteers have to do? Be clear about expectations to avoid any misunderstandings.
• When: Specify the date and time of every shift and any required training sessions.
• Where: Where will the opportunity take place? You should explain relevant transportation information, like parking details or alternative transportation options like buses or commuter trains.
• Why: Explain why the role is important to your nonprofit’s mission and how it supports your day-to-day operations.
• How: Explain the steps to getting involved. Include a clear call to action such as “Fill out our registration form” or “Sign up for a volunteer orientation now.”

Include these descriptions on all volunteer recruitment materials, such as your landing page and informational social media posts.

3. Host informational sessions for prospective volunteers.

Informational sessions take your role descriptions a step further by giving volunteers more background information about your cause and details about each role. Plus, you can introduce yourself to prospective volunteers and start forming personal relationships that may turn into long-term partnerships.

Consider hosting regularly occurring information sessions, such as on the first Wednesday of every month. These sessions could be held in person, virtually, or via a hybrid format. Add the following components to these meetings:

• Background information about your organization’s founding and mission
• Details about specific volunteer roles, including shift timing, skills needed, etc.
• Contact information for your volunteer coordinator
• A link to your volunteer calendar or registration platform

Additionally, leave plenty of time for questions at the end of each session to answer remaining inquiries from prospective volunteers.

4. Craft a straightforward volunteer application form.

Your volunteer application forms should collect the relevant information you need to do a preliminary screening of your candidates, such as:

• Basic personal and contact information
• Availability
• Skills
• Interests
• Official certifications
• Relevant work or volunteer experience

These application fields should sync up with the role requirements you have created in your volunteer management solution. Doing this lets you quickly filter your applications by roles and send suggested volunteer roles to new supporters based on their skills and interests.

5. Optimize your digital promotion strategies.

A multichannel marketing strategy can help you reach a wider online audience. Promote your volunteer sign-up page on digital channels such as:

• Your website. Keep your volunteer calendar updated with current open positions. Ensure your volunteer landing page includes easy access to your role descriptions and application form.
• Social media channels. Promote your open roles on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. You can even use LinkedIn to directly message top volunteer prospects with the skills you’re looking for and send them your volunteer signup link.
• Email. Over 80% of American adults check their email at least once daily, making it a crucial platform for staying in touch with volunteers. Email your volunteers and donors to announce any new volunteer shifts.

Ensure your volunteer sign-up form is mobile-friendly by keeping the page simple and short and making buttons large and easily clickable. This ensures that the page will be easy to navigate whether visitors use mobile devices or desktop computers.

6. Take a peer-to-peer recruitment approach.

Word-of-mouth advertising leverages your existing network of supporters, making it a powerful way to recruit more volunteers. Ask your existing active volunteers to invite their friends and family to volunteer with them. You can simply ask them to share your social media posts to promote your volunteer opportunities with their network.

To help motivate your volunteers, consider offering a prize for the volunteer who recruits the most people, such as a free t-shirt or a gift card to a local restaurant.

7. Explore corporate volunteerism.

Every year, more corporations and businesses invest in corporate volunteer programs for their employees. This presents an opportunity for your nonprofit to partner with businesses eager to supply dedicated volunteers to nonprofit organizations.

Recruiting corporate volunteers is a great way to bring in reliable and skilled help because they are often reimbursed for their volunteer work by their employer (such as through paid days off). These volunteers are often also eligible for volunteer grants, which can increase donations for your nonprofit through corporate-sponsored contributions.

8. Form relationships with other community organizations.

Fellow community organizations, such as civic clubs and associations, can be excellent resources when your organization needs volunteer support. Clubs and associations often require their members to participate in a certain number of volunteer hours, and your organization could help members meet their personal goals.

Volunteering can be a great way for members to grow their skills. For example, let’s say you run a volunteer program at an immigrant justice center. Your organization could partner with a lawyer’s association to work with immigration attorneys and benefit from their expertise. In exchange, the lawyer you partner with can grow their skills and receive the intangible benefits of helping the community.

Highlight these benefits in your email, letter, or social media outreach to these organizations. Meet with their leaders to outline the benefits of forming long-term partnerships.

9. Promote opportunities on volunteer sites.

In addition to promoting volunteer opportunities on social media sites, plenty of other websites function as virtual job boards for volunteer opportunities. You can post your role descriptions and application forms on these sites to reach a general audience of prospective volunteers who want to get involved in the community.

Helpful websites include:

• VolunteerMatch
• Idealist
• Points of Light Engage

Look into websites that cater to your specific area as well. For example, nonprofits in the Atlanta area can share opportunities on Hands On Atlanta.

10. Connect with your local media.

Local media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV stations can help spread the word about your open volunteer roles. Contact these outlets to connect with a staff member or send press releases.

Keep in mind that journalists and reporters want to know when something newsworthy is happening at your nonprofit. Hiring a new major gift officer may be internally exciting for your organization, but it doesn’t necessarily rise to the level of need-to-know information for the community.

Instead, share stories that have the following criteria:

Timeliness

Reporters are much more likely to pick up your stories if they are timely and relevant to current events.

For example, if you work for a disaster relief organization, you could pitch a story about how your nonprofit’s volunteers are leading cleanup efforts throughout the community. Or, you could provide journalists with details for your organization’s largest annual event, such as a 5K or festival, so community members know when and where the event will occur.

Human interest

Feature stories can be a great way to highlight the culture of your volunteer program. However, your ideas should focus on unique or unusual stories that will capture community members’ attention.

For example, you could pitch a story about a volunteer who just turned 100 and still participates in your program weekly. Or, perhaps your volunteers helped devise a new watering system to water your community garden much more efficiently. You could invite reporters to come to view the new process and share information about how you encourage volunteers to use their creativity and unique skills to support your mission.

No matter what types of stories you share, provide journalists with the opportunity to take photos and videos and get direct quotes from volunteers who are willing to share.

11. Gamify your volunteer program.

Friendly competition can be a significant motivator for volunteers. Gamifying your volunteer program involves adding game-like elements to turn volunteering into a head-to-head competition. These elements can include:

• Points or tokens that volunteers can earn for every hour volunteered
• Leaderboards tracking top volunteers
• Prizes for reaching specific milestones, such as 50 or 100 hours volunteered
• Challenges surrounding specific events, such as GivingTuesday or your annual canned food drive

Spotlight top volunteers on your social media posts so prospective volunteers can understand how your organization works. They may be drawn in by the challenges and prizes you offer, so make your opportunities as fun as possible.

12. Offer volunteer incentives.

Along with gamifying your volunteer opportunities, the incentives and prizes you offer to volunteers should be as enticing as possible. These rewards may include:

• Free merchandise, such as T-shirts, water bottles, or tote bags
• Prize giveaways of large items like iPads or Nintendo Switches
• Volunteer social events like coffee chats or happy hours

Send surveys asking current volunteers for feedback about which incentives or prizes they’re most excited about.

13. Make your volunteer opportunities accessible.

When creating your volunteer opportunities and recruitment approach, consider the needs of people who don’t drive or have limited mobility. Ensure that your volunteer workspace is accessible for individuals with walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, and other types of mobility equipment. Have accessible parking available, and be sure that everyone honors those spaces.

Consider having a team member schedule transport for those who may have difficulty getting to your volunteer opportunities. Your team can coordinate this on a circumstantial basis, or you could have a van service or other carpooling arrangement in place. The transportation coordinator may also arrange for someone to meet groups of volunteers at central locations and drop them off at your organization’s volunteer site(s).

14. Show volunteers your appreciation.

How you thank your current volunteers can significantly affect how appealing your volunteer opportunities are to prospective supporters. When prospective recruits see your efforts to make volunteers feel welcome and valued, they’ll feel more compelled to get involved.

Volunteer appreciation ideas run the gamut, but here are a few of our favorite options:

• Goodie bags with gift cards and a handful of treats
• Volunteer appreciation galas or luncheons for recognizing top volunteers
• Personalized appreciation videos from staff or beneficiaries

All volunteers should receive regular updates about what their support does for your mission. For example, let your animal shelter volunteers know how many dogs they helped find new homes at your last community adoption event.

15. Offer leadership opportunities to experienced volunteers.

New volunteers may be more likely to join your organization when they see that you offer a variety of ways for volunteers to go above and beyond with their involvement. Offering a clear pathway to volunteer leadership opportunities is an effective way to get volunteers excited about participating in your program long-term.

For example, you could offer a training program for long-term volunteers, where they can learn the new information and skills they need to host volunteer sessions or events independently. Provide these volunteers with plenty of support to help them get comfortable with their advanced roles and responsibilities.

16. Gather volunteer feedback.

Asking for feedback can help you build a better volunteer experience that attracts new supporters. It can also help you form stronger relationships with current volunteers and give them the chance to have their voices heard.

The best volunteer surveys are targeted at answering a specific question your nonprofit has or reaching a goal. You can ask recruitment, satisfaction, and/or engagement questions to get to the core of what volunteers think about your organization.

Send surveys with questions like:

• How did you hear about our volunteer opportunities?
• What drew you to volunteer with our organization?
• What are your favorite aspects of volunteering with our cause?
• Do you have any suggestions for ways we could enhance the volunteer experience?

Follow up to thank volunteers for their responses and inform them about any changes you’ll make to your program to incorporate their feedback.

17. Offer flexible volunteering opportunities.

Make weekend, evening, and short-term opportunities available and have volunteer spaces open for drop-ins. This can help busy working volunteers fit your activities into their schedules.

Depending on the nature of your volunteer work, you could also offer virtual volunteer opportunities to supporters who want to help from home. These could include:

• Supporting your phone banking efforts to call donors or fellow community members in your area
• Sharing promotional materials on social media to help spread the word about your volunteer program and priorities
• Creating infographics or creative data visualizations to support your data-sharing efforts

Promote these opportunities across your digital marketing channels to show interested potential volunteers that they can still participate in your program even if they don’t have much free time.

18. Engage young volunteers.

Young volunteers are an often untapped source of valuable volunteer support for nonprofits. Teenagers volunteer 2.4 billion hours annually—worth $34.3 billion to the U.S. economy. Young people are passionate about getting involved in their communities and want to show their support for causes that are meaningful to them.

With that in mind, your nonprofit can partner with the following organizations to recruit more youth volunteers:

• High schools
• Universities
• Religious youth groups
• Civic clubs like Girl and Boy Scouts

Even though they’re younger and less experienced than adult volunteers, youth volunteers can support a wide variety of causes, from community gardening to food sorting, creating care packages for people experiencing homelessness, and tutoring younger students.

19. Use volunteer recruitment software to stay organized.

Volunteer recruitment software is a digital tool that allows volunteer coordinators to manage every aspect of recruitment, from marketing to new volunteer onboarding, in one system. Instead of having to balance a variety of disconnected forms and spreadsheets, volunteer recruitment software provides access to all necessary information and tools at your fingertips.

For example, Bloomerang Volunteer offers nonprofits all the tools to scale up volunteer recruitment in one convenient and intuitive platform. Our solution enables organizations to:

• Develop customized recruitment workflows with unique form questions, qualifications, roles, availability, and shift sign-up.
• Leverage integrated background screening to increase program security.
• Offer volunteer self-serve options like online applications, a volunteer mobile app, and volunteer dashboards.
• Enhance scheduling with the ability to create unlimited schedules, send reminders and notifications, and track attendance.
• Maintain updated records with two-way profile sync with Bloomerang’s CRM to cultivate volunteers as donors and vice versa.

You can also use Bloomerang Volunteer to manage end-to-end reporting and track recruitment metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of your recruitment strategy.