The Hunt for Volunteers

By Teresa Ambord

Need volunteers for your non-profit organization?  Finding enough hard-working volunteers is an ongoing problem for most charities.  There’s rarely a shortage of work to do, but often a shortage of funds.  That’s where reliable volunteers become invaluable.

Here are two ways you may be able to use to attract good help:

1. Visit this Web site: Volunteer Match

Volunteer Match is the largest online network that seeks to put volunteers together with volunteer opportunities. More than 30,000 non-profits use Volunteer Match as a way to make themselves more visible to the public, and to let people know where they are and what they do.  Registering your organization with Volunteer Match is free and quick, and lets would-be volunteers know you are out there.

2. Susan J. Ellis has written a book for volunteer recruitment that is packed with great ideas.  Ellis says you should start by doing a physical inventory of what is actually in your own neighborhood.  That’s easier, of course if you’re located in an urban area.  Imagine that your facility is a bulls-eye, and your field of search is a circle around it.  Take a walk or a drive around the block where you are located and write down what you see: businesses, churches, homes, apartments, schools.  If you’re in a multi-story building, find out what other businesses and organizations share the building. 

According to Ellis, it’s important to do this inventory physically, even if you think you already know what is out there. Otherwise you might miss some important resources.   Her point is that when you’ve got an established route to work, you tend to focus only on those things you actually pass everyday.

After you go around the block, move out one block more and do the same, widening your radius. Before you’re through, you may want to go out several blocks.

While you are doing your inventory, you may come across businesses with names that don’t reveal their industry, like “Mighty Incorporated.” Do your best to find out what they do.

Once you’ve made your list, analyze it to see who might be interested in helping your organization.  There may be some neighbors who could donate goods and services, or storage or parking space.  For example you may work in a senior recreation center and discover that upstairs is a physical therapist who might be willing to provide a couple of office visits a week to seniors in need.

Or maybe there is an office supply store that is sympathetic to your organization and will provide colored paper for making promotional materials, or the use of a color copier.

If there is a coffee shop nearby, they might be able to order extra donuts and muffins and let you have them at a significant discount, or as a donation.  If there is a high school nearby, talk to a counselor about providing volunteer opportunities.  Career-minded teenagers know that community service looks mighty good on a resume.   And most teenagers are pretty computer savvy.  They could gain some good experience and  quality references by doing some data entry for your organization, or by teaching seniors or children how to use computers.  They may even be interested in forming a school club that organizes volunteer help for you.

Once you’ve found your audience, develop a flyer that describes your organization and mail, or better yet, deliver it in person and introduce yourself.  Your neighbors might be as unaware of you as you were of them. Once you explain a little bit about your organization, you may find many people willing to give a little time before or after work.

For More Information:

You can learn more about how to round-up volunteer help by reading Susan J. Ellis's guide, The Volunteer Recruitment Book.