VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

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Connect with us on facebookVolunteer Centers of Michigan Michigan Community Service

Commission

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Provides resources to volunteer centers across the state in their efforts to address key community issues.

www.mivolunteers.org

www.mnaonline.org

The state’s lead agency on volunteerism working to build a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strength communities through volunteerism

www.michigan.gov/mcsc

Goals

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• Identify the benefits of a systematic volunteer recruitment program.

• Identify best practices in volunteer recruitment.

• Provide ideas and tips that might be used by a variety of organizations.

What is Volunteer Recruitment?

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The process of matching an organization’s needs with a volunteer’s interests and skills

Benefits of Volunteer Recruitment

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Program Sustainability

Increased satisfaction & sense

of connection

Maximizes organizational

resources

Prepare Your Organization

STARTING POINT:•Understand your organization’s history•Align & articulate connection to mission•Identify impact of workplace culture and environment.

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Steps to Recruiting and Placing Volunteers

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1. Develop a Volunteer Position

Description

2. Develop a Targeted

Recruitment Plan

3. Screen Volunteers

4. Interview and Match

Volunteers to Appropriate

Positions

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STEP 1:

Develop a volunteer position description

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The Volunteer Position Description

The volunteer position description outlines the volunteer tasks, skills, abilities and interests

The position should align with the organization’s needs, goals and mission

The position description is the foundation upon which to base all recruitment and placement efforts

TEMPLATE--VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTION WORKSHEET.docx

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Foundation of Recruitment

The Position Description Identifies skills and attributes Provides focus (i.e., targets)Attracts the right people Sets clear expectations

STEP 2

DEVELOP A

RECRUITMENT PLAN

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Recruitment MethodsTargeted Recruitment—specific, focused, and

addressed to the audience most likely to possess the skills, interests, and availability needed.

Broad-Based-goal is to keep organizational volunteer needs in the public eye.Most appropriate for large scale, short-term events

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OTHER EXAMPLES

Recruitment bookmarks.docx

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BROAD-BASED RECRUITMENT

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Targeted Recruitment

1. Target Your Market

2. Identify Benefits and

Features

3. Craft a Powerful Message

4. Design a Communication

Strategy

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Ask The Following Questions

Who is your target audience?What are important features of position?What would appeal to them about the position? What are some possible barriers?What additional things do we need to know about

the audience?What strategies should you use to reach your

audience?

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Identify Benefits and Features

Benefit: What volunteering does for the volunteers, such as teaching them a skill, having fun, meeting people, etc.

Feature: Descriptive elements of the volunteering, such as when, where, doing what with whom, etc.

Think about your organization’s current volunteer opportunity postings

• Which audience(s) are currently targeted?

• Which audience(s) might you want to target in the future?

POLL

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• Brainstorm a variety of target groups• Choose 1 and identify the type of benefits

that would appeal to this particular group

Start the discussion

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IMPORTANT POINT New Opportunities = New Volunteers

Different Needs

Different

Opportunities

SKILLED

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GROW YOUR VOLUNTEERSFrom within

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Differing Levels of Involvement

Foster Volunteer Growth

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Volunteer Engagement ScaleLevel 1: ShoppersLevel 2: Episodic ContributorsLevel 3: Short-term ContributorsLevel 4: Reliable RegularsLevel 5: Fully Engaged VolunteersLevel 6: Committed leaders

Connect to your mission

Connect with the volunteer’s needs

CRAFT THE MESSAGE

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MANY WORTHY CAUSES

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THE MESSAGE MUST BE

POWERFUL

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Craft a powerful message

THREE PARTS

STATEMENT OF CLIENT

NEED

HOW THE VOLUNTEER

CAN HELP

THE BENEFITS

TO THE VOLUNTEER

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EXAMPLE

BENEFITS

You’ll never feel more appreciated (and you’ll get some exercise too!)

HOW TO HELP

Don’t let them strike out. Join our Special Olympics Team. Call 1-800-Gold Today

STATEMENT OF CLIENT NEED

They have gloves, bats and softballs, but no coach. Seventy-five mentally-challenged boys and girls are waiting for a coach. They’re waiting for you.

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Good Messages. . .

Many elderly in our community live lonely stretches without a warm smile or embrace. Your family could volunteer to “adopt” one of these senior residents. The members of your family will experience some rare quality time together while giving someone a real lift. Call Mary at 555-111 for more information or visit www.ourwebsite.org

•Simple•Compelling•Consistent with branding•Contact Info.

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Time & Project Specific

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• Choose one current volunteer position description and use the 3 steps to create a recruitment message.

• Review your organization’s position descriptions and discuss how each might be restructured to better meet volunteer needs.

Start the discussion

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Virtual Volunteers WantedPress Releases and Public Service Announcements Writer

Volunteer Opportunity Details:

May not require in office presence, but should be willing to meet periodically with staff or committee members to help develop publicity pieces. Comfort with and access to email if working from home. Distribution of announcements to appropriate media outlets. Maintain, or coordinate with staff or other volunteers to maintain, accurate data base of print, TV, and radio contacts. Minimum 1 – 2 times per month.

Knowledge and skill at writing media releases, experience preferred.

This opportunity is sponsored by: Michigan Audubon Society

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Different audiences require different communication strategies•Email, twitter, facebook•Booths, displays•Media—radio, newspaper•Billboard• Storytelling, pictures, video

•YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srLEbfUyQzw

Be strategic about communication 32

Design a Communications Strategy

Which strategies does your organization use and find successful?

POLL

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WHERE DO YOU FIND THEM?

Online Senior CentersSchools

YAC -Honor Society -Service LearningCommunity Service Other Volunteers (spread the message)Faith-basedOther ______________

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Marketing Your Message

Distribute brochures or postersMake public service announcements on television,

radio, or newspaper Speak to community groups (e.g., faith-based,

neighborhood groups, community forums)Collaborate—churches, businesses, other nonprofitsPost to online venues (e.g., Websites, Twitter,

YouTube, Facebook, blogs, etc.)Word of mouth - “The personal ask”Talk to current volunteers, staff, and board membersSet up a booth at a local events (e.g., farmers

markets, festivals, etc.)

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CAPITALIZE ON

National Days of ServiceDay of Service &

Remembrance Sept. 11Make A Difference DayFamily Volunteer DayMartin Luther King, Jr.

DayNational & Global Youth

Service DaysNational Volunteer Week

Community EventsFestivals

Concerts

Athletic Events

Expos

Orientations36

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Online Recruiting Resources

• www.serve.gov

• www.idealist.org

• www.youTube.com

• www.volunteermatch.org

• Widgets

www.1-800-volunteer.org

www.craigslist.org

www.facebook.com

www.handsonnetwork.org

Blogs

Online Recruiting

•Visible/Accessible•Combines recruitment with data collection and reporting

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On-line RecruitmentHandsOn Connect

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STATE-WIDE & NATIONAL PORTALS

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CRAFTING THE ONLINE MESSAGE

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1 search term, 1 rural community; 49,039 results

BREAK THROUGH THE CLUTTER

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LET THE TITLE DO THE WORKUse action wordsDescribe the impactAsk a question

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Keep it briefOne opportunity, 100 words

Word it simply and make it easy to understandNo jargon, no acronyms

KISS (and brief)

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Who’s Your Target?

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BABY BOOMERS

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Young Professionals, Unemployed:

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8 EASY STEPSMake it Visually AppealingMake Good Use of Your First

SentenceCreate a Strong Call to ActionProvide Direction and Support

Time Commitment, Training, Restrictions

In Summary--

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Make Your Organization SearchableHave An Online PresenceUse Key Words

Remember to EditGrammar, Spelling, Clarity

View Your Listing as a VolunteerEnlist Your Volunteer’s Input

Most importantly—Offer An OpportunityThink variety, skilled, flexible, short-term49

Most Effective Recruitment Tools

•Your organization’s reputation•Effective organization•Community Impact

•Connection with your mission•Word of mouth

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Finally & Continually— Plan ahead. . .

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Use the orientation process to make the connection with those “one-time” volunteers.

Include the “ask” in orientations, reflections, and any other opportunity.

Capitalize on national days of serviceTrain team leaders to recruit“No” may simply mean “Not Now” or “Not

this Opportunity”Offer a variety of opportunities

• What additional skills might your organization recruit through a new volunteer opportunity.

• How will your organization “grow your volunteers”? What types of opportunities will serve your mission and offer new opportunities for volunteer leadership?

Start the discussion

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Effective Recruitment

Good Volunteer Management

Increased Volunteer Retention

One Final Point

MAKING THE

MATCH

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ADDITIONAL TOOLS & RESOURCES

Planning FormRECRUITMENT PLAN WORKSHEET.docx

Position Description Template & Example

Resource Page

Connect with your local Volunteer Centerwww.mivolunteer.org--member directory

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FUTURE WEBINARS

Capitalizing on Single Days of Service

Risk Assessment

Screening & Orientation

Training & Supervision

Evaluation & Recognition

And more

GIVE US YOUR SUGGESTIONS

http://www.mivolunteers.org/

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QUESTIONS/COMMENTS

Any unanswered questions will be responded to by email

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Thurs, April 29

Register through the Learning Center

www.mivolunteer.org

CAPITALIZING ON SINGLE DAYS OF SERVICE

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Summary

Questions, Feedback

Thank you for your participation.

Please complete the evaluation that will appear after we close the webinar. (NOTE ON SCORING—5 is high, 1 is low)

Your input is appreciated.

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