A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

Volunteers are the lifeblood of every non-profit organization, and effective volunteers can go a long way in reaching organizational goals. Although many view volunteer recruitment and management as a hassle, the task need not be difficult. The following steps will help volunteer managers establish a plan to recruit volunteers for any cause or organization.

STEP ONE: IDENTIFY THE NEED

The first step in any volunteer recruitment plan should be identifying specific areas of need for volunteers. In all reality, any task within the organization can likely be performed by a volunteer. Day to day administrative tasks, manual labor projects and even organizational management tasks are all open to being filled by volunteers. Your organization's specific needs for volunteers are more likely to be determined by the organization's goals, and how those volunteers will help reach them.

An additional concern in developing volunteer positions is the type of volunteer that is needed. Is this a long or short term assignment? Determining the length of service a volunteer is needed for will give you an idea of where to recruit for the position. Some volunteers like to volunteer for a shorter period of time, or simply to learn a new skill. Others like the challenge of putting their creativity or skills to work for longer periods of time. Having a wider range of opportunities will increase your ability to recruit volunteers effectively.

STEP TWO: IDENTIFY THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING

According to 'Leadership and Management of Volunteer Programs' (Fisher & Cole, 1993), "Simply having a worthwhile cause and meaningful volunteer activities to offer are no longer sufficient." In plain words, organizations need to be able to specifically outline the benefits of volunteering with the organization, and potential costs associated with the service.

Some example of reasons people have for volunteering include:

* Improving the quality of life in a community
* Supporting a cause they believe in
* To obtain professional experience
* To acquire new skills
* Because it's fun!
* And many more...

Some volunteer positions, by nature, lend themselves to addressing these reasons. Other positions, however, may need to be articulated clearly to potential volunteers. Be sure your organization is prepared to do this clearly in every recruitment opportunity.

STEP THREE: THE PLAN

Once you have a solid

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