Where to Find Volunteers

Thisresourceaddressesthequestion,“WheredoIfindvolunteers?”Itprovidesgeneralguidanceand alistofpotentialsourcesforidentifyingprospectivevolunteerstoenhanceprogram supporttoServiceMembersandtheirfamilies.[1]

Before You Look, Be Prepared

Knowtheskillsetsyouneed.Peoplewhousetheskillsyouarelookingforintheireverydayprofessionalliveswillhaveinherentexpertisethatcanbeputtoworkforyou.Examplesofprofessionalskillsthatmaytranslatedirectlyintohelpingyourorganizationinclude:

  • Havingadvertisingprofessionalsassistin outreach, marketing,publicrelations,orrecruitmentcampaigns
  • FindinganITexperttocreateormaintainyourorganization’swebsite,orbuildavolunteerordonordatabase
  • Workingwithhotelconferenceplannerstoassistinorganizingandfacilitatingspecialevents
  • Findingaresearcherorgraduatestudenttoconductprogramevaluations

Makesureyouhavetheoversightandguidanceavailabletomanageandcoordinatethesevolunteerroles,togetthemostbenefitfromtherightpeopleintherightpositions.

Accurate,detailedpositiondescriptionshelpattracttherightpeopleandsaveyouthetroubleofhavingtoturnawayapplicantswhodon’tpossesstherelevantskills.Ofcourse,howdetailedyourpositiondescriptionisdependsonthetaskforwhichyouarerecruitingvolunteers.Aproject-basedopportunity,suchasbuildingamobileactivitycenterforchildrenduringevents,mayonlyrequirehealthybodies;creatinganattractivebookletforstateandlocalresourcepartners,ontheotherhand,mayrequiresomeonewithmarketingordesignskills.

Youcanbothpassivelyandactivelyrecruitforvolunteers.Passiverecruitmentmightinvolveputtingupflyersorpostingadsonline.Activerecruitmentcouldincludevisitingalocalcompanytotalktotheirstaff,orspeakingtoaprofessororclassatalocaluniversitywhopossessesskillsyouneed.Herearesomeotherwaystoreachpotentialvolunteers:

  • Localagencies(e.g.,UnitedWay)
  • Partnerwithlargecompanies’humanresourcesorcommunityrelationsdepartment
  • Atcommunityevents

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  • Newslettersandbrochures
  • Collegealumniassociations(canmakepostsintheirpublicationsoronline)
  • Wordofmouthviacurrentvolunteers
  • The Craigslist.org volunteeringsection(under“community”)

A Closer Look at Where to Find Volunteers

SeasonedvolunteermanagerswhohaveservedmilitaryfamiliesformanyyearshavesharedthefollowingmeanstoreachprospectivevolunteersthroughRecruitingandRetentionTraining.

Mass Media

  • Digitalmedia(seespecificexampleslaterinthisGuide)
  • Televisionandradiopublicserviceannouncements
  • Newspapers
  • Billboards

Special Circulation Publications

  • In-housenewsletters
  • Associationnewsletters
  • Schoolnewspapers

Public Speaking

  • Luncheonsanddinnerspeakers
  • Organizedandadhocgroups
  • Speakersbureau
  • Slideshowsandvideotapes

Boothsand Exhibits

  • YRRPpre-,during,andpost-deploymentevents
  • State of Support Signings (ESGR)
  • Specialcommunityevents
  • Jobfairs
  • Volunteerandcommunityfairs
  • Displayboards
  • Banners

DirectMail

  • Massmailingtoatargetedmailinglist
  • Specialletterorflyer
  • Personalizedletterstoselectedindividuals

Referrals

  • FamilyReadinessGroups
  • Spouseclubs
  • Parent-TeacherAssociations

Industry Observations

Apopularwebsiteforvolunteers,

  1. High Schools:Highschoolstudentsneedtodocommunityservice.Whetherit’srequiredforgraduation,foraproject,ortospiceuptheresumeforcollege,thisisagoodplacetofindvolunteers.
  2. Colleges:Communityserviceisabigpartofcollegelifeformanystudents.Manytimes,collegesanduniversitieswillhavevolunteerfairsandleadershipdepartmentstohelpcoordinatetheprocess.Or,certainprogramswillrequirefieldexperienceforcreditorgraduation.Contactcollegesinyourareatotapintothisresource.
  3. Corporations:Somebigcompaniesseevolunteeringasawayofgivingbacktothecommunity,especiallyinrecognitionofthesacrificesmilitaryfamiliesaremakingforthecommunityandthecountry.Whatcorporationsareheadquarteredorhaveoffices/storesinyourcity?Getintouchwiththesecompaniestoseeiftheyhaveaprograminplace.Thiscouldbeagoodwaytogetvolunteerswithspecificskills.
  4. Referrals:Thisisn’taplace,butitneedstomakethelist.Ifyoucurrentlyhavevolunteers,askthemtoinvitetheirfriends.Youcouldcontinuallyfillvolunteerpositionsthroughreferralsbecauseengagedandsatisfiedvolunteersareyourbestrecruiters,andpeoplewhorecognizetheimportanceofgivingbacktothosewhohavegivensomuchtendtohangoutinthesameplaces.
  5. Clubs/Churches/Groups:Local churches, the Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, Rotary Clubs, and other civic organizations around town could be other places to find volunteers. Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) also have like-minded members. The following directory provides a list of current VSOs: a list of the groups and clubs that meet in your community and see if their members have any interest in volunteering.

Reference:

The Power of the Internet and Social Media

The digital age has expanded significantly the breadth and depth of prospective volunteer we can reach. Here are a few of the many sites that are productive in connecting volunteers with volunteer opportunities.

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[1]Adapted from strengtheningnonprofits.org and Army Family Programs Recruiting and Retention Training, Last Updated July 2015