VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND

RETENTION

HOW DO WE GET THEM AND KEEP THEM?

PRESENTED BY: LINDA SARSOURADVOCACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR, NNAAC/ACCESS

Why would people want to volunteer?

People volunteer their time for a variety of legitimate reasons. Usually, some jobs attract people with certain motivations more than others.

Common volunteer motivations:

People are bored – they want something to do

Great way to meet new people Don’t have job experience, so it provides

a track record. To help solve a community problem To give back to their community To get recognition

To belong to a group To meet potential employers To have fun To know what goes on ‘behind the

scenes To make contacts among community

leaders To learn leadership skills To feel useful To build self-esteem

Potential Volunteers:

High School Students College students Stay at home moms/dads Clients Board and their family and friends Anyone who shows interest in your work

Where do I find these volunteers?

Local high schools – some have community service requirements and leadership clubs

College Student Associations – start with the Arab and Muslim groups (ASA and MSAs)

Board members Post volunteer opportunities on Idealist, Indeed,

your website, local blogs, etc. Send out emails to your listerve Social media – Facebook, Jumo, Twitter

Now you have them, what do you do with them?

Find out what they are interested in doing than place them accordingly. You don’t want them doing something they don’t want to do.

Make their experience feel professional. Have them fill out a volunteer form, ask for a schedule if they are interested in long term volunteering.

Ask them for ideas – let them get creative.

Continued…….

Allow them to lead projects/programs. Check in with them and ask them how

they are doing and how their experience is so far?

Introduce them to staff and have them work as part of a team.

Recognition – Key to Retention

Simply – SAY THANK YOU Acknowledge a successful program or

event with mention in a newsletter or e-blast.

Certificates Public recognition Celebrate birthdays Volunteer Appreciation Events

Volunteer of the month bulletin board Thank you notes/emails Introduce them to board members List their names on the end of a program

in the thank you section

NNAAC examples…..

 continued…….

Thank you!

Question and Answer