Attracting Volunteers in Three Easy Steps

Tech Networks of Boston has always been passionate about getting involved in our local community and making a difference. We’ve helped start climate initiatives, donated to local nonprofits, and offered free Roundtable sessions for the nonprofit community – we love using business as a force for good. Our employees also love volunteering for their places of worship, raising money for children’s literacy, serving on different Boards, and bringing awareness to LGBTQ+ issues. Giving back is at the core of what we do, last year we gave over $13,000 and our employees spent 2,869 within the community volunteering. 

Over time, we have learned a lot about volunteering and recruiting volunteers for important causes. We spoke with our staff and put together a few hard-won tips that we hope can help others make a difference in the world. Whether you’re creating a website, trying to reach out on social media, looking for team-building opportunities, or recruiting community members to volunteer at an event, we hope you find something useful! 

1. Just Ask – You will never get a volunteer (or a donation) if you don’t ask for it! Don’t be too shy to ask those around you for support – you may be surprised with the results. You can also ask current volunteers to help you expand your reach by bringing friends to events, sharing your newsletter, or posting your content to their audiences online. 
   
2. Get Online – Using Facebook and Eventbrite to post upcoming events is key when it comes to promoting volunteer opportunities. Getting your event online helps you promote it, share updates, and get an idea of how many people will join you. It is important to have a presence on social media if you are looking to recruit support for your organization or group, especially since most people start their search for new opportunities online. Sharing content frequently and engaging with people who comment on your posts is an easy way to gain return volunteers and build a community. Great content includes photos of people volunteering, details for upcoming events, and your organization’s achievements. 
3. Make it Easy – Making it easy for people to say “Yes!” is the best way to recruit volunteers. Have a button on your website that leads directly to a volunteer sign up page. Share posts on social media that link to event sign-up forms. Respond to all inquiries on social media with contact information and a suggested volunteer opportunity. Ease of access is key! 

For more great information on volunteer management and recruitment, check out the following resources: 

VolunteerHub 

Action Network 

National Council of Nonprofits 

We’ve also recently found out about some new resources for posting opportunities and finding volunteers: Point is an app (not yet available in all cities) where nonprofits and potential volunteers can connect. 

Note: This post was originally published in January 2019 and has since been updated