1. Volunteer Recruitment
Tools, tips, strategy and planning
From your volunteer matching friends at

2. Step by Step
Volunteer Recruitment
1 - Know your audience

3. Step by Step
Volunteer Recruitment
2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”

4. Step by Step
Volunteer Recruitment
3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)

5. Step by Step
Volunteer Recruitment
4 - Create your toolbox

6. Step by Step
Volunteer Recruitment
5 - Make it easy

7. Step by Step
Volunteer Recruitment
6 - Say “Thanks”

8. Why do people volunteer?
Let’s start with the basics:
Step 1 - Know your audience

9. Why do people volunteer?
• They’ve been affected by the cause
Step 1 - Know your audience

10. • They’ve been affected by the cause
• They want to build their skills/resume
Why do people volunteer?
Step 1 - Know your audience

11. • They’ve been affected by the cause
• They want to build their skills/resume
• They want to connect to their community
Why do people volunteer?
Step 1 - Know your audience

12. • They’ve been affected by the cause
• They want to build their skills/resume
• They want to connect to their community
• Their friends are doing it
Why do people volunteer?
Step 1 - Know your audience

13. Step 1 - Know your audience
Have volunteers take the “Volunteer Quiz” to find out what
kind of volunteer experience suits them best.

14. How does someone go from THINKING about volunteering
to ACTUALLY volunteering?
Step 2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”

15. Step 2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”
Did you know?
It takes 5-7 touch points for someone to go from
thinking about volunteering to actually being engaged.

16. Step 2 - Develop your “Path to Engagement”
I. Watch your YouTube video
II. Like your Facebook page
An example:
Before committing to volunteering,
your potential volunteer might...
IV. Subscribe to your newsletter
III. Find an online volunteer posting
V. Email you for information
VI. Fill out an online application
VI. Come in for an interview

17. Reflect on our original question:
Why do people volunteer?
What will motivate your volunteers to get started?
Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own)

18. “Ask a friend” recruiting
RecruitmentTips:
Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)

19. “Ask a friend” recruiting
Write your volunteer posting like a
job posting, (and focus the skills and
benefits gained)
Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)
RecruitmentTips:

20. “Ask a friend” recruiting
Write your volunteer posting like a
job posting, (and focus the skills and
benefits gained)
Multiple interactions on
multiple platforms
Step 3 - Appeal to their needs (not your own!)
RecruitmentTips:

21. There are hundreds
(thousands?)
of ways to reach potential volunteers.
What are some of the best resources?
Step 4 - Create your toolbox

22. Step 4 - Create your toolbox
• Volunteer recruitment is core competency
• Provide employee volunteer project management
• Deliver training & volunteer management resources
• Provide one-on-one consultation
Volunteer Centres

23. Step 4 - Create your toolbox
• One-on-one introduction to 100’s of volunteers
• Provide opportunity to connect with other orgs
• Greater volunteer engagement
Volunteer Centres
Volunteer Fairs

24. • Meet skilled students who want to build resume
• Present your opportunities in classrooms
• Opportunity to develop internship programs
• Students are more likely to volunteer with friends
Volunteer Centres
Volunteer Fairs
Schools & Clubs
Step 4 - Create your toolbox

25. • Employee volunteer programs are numerous
• Access to hundreds (or thousands) of skilled volunteers
• May be able to post opportunities on company intranets
• Often companies pay for resources for the project
Volunteer Centres
Volunteer Fairs
Schools & Clubs
Companies &
Corporations
Step 4 - Create your toolbox

26. • Able to target locally
• Provides broad reach to a wide audience
• Can use physical space, or online posting boards
(eg. Kijiji or Craig’s List)
Volunteer Centres
Volunteer Fairs
Schools & Clubs
Companies &
Corporations
Community Boards
Step 4 - Create your toolbox

27. Facebook Pages
Step 4 - Create your
social media toolbox

28. Twitter
Step 4 - Create your
social media toolbox

29. YouTube
Step 4 - Create your
social media toolbox

30. Search
Step 4 - Create your
social media toolbox

31. Step 4 - Create your online
volunteer listing toolbox

32. A Little Bit About
The largest set of opportunities in Canada
Fresh content-- opportunities are managed and up to date
• Over 2400 organizations
• Over 5000 volunteer opportunities
• 10-15% virtual opportunities
• Over 7000 skilled volunteers
• FRENCH version @ Actionbénévolecanada.ca (Getinvolved’s sister
site)
• Plus customized content- over 100 inspirational videos, resources,
and research
Step 5 - Make It Easy

33. How Getinvolved.ca Works
Go to Getinvolved.ca
Create a profile
Step 5 - Make It Easy

34. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
How Getinvolved.ca Works
Step 5 - Make It Easy

35. Write a catchy headline
& tell us a little bit
about your volunteer
opportunity.
How Getinvolved.ca Works
Step 5 - Make It Easy

36. “Get Matched” to 1000’s of volunteers,
based on skills, interests, and location
How Getinvolved.ca Works
Step 5 - Make It Easy

37. See someone good?
Good!
Click “Add to My Favs”
How Getinvolved.ca Works
Step 5 - Make It Easy

38. Want to contact them?
Click “Contact this volunteer” and
send them a message
or,
Leave a comment at the bottom of
their profile and it will be sent to
their e-mail (remember - these are
public)
How Getinvolved.ca Works
Step 5 - Make It Easy

39. • Create a full page profile
plus posted volunteer opportunities
•Review profiles of hundreds of volunteers, save the ones you like.
• Contact volunteers from their profile page.
• Get content tailored to your cause and needs
In 15 minutes, you can....
Step 5 - Make It Easy

40. Need a little extra promotion?
We do that!
Not only do we promote our members on our website, but we also
feature our members through our social media channels.
Step 5 - Make It Easy

41. Having problems?
Contact Getinvolved’s community manager,
Shannon from Monday to Friday 9-5.
shannonh@getinvolved.ca
or by phone (!)
416-361-5907
Step 5 - Make It Easy

42. THANKS.
Step 6 - Say “Thanks”

43. THANKS.
(Don’t forget to show appreciation
for your volunteers!)
Step 6 - Say “Thanks”