Volunteer engagement is about finding AND keeping volunteers that are the right fit for your non-profit organization. A solid volunteer program can enable your organization to develop a loyal group of fans and ambassadors who will promote your agency. 

Show Volunteers How They'll Help

Volunteers will feel more a part of your organization if they understand how they can help your organization and the community you serve. Create a great impact statement, which can be used to recruit, retain and recognize volunteers, by answering the following:

• Who will the volunteer be helping?
• How will the volunteer opportunity make a difference in the community?

You can upload your impact statements to Spark.

Create Powerful Stories

Whenever you create a new call for volunteers, couch your description within the story of your organization, making it clear how volunteers impact the work you do. Stories can pack a powerful emotional punch, making storytelling one of the most effective ways to show potential volunteers the kind of the impact they can make.

Storytelling basics:

Beginning: What is the situation? Who is involved? (Personalize your stories, but don’t give so many details that people can be identified.)

Middle: What problem is occurring? How does the individual, group or your organization need help? Describe the needs of those involved.

End: How can volunteers help resolve the situation and change outcomes?

Call to Action: Ask potential volunteers to contact your organization, making it as simple as possible for them to connect to the right person.

Promote Your Opportunities

Once you’ve created stories to let volunteers know why your organization exists, what it hopes to accomplish, and why they should care, you need to get the word out.

• Share your agency’s stories in blog posts, Instagram photo-story series, videos or Facebook posts. You can even tell stories in 140 characters!
• If your ideal volunteer isn’t social media-savvy, leave a story with a call to action on a library notice board or a volunteer centre.
• Deliver a short presentation outlining your agency’s story for local clubs or groups. (Don’t forget the call to action!)
• Tap into your volunteers. Because they speak from their own experience, volunteers who share your organization’s story―and its need for volunteers― can be your best ambassadors.  
• Finally, share your stories (as well as your impact statement and opportunity descriptions) on SPARK. We will showcase your stories and help people find you through our search.

Re-Engage Current Volunteers

Redirecting current volunteers into new roles can motivate and inspire people who want to try something new. To find out more about their skills and interests as well as new ways they could contribute to your agency, survey volunteers or, even better, initiate a one-on-one conversation. avoid describing the positions as jobs or unpaid work