Aspire Magazine's SUMMER 2024 Tips & Trends
MAKE YOUR VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE UNFORGETTABLE
MPI's article, "The Ultimate Checklist to Recruit Reliable Non-Profit Event Volunteers," offers valuable advice on attracting and retaining skilled volunteers by creating an unforgettable experience. The article suggests the following tips:
Invite volunteers to a pre-event social meetup–a fun-filled event like bowling, where they can mingle and get to know each other.
Create a group chat for volunteers to communicate with each other before and during the event (use an app like GroupMe, WhatsApp, or Teams).
Shout-out volunteers during the event and let attendees know that the event would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication.
Highlight volunteers' impact after the event and let them know what their support accomplished. Volunteers (like donors) want to see the impact of their investment.
WRITE IRRESISTIBLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTIONS
Clear and compelling communication will help to attract quality volunteers. Galaxy Digital provides valuable advice in their article, “How to Write Irresistible Volunteer Opportunity Descriptions.”
One of the creative tips this article provides is to ask a question to compel prospective volunteers. We think that conference planners could lead with questions like, “Are you a whiz with numbers and details?”, “Are you energized by making others feel welcomed?” or “Would you like to put your tech skills to great use?”
RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS LIKE A PRO
Event software creator Passage shared the article "Recruit Volunteers for Your Non-Profit Events in 9 Steps”, providing insights into effectively recruiting reliable volunteers and retaining them for future events. We found one section of the article particularly helpful about tapping into your existing network:
"Reach out to friends, family members, and colleagues who are already aware of your organization's mission. These people are more likely to become your advocates and help recruit others from their own networks. Word-of-mouth remains a highly effective tool for building a dedicated volunteer base over other types of advertising. In fact, 92% trust recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising."
