How do I get volunteers for my non-profit organization.?

Question

I have a charitable organization and it is difficult to find dedicated and sincere volunteers.

Answer 1

Try puting up posters at your campus or school, explaining what the organisations all about. Try community centers and religous institutions too. Im your stil having trouble, try teaming up with a similar existing organisation that already has a volunteer pool.

Answer 2

Just because one has a charitable organisation doesn't mean that one will have volunteers pounding at their doors to help out. There are many things you have to do before you can even find a few devoted people.

First off, your cause. What's your cause. If your name is Charity Case and the organisation is about you, I don't think many will want to get involved. But if you are truly serious about doing something positive for the community, start by talking to your neighbours, friends, church members, etc. Tell them why you are so driven by the cause...you may be surprised how many other people feel the same way but have no idea what they can do to help.

Volunteers don't volunteer unless they are inspired to do so. Even if a volunteer does volunteer once a month, two hours each time...be thankful, they are volunteering. It's not a job, it's them doing what they can. At time, they may not be able to do it...but that's life. As a volunteer, we can only do so much and even if we truly are committed to the cause and such, we can only be effective volunteers if our own lives are in order.

Bottom line...volunteers are also not really shown the kind of thanks they deserve. Many charities expect people to volunteer and take their volunteers for granted. Be thankful for them, for maybe....just maybe...out of the 100 volunteers you have, one is that diamond in the rough that needed a teeny-weeny bit more polishing to shine.

Answer 3

The local United Way agency should have some good advice for finding volunteers in your area (and some additional funding for your agency, if you can be accepted as a United Way agency!). Also, RSVP is another source to find volunteers (they're retired seniors, so I don't know how much is involved for your agency, but if seniors can do it, I've found RSVP volunteers to be very dedicated to their causes). Try a newspaper advertisement regarding your agency, they're not terribly expensive, and you should be able to get further discounts for being a non-profit agency. Maybe people don't understand what your agency does. And often, the "freebie papers" that offer classifieds will offer either free or very inexpensive advertisements for non-profits, another great way to get the word out. Other good ways to find great volunteers is to seek volunteers truly interested in your cause. Is it related to the medical field? Try with the local hospital. Education? Check with local schools or universities.

Here are national links for United Way and RSVP:

http://national.unitedway.org/

http://www.seniorcorps.gov/about/programs/rsvp.asp

Answer 4

Register with www.volunteermatch.org, which is a free online service that matches volunteers and organizations.

Organizations can use the website to find volunteers and volunteers can use the site to find organizations to work with.

I used to coordinate thousands of volunteers for an annual event and volunteermatch.org was an indispensible resource.

Answer 5

Yes try MERCY volunteer corp., its a group which asisst in every aspect of helping the human race. They volunteer in Guyana S.A. & parts of the United States. Its a very respectfull organization. Go there website check it out & give it thought !

Answer 6

first of all you should do alot of networking around the community were you live and get to know pepole. if you need help don't be afraid to ask for it. YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT. use the newspaper, put up flyers ask local bussinesses if you can advertise in their business. use your local churches, get a web page. i know that sound like $$$, but a little investment can take you a long way. so good luck.

Answer 7

Older people are usually more reliable, have more time, and depending on the nature of your organisation, may have more life experience to offer as well as practical help. Go talk to 'groups' do presentations, bring info......you do have to sell it, though. And then treat them really well when you do get them.