3 Creative Volunteer Recruitment Strategies for Nonprofits

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3 Ways for Nonprofits to Find New Supporters in 2023

As we head into this year, many of us are still navigating through recent economic changes and new marketing trends. We see both a shadow of uncertainty from inflation and a ray of light as digital marketing methods become more effective. As a result, you may evaluate trends to find the most effective ways to gain new supporters. 

We’ve compiled a few tips for growing your donor and volunteer list this year. These may seem simple but stay with us as we explain how to implement them best.

Your nonprofit can find new supporters in 2023 by incorporating these three methods: 

• Diversify your content. 
• Broaden your sources of help. 
• Grow your audience with Ad Grants.

 

1. Diversify Your Content 

User-generated Content (UGC)

According to Nosto, “79 percent of people say user-generated content highly impacts their purchasing decisions.” While finding donors and volunteers differs from finding buyers, UGC demonstrates nonprofit impact. 

As you’ve likely heard, stories move people. Fortunately, nonprofits have some of the best stories to tell. 

For example, Solar Sister utilizes UGC to share its organization’s impact on so many lives. This nonprofit empowers women with clean energy entrepreneurship skills and products. Since at least 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live without electricity, Solar Sister’s efforts help both women entrepreneurs and countless families. Their story from Nyakno is inspiring.

By allowing those you help to tell their stories, you accomplish the following:

• Spread awareness of a problem AND your nonprofit’s solution
• Show potential donors your impact rather than simply “telling” them
• Personalize the individuals that the donors and volunteers help
• Encourage those who need you most to reach out

Share Videos and Infographics

By sharing visual content, you can relay your message in faster ways that are more consistent with your audience’s needs. Since time is a precious resource, your viewers will appreciate shorter content and bite-sized information. 

You can present this content on social media or embed it in your blog posts. Think of videos and infographics as the visual stories you want to tell about essential issues, your impact, and how your supporters made this possible. Sharing infographics and videos increases the likelihood that you’ll get engagement on your content. This engagement can eventually lead to website visits, donations, memberships, and volunteer sign-ups. 

Here is a quick example of how effective infographics can be. These Instagram posts are derived from our blog article. We included a link to the whole article in each caption.  

As you can see, the first post ensures that you receive a bit of information even if you don’t have time to read our full blog post. 

 

Did it take much longer to read the first post compared to the second?

While we’d all love for audiences to read every blog post, they need to have the option to absorb the short version too. This way, it is up to viewers whether or not they decide to visit the blog and read more. By presenting these options, you give your audience autonomy and demonstrate consideration of their time. 

Videos are an increasingly valuable form of content to share as well. They can evoke emotion, entertain, and educate. You can share videos as featured content on your landing pages, blog posts, and social media. 

For social media locations that are strictly limited to video, you can reach audiences that otherwise would not have found your nonprofit. This includes Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, and longer YouTube videos. 

Volunteer Newsletters

If you haven’t tried sharing volunteer newsletters before, these can show appreciation for your volunteers and encourage more people to donate their time. It can help demonstrate impact with your general audience. 

There are a few places to consider sharing volunteer newsletters and purposes for them as well. First and foremost, share them via email with your current volunteers. Highlight specific impacts individuals or groups made over the past month or quarter. Speak to the dedication of your volunteers. You can include a personal story if one of them would like to share. These newsletters help build a community and validate efforts. It can solidify volunteers’ decisions to continue committing their time. 

Secondly, you can share volunteer newsletters on your social media channels. For Instagram, you could create a collage of meaningful pictures with a gratitude-themed caption and share the newsletter link in your bio (Linktree). You can also share Reels or TikToks depicting your volunteer impact. 

On other platforms, share the entire newsletter, sections, or videos. For example, LinkedIn allows you to publish full articles and newsletters on the platform (Click “write an article” and then “create a newsletter”). By sharing your volunteer newsletters on social media, you can build interest among potential volunteers in your audience. 

Donor Impact Newsletters

Another area where newsletters are beneficial is with your donors. Unless they’ve limited communication, you should email these directly to them. It’s always a good idea to share nonprofit impact with donors! In fact, the most common reason donors stop giving is too frequent solicitations without communication of impact. 

Demonstrate how their contribution has changed lives and has enabled your nonprofit to continue this essential work. Additionally, you can include announcements of events, important milestones, and personal stories. You can also share them on social media to increase donor retention and encourage new donors. 

Won’t these newsletters take too much time? 

The time commitment involved with creating both types of newsletters doesn’t have to be extensive. You may be able to repurpose content from each, “piggy-backing” off of content you’ve already created. This is especially true for instances where your volunteer and donor impact intersect. 

For example, let’s say a group of volunteers runs a highly successful dog adoption event, and the space is rented with donated funds. Or, you have volunteers transporting rescue pets to veterinary clinics, and donations fund this medical care. In these situations, you can write newsletter content celebrating the overall impact and personalize the wording to thank each group. Explain how their donations or voluntary efforts made this possible. 

2. Broaden Your Sources of Help

Consider these examples of non-monetary support that can be impactful for your organization:

Previous donors

While monetary contributions are vital, only some can donate funds. However, people still look for ways to donate their time or tell their friends about your organization’s essential work. 

Previous donors can share your information with their friends and family. Some may no longer be able to donate but might look for other opportunities to stay involved. Let them know that you appreciate everything they have given. Welcome them to share posts about your organization. Unless they prefer to stop communication, continue to include the previous donor as a valued partner in your mission. 

Internships 

Offering internships for college credit or work experience is an excellent way for you to get help with your cause. This also allows a student, career-changer, or entry-level associate to learn from your dedicated team and gain resume experience.

 Interns can help with content creation, virtual assistance, fundraising, marketing, and other tasks. While some students search for paid opportunities, remote internships (paid and unpaid) have become increasingly competitive for them. Furthermore, numerous millennials and Gen Zs say their dream job would be nonprofit work. Many of us remember being a student and wishing someone would give us a chance!

Keep in mind that interns want to learn, make an impact, and gain valuable experience for their resumes. They may also seek paid positions within your organization. You can increase your applicant pool by offering these internships on a part-time basis that an intern could manage alongside other responsibilities. Remember that many students or career changers must continue their paid work to make ends meet. 

Remote Volunteers 

Often underestimated, remote volunteers can help with your mission in more ways than you might realize. Of course, this depends on their assigned tasks. While a generous pet foster or kennel helper is an in-person commitment, remote volunteers can create an impact in other ways. 

They can assist with virtual events, content writing, Canva design, photo & video editing, T-shirt art, and various office tasks. Remote volunteers can also teach your team a specialized skill they may have. Potential volunteers often want to make a difference, learn new skills, and be part of a community. You may be surprised by the generosity and willingness to help from people that are states away. 

3. Grow Your Audience With Ad Grants

The Google Ad Grant and Microsoft Ads For Social Impact Grants are free advertising for nonprofits. By displaying ads on popular search engines, your nonprofit can reach more donors and volunteers. 

Google Ad Grant

Google provides $10,000 in monthly ad spend with its grant for eligible nonprofits. The ads are on the Google search engine, which is the largest in the world. Nonprofits can spend the entire amount monthly or only as much as needed. Then, the following month, they receive another 10k in ad spend. If your nonprofit already has the Google Ad Grant, ensure you get the most out of this free advertising. 

Understandably, you may be curious how much of a difference the Google Ad Grant can make. We encourage you to look at Google’s success stories to learn more about how the Google Ad Grant has drastically increased nonprofit impact. Check out this resource for guidance on the technicalities of Google Grant success and management.  

Microsoft Ads for Social Impact Grant

This new ad grant has only been available to nonprofits since the summer of 2022. The Microsoft Ad Grant has fewer website requirements, making it an option for nonprofits with less content on their site. 

The Microsoft Ads for Social Impact Grant gives eligible nonprofits $3,000 monthly ad spend. These ads are on the Microsoft Search Network (Bing, Yahoo, AOL) and Microsoft Audience Network (outlook.com, MSN, Microsoft Edge, Ecosia).

While the Microsoft Network makes up a smaller portion of the US search market than Google, you can still reach 47 million searchers that are not on Google. Additionally, Microsoft’s audience is notoriously supportive of nonprofits. See a few unique benefits of the Microsoft Grant below. 

Using Both the Google Ad and Microsoft for Social Impact Grants 

You’re likely to miss out on additional supporters if you aren’t extending your reach by utilizing both of these nonprofit ad grants. Understandably, you might ask how beneficial it is to have both grants. Some nonprofits have already added both to their marketing strategy. They’ve been very pleased with the outcome.

For example, the YWCA USA more than tripled its clicks by utilizing both the Google Grant and Microsoft Ads for Social Impact. They increased their total number of ad clicks from 3,420 to 11,475 in two months. Additionally, this organization had more than 432,000 ad impressions within two months by effectively and simultaneously managing both grants.

While professional management is not required, this takes work off your plate and helps you get better results. Connect with us if you have any questions or need some help! 

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read our recommendations for 2023 marketing for supporters, we hope that you have found areas of opportunity unique to your nonprofit. While we see the value in the totality of these methods, we recognize a few key points from our own work with successful nonprofits. Each organization has its talents, resources, and niche. It’s important to do the necessary research to discover how your nonprofit fits into the philanthropic goals of your target volunteers and donors. We believe that this insight into your audiences and their goals will continue to be essential for growing their support. 

Our goal at Nonprofit Megaphone is to amplify nonprofit missions and equip nonprofits to thrive. If you find value in regular marketing tips and tricks, we encourage you to follow us and check out our blog. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, where we deliver one of our top blog posts and a summary of content tips. Thank you for reading!

 

The post 3 Ways for Nonprofits to Find New Supporters in 2023 appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

However, drawing an audience to your website is only half the battle. Good SEO practices ensure visitors are more engaged and prepared to donate. This means focusing on keywords, link building and content that’s specific to your charity.

Support from an SEO consultant can help bring more relevant, engaged traffic to your website.

 1. Decide whether you need a pro-bono SEO consultant

SEO specialists provide valuable insights you may not know about otherwise. If you have a new site, SEO can help generate traffic and visibility. For existing websites, proper SEO can help increase brand awareness.

Look at similar websites, if they rank higher on Google then take note of what they’re doing differently. You could discuss any potential improvements with your volunteer SEO specialist.

Remember, much SEO action happens behind the scenes. If websites with less content and poor keyword visibility are ranking higher, there’s a chance your site requires off-page work. If you’re still unsure where you’re going wrong, a good SEO consultant can help.

 2. A basic understanding of SEO

Having a basic understanding of SEO will help you find the best volunteer SEO specialist for your charity. This can be as elementary as knowing that SEO can help your website rank better with Google. Alternatively, this article from Google offers an informative guide to beginner’s SEO.

An important thing to know about SEO is that quick results are rare. An SEO consultant needs upwards of four months to make improvements to your site and before seeing benefits. So, make sure you enlist a volunteer SEO specialist who’s available long term.

3. Know what you want to achieve

Even if you know very little about SEO, I’d recommend having an idea about what you want to achieve via an SEO specialist.

For example, if you’re confident your site’s structure is optimised, a volunteer SEO consultant may develop a keyword or link-building strategy. If you’re starting from scratch, your goal could simply be to rise in Google’s rankings for specific key terms.

Whatever the case, most SEO consultants will complete a full site audit when they begin working with you. An audit will pick up everything from duplicated links to H1 titles that need fixing. So, if you don’t have a clear goal in mind then your SEO consultant will be able to help.

4. Research volunteer SEO specialists

Once you know what you’d like to achieve, start looking for the right SEO volunteer. There are many ways to find an SEO specialist, begin by scouring LinkedIn, Facebook groups and making targeted Twitter searches. There are also plenty of websites dedicated to finding volunteers. Try Reach Volunteering, Charity Job or Volunteering Matters to begin your search.

SEO knowledge is versatile and applicable to most organisations, so a consultant doesn’t need prior experience with charities. Similarly, many consultants work with both big and small nonprofit organisations seamlessly. The important thing is that they are knowledgeable and avoid black-hat techniques. Google sees through keyword stuffing and other underhand tactics.

5. Discuss your goals with an SEO consultant

Discussing your goals will help you decide if a volunteer SEO consultant is right for your nonprofit. Make sure they understand your goals and ensure they’re passionate about your charity’s cause.

Time keeping is also an important aspect. Amine Dahimene SEO consultant says, “When interviewing, make sure the candidate has enough time to work your website and is committed to the agreed number of hours. To keep on top of this, it’s good to have regular catch-up meetings.”

Speaking with an SEO consultant helps paint a clearer picture of your website, laying the foundations for them to create a strategy.

6. Say no to black-hat tactics

To ensure your SEO specialist will create long-lasting positive changes, there are some key things to avoid.

One warning sign is if they guarantee a #1 ranking over a short period. Whilst it’s achievable over time, this isn’t guaranteeable and big leaps in rankings normally take months.

You should also avoid keyword stuffing. This technique involves unnecessarily repeating keywords over the course of one page. Google penalises this because it’s bad for user experience and is blatantly pandering to search engines.

Neglecting technical errors is a warning sign. Good SEO specialists recognise the importance of keeping the site’s back-end up to scratch. Ignoring it completely could be detrimental to how Google views your site.

Whilst their services are being offered for free, an SEO specialist using underhand tactics could result in Google penalising your site. Avoid this at all costs.

So, what are you waiting for? Begin your hunt for a volunteer SEO specialist now.

The post How to Find a Volunteer SEO Specialist for Your Nonprofit’s Website appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

At DNL OmniMedia, we specialize in nonprofit tech strategy consulting, so we’ve worked with quite a few nonprofits to develop plans around specific goals such as boosting volunteer engagement. Check out the following reliable strategies for increasing volunteer sign-ups:

1. Solidify your mission statement.
2. Keep an updated website.
3. Manage volunteer data with a strong CRM solution.
4. Use technology tools to motivate volunteers. 

Read on to learn how to use the above strategies to increase volunteer engagement.

1. Solidify your mission statement. 

There’s one thing that’s absolutely essential to bring volunteers to your organization– a strong mission statement.

Your mission statement encompasses your “why,” as in why you’re dedicated to your cause and why you’re giving your time and efforts toward it. It can be easy to develop your mission statement when your nonprofit is born but then take it for granted going forward. Instead, you should think of your mission statement as a kind of living document to guide your work.

You should be actively using this statement to attract new supporters. When a supporter connects personally with your mission statement, you’ve made the strongest, most direct connection you can possibly make with that individual. 

These supporters become volunteers. You should focus some energy on crafting the best mission statement possible to help build these relationships.

2. Keep an updated website. 

Your website functions as your nonprofit’s home on the internet, and it’s most likely where you’re going to direct potential volunteers to find opportunities. Therefore, it’s absolutely vital you keep this information up-to-date and easily accessible. 

Regardless of whether you’re a tech expert or a total newcomer, keeping your website updated can be a manageable (and even budget-friendly) task. There are a few features you’ll want to make sure to include:

• An easily-read calendar widget for quick viewing of upcoming opportunities
• Uncomplicated volunteer registration processes for events, embedded directly within the site
• A call-to-action button to gather contact information from interested potential volunteers
• Links to your nonprofit’s social media profiles, so volunteers can stay in the loop

If your website could use an upgrade to better target volunteer audiences, check out this guide to nonprofit website design for an idea of how to get started.

3. Manage volunteer data with a strong CRM solution. 

You could have the strongest volunteer force imaginable and it still wouldn’t be effective if you didn’t have a comprehensive CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution to manage and gather data from these interactions. 

Your CRM software hosts all of the data you gather on donors, volunteers, and any other supporters. With this data, you’ll be able to:

• Maintain volunteer profiles, tracking information such as engagement history and contact info
• Identify which fundraiser campaigns have been most engaging for your volunteers and implement similar ideas in future endeavors
• Identify which volunteers are most likely to convert to donors down the line and contact them accordingly
• Recognize the preferred contact methods for segments of your volunteer force and reach out with new opportunities appropriately

Setting up your organization’s technology solutions can be a difficult undertaking, especially if you’re a larger organization working with particularly robust solutions. 

Bringing on a nonprofit technology consultant is usually the best bet to mitigate risk, whether you’re developing a quick website or needing customized Blackbaud consultation services.

4. Use volunteer grant tools to motivate donors.

You’ll motivate donors using your mission statement, navigable website and engaging events. However, there may not be anything more engaging to a volunteer than the knowledge that they may be able to double their impact on your nonprofit.

This is made possible through volunteer grant programs, typically part of broader corporate social responsibility practices at businesses. The process is simple: an eligible employee volunteers at your nonprofit, they submit proof of time volunteered to their employer, their employer verifies this time with your organization, and then this employer sends a financial gift to your organization matching the time given.

The biggest obstacle in obtaining a volunteer grant is that volunteers are rarely actually aware of these opportunities. Therefore, by providing supporters with education surrounding the practice and directing them to an online volunteer grants database, your supporters are able to determine their eligibility and begin the process. 

For more information on these programs, check out Double the Donation’s guide to volunteer grant basics. 

Let’s recap.

Volunteers are essential for any nonprofit to function, but it can be difficult to motivate supporters to actually give their time!

By crafting solid messaging, keeping volunteers updated on upcoming activities, managing your volunteer data, and utilizing corporate social responsibility tools, you’ll be sure to motivate volunteers to sign up for future initiatives.

The post 4 Strategies to Increase Volunteer Sign-Up appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

1. Educate yourself

First things first: you should have a firm grasp of your volunteer organization’s mission and goals before you start. If you have plenty of background information about the nonprofit you’re serving, you’ll be able to spend more time volunteering and less time asking, “Where do I go?” and “What do I do?” The directors will also be thrilled to see you’ve taken time to research the organization they work so hard to run. In general, if you educate yourself on the nonprofit before you begin volunteering, you will be able to better serve the community and appear more professional.

2. Attitude is everything

It’s always crucial to arrive at the volunteer site with a smile on your face. The more positive your attitude, the more you’ll get out of the experience. Other volunteers, directors and the people you’re serving will notice your bubbly demeanor and be inspired to act the same—it’s contagious! And let’s be honest: sometimes the volunteer work isn’t exactly what you want to be doing. Volunteering can be mentally or physically taxing at times, but don’t let any of that get you down. Think about the positive effect you’re creating in your community and the people who need your help. Let that be the fuel to get you through the day, and be sure to motivate other volunteers to keep that same mindset, too!

3. Accept differences

No matter where you volunteer, one thing’s for sure: you’ll be working with a diverse group of people. That’s one of the best parts of volunteering, though, right? Exposing yourself to a variety of social classes, races and ages can yield great long-term rewards and allow you to see the world through a different lens. Learn the stories of the people you’re helping and see them as more than just a recipient of your services. Be tolerant, accepting and understanding. Volunteering is powerful because it can shatter barriers between people who would normally never interact. Make sure you go in with an open mind so you’re able to experience this sensation firsthand. You won’t regret it.

4. Make connections

Building relationships with both the organization’s directors and the people you serve is so important. These people can become lifelong friends and important connections, so treat them well! Whether it’s a one-time event or you’ve been volunteering at the same place for years, be sure to leave everyone you meet with a good impression. Ask if there’s anything else you can do to further serve the community and stay in touch with the volunteer coordinators after you’re finished. Creating strong relationships while volunteering will make your experience more worthwhile and fun.

Next time you volunteer, be sure to arrive with plenty of information, stay positive, welcome any differences you encounter and form connections with the people you serve. Follow these steps, and you’ll be sure to maximize your volunteer experience!

The post 4 Easy Ways to Become a Better Volunteer appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Here are three practices you should implement to save your organization money.

1. Renegotiate necessities

Everything is negotiable, and many places offer discounts to nonprofit organizations. As you shop around, always ask if a company is able to donate or willing to lower the cost of their products. Even on services like insurance, phone and internet contracts—which may seem unchangeable—you can probably negotiate a better rate.

When you approach rate negotiation, the most effective method is to talk to someone directly. Call them on the phone or visit them in person. Avoid filling out online forms or dealing with automated systems, as they often aren’t equipped to offer the discounted rates you seek. Talk about the mission of your organization first and win them over to your side before bringing up prices. Ask what the company can offer and encourage them to earn your business.

If your current provider won’t give you a better rate, some internet providers offer cash incentives to switch over or enroll in multiple services, so don’t be afraid to change to take advantage of those deals.

2. Utilize volunteers

If you believe in the purpose of your organization, other people will too—so give them a way to get involved. There are many great places to find enthusiastic volunteers online, including JustServe and VolunteerMatch.

The key to building a reliable volunteer base is showing them specifically what you want them to accomplish. Be considerate of their time and talents and share in advance exactly what you need them to do. Volunteering often feels like a first date: your volunteers want to know what to wear, what time they should be ready, what time they will be home and what activities they will participate in. Be thorough in your description and you will attract more people.

Once you’ve drawn a pool of volunteers in, you need to keep them engaged in your cause. Maintain a loyal volunteer base by doing the following:

• Never ask them to come in to the office for something that takes less than an hour to complete.
• Express gratitude for their contributions both publicly and privately.
• Give them as much notice as possible for events and projects.
• Find ways to show them the impact of their work.
• Train volunteers to train other volunteers.

When directed effectively, volunteers will save your organization labor, resources and training costs. Plus, satisfied volunteers share their experiences with their networks and increase the visibility of your organization.

3. Redirect operations during slow months

Avoid any practices that will run your organization into the red, including overstaffing. Find when your busiest—and slowest—times are, and staff accordingly. You shouldn’t be staffed to capacity during winter months if you run a summer camp, for example. Instead, offer three- or six-month contracts to some employees instead of keeping them on the payroll all year. And if you have slower times even during your busy months, it is perfectly acceptable to cancel meetings or to consider teleconferencing to save on travel costs; you can nail down specifics over the phone or through email just as effectively as in real person most of the time.

In addition to scaling back, try to recognize when your organization has more free time and find productive ways to fill that time. Consider the following alternatives:

• Lease or rent out extra space that isn’t needed immediately.
• Use your staff’s available free time to make or update training materials for volunteers.
• Lend your staff and resources to other organizations that might help you in return at a later time.
• Organize and train volunteers for additional methods of fundraising.

Use your optimism and creativity to lower your costs. Your nonprofit is making the world a better place, and by cutting costs, you will have a larger footprint and impact more lives. Share these ideas with your staff and start applying them to your organization today.

The post 3 Easy Ways to Cut Nonprofit Costs appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Implement a training program

If your nonprofit relies heavily on volunteerism, creating a training program is essential for volunteer safety and management. This is especially true if you’re expecting to continuously have large groups of volunteers. Make sure that you allot time and energy to coach your volunteers on specific tasks they will be doing. When they get it right the first time around, you won’t have to worry about going back and fixing any mistakes yourself later on.

Avoid volunteer burnout

A nonprofit’s limited budget sometimes means limited resources, a limited staff and a whole lot of the workload falling on the same peoples’ shoulders. Burned out employees and volunteers aren’t productive, and they transfer their stress into their actions at work. Here are some ways to manage and prevent burnout:

1. Schedule regular check-ins with your volunteers to see where they’re at in terms of progress. Make sure to ask them about their experiences working for your organization and things they might be worried about.

2. Don’t micromanage. You hired volunteers because you can’t do everything yourself, so let go and let them do their work.

3. Give your volunteers appropriate breaks and coordinate their schedule around yours to see how you can work together.

Learn how to say no

Don’t ever feel like you have to accept a volunteer just because they’re willing to volunteer, especially if you don’t have anything for them to do. You want a volunteer that fits your culture and wants to help, so make sure they’re there for a reason.

When saying no to volunteers, it’s important to handle the situation delicately. You don’t want to burn any bridges with volunteers you want to keep in your network. Even if you’ve already given them options, touch base with them regularly just in case.

The post How to Treat Volunteers as an Extension of Your Staff appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Finding a good volunteer is like finding buried treasure. It’s not always so easy to get to where X marks the spot, but it’s certainly worth the work.

Volunteers are valuable in themselves, but keep in mind that a committed volunteer could mean a committed donor, too! Either way, their commitment to your nonprofit is key. To keep that commitment alive, we have some tips for keeping your volunteers motivated and coming back time after time.

Say Thanks

Whenever you thank your volunteers, always be sure that you’re showing honest and genuine appreciation. By showing them how much their work means to you, you can pave the way for a long-term relationship.

There are many different ways to say thanks. At the very least, acknowledge them when you see them in person, whether that’s in your workspace or while you’re out and about. Handwritten thank-you notes are another valuable approach. Whatever you do, make sure to follow up their volunteer experience with some words of gratitude. Retaining a volunteer is similar to retaining a donor in this way. By saying thank you, you’ll gain loyal supporters for the long run.

Build a Community

Invite volunteers to join your nonprofit community! Get to know them and make them feel welcome. A neglected volunteer won’t come back, but social connections will keep volunteers tied to your organization and your cause.

Food is always a great option for getting your community together. Organize a social for your volunteers or have a bite to eat before they get to work on a project. While you’re sharing a meal, you can get to know one another and ask for feedback in person. A few boxes of pizza can go a long way. If you’re looking for a new way to feed a big crowd, the farm families of Cabot Creamery have an easy-to-make mac and cheese for your next gathering. The recipe is often served on their Farmers’ Gratitude Grille. Try it out!

Volunteers don’t just have to find community inside of your organization—they can find some outside of it, too. The Reward Volunteers program helps new volunteers get connected with your current ones and engage with others in your community. You can also list your nonprofit’s volunteer opportunities there to spread your volunteer community even further.

Equip Them

Communication is key, especially with new volunteers. Having an open-door policy helps your volunteers do their best work and feel comfortable asking questions. Even if it’s not often, try to communicate with them before and after they volunteer, and allow them to do the same. It might add a few extra emails to your plate, but it’ll help things run smoothly once they’re in the door and ready for action.

Once they’ve arrived to volunteer, introduce them to the people in your space. Make time for a quick hello from some staff members, your executive director and other volunteers before they hit the ground running.

When you’re ready to get started, explain their task in detail and demonstrate it if necessary. Stick around for a while to be present for questions that might come up, and make yourself available if any other issues arise. Don’t be afraid to give your volunteers a challenging job either! It might take some extra time on the front end, but giving them significant work will make them want to come back again. Sealing envelopes won’t.

Respect Their Time

Don’t invite a volunteer in until you have something for them to do. Letting a volunteer sit around is a waste of your time and theirs. They’re making themselves available for free, so take full advantage of their help while they’re available.

It’s important to keep in mind that volunteers aren’t your full-time employees. Be considerate and accommodating of their schedules. Be up front about communicating your needs, too. Share how long a task will take, when it’ll be available and when it needs to be done. Providing alternate opportunities is also a great option—it includes your volunteers that have tight schedules but still want to give their time.

Show Impact

Volunteers love seeing the impact their work has made. You can easily do that by giving them a shout-out on social media. Snap a few photos and show some volunteer appreciation to your followers.

Try to brainstorm some other ways to spread the volunteer love! Fill volunteers in on your nonprofit’s goals, or let them know how they helped in a personal email or a community newsletter.

You can also recognize volunteers by rewarding them for their effort. There are lots of creative ways to repay them without having to empty your piggy bank. You can encourage your volunteers to track their hours on Reward Volunteers to earn rewards for their service. By logging their time, volunteers can score prizes for themselves and win money for the nonprofit they serve! Your nonprofit can also get detailed reports on the hours your volunteers are contributing.

__________

Volunteers are a crucial part of your community, so don’t let them go by the wayside! They’re giving their time to your nonprofit. You should give something in return.

Keeping your volunteers motivated shows them that you care. That can be done in a lot of ways, like saying thank you, equipping them for meaningful work and inviting them to be a part of your community. By doing even the little things, you’ll keep your volunteers coming back time and time again.

Reward Volunteers is a free, easy way to track the time you spend volunteering. By logging time and sharing it via Facebook, volunteers can win prizes from companies that are committed to rewarding folks who give back to their communities. The more time logged and the more likes and comments a volunteer receives, the more chances they have to win prizes for themselves and the organizations they serve.

Nonprofits can also create accounts, list opportunities, schedule volunteers and track their hours. Reward Volunteers can connect to any volunteer management system and track volunteer hours for sponsors, prize donors and employers. Try it out!

The program was developed by the farm families who own Cabot Creamery Co-operative. Cabot farmers are often the first to volunteer in their local communities and they seek to honor the important efforts of volunteers across the country.

The post Tips to Motivate Your Volunteers and Keep Them Coming Back appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

The impact of volunteerism can be felt in communities of all shapes and sizes. No matter the size of the community, though, the impact of volunteerism is always huge.

Wherever it occurs, volunteering exists to help others. But volunteerism’s best-kept secret is this: it’s good for you, too. We did some digging to find out all the reasons why volunteering rocks.

1. Boosts self esteem

Volunteering helps build a strong safety net for when you’re experiencing trying times. With those strong social ties, you’re always surrounded by a community that’s willing to help you out when times get tough. When you volunteer, you become a part of someone else’s safety net, too. By helping others, you’ll build a greater sense of trust and self esteem.

2. Expands your connections

The relationships you can create while volunteering are endless. You connect to others through volunteering, and if you do it regularly, you can maintain those valuable social networks into the future.

You can make new friends and keep the old by engaging in a common activity like volunteering. With a larger social network, you’ll have more resources at your fingertips, which leads to better physical, mental and emotional health.

3. Makes you feel good

If you’ve ever volunteered before, you’ve probably experienced this: volunteering makes you happy! Researchers at the London School of Economics found that people become happier by volunteering more. When you give your time to others, you attain a personal sense of accomplishment, which accounts for some of the positive effects that volunteering has on your mood.

There’s a threshold to reaping the full benefits of volunteering, though. In order to soak up all the positive effects of community service, you need to set aside some time for it. Volunteers who commit at least one or two hours every week reap the fullest benefits from their service.

4. Contributes to a longer life

Volunteering does more than boost your mood—it also has effects on your physical well-being. Volunteers encounter greater longevity and less frequency of heart disease. Volunteers may be at a lower risk for memory loss, too. The social interaction can significantly reduce the progress of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Happier and healthier life? Count me in.

5. Gives purpose

As people get older, they experience a higher risk for isolation. Volunteering combats that statistic by adding a sense of purpose to your life. The same goes for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental illnesses. No matter who you are, there are plenty of ways to give your life new meaning by helping others.

6. Combats stress

Volunteering goes beyond just being something fun to do; it decreases stress, too. Studies on the “Happiness Effect” of volunteering show that you become happier the more you volunteer. When you assist others, your body releases dopamine in the brain, which has a positive effect on how you feel. Volunteers also experience lower levels of depression.

7. Gives a good example

Volunteering as a family is a great way to teach important lessons to your children. Kids are always learning from the example you set for them, so make sure it’s a good one! You can show the impact of volunteering through your actions. By giving back to the community, you can lay the foundation for service in the years to come.

Volunteering doesn’t just have to inspire kids, either! You can share your experiences through programs like Reward Volunteers, which lets you connect with other volunteers, find new opportunities and win prizes for your community service. Through sharing your service, you can inspire others. Bringing smiles to other volunteers will bring one to you, too.

8. Teaches new skills

Live a little! Volunteering gives you the opportunity to explore new skills and interests that you might not get to enjoy otherwise. You can broaden your horizons while helping others at the same time.

If you’re looking to change things up a little, you can also try out a new job or role without having to commit to something long-term. Volunteering gives you the inside scoop on how some organizations operate, and it can hook you up with some helpful references if you’re serious about making a job switch.

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From improving your physical well-being to boosting your mindset, volunteering does a world of good. Most times, you can see the impact of giving your time right off the bat.

If you haven’t gotten your start in volunteerism, there’s no time like the present. Don’t know where to begin? The Reward Volunteers Program can help with that. You can connect with others and find volunteer opportunities in your area, making your first step in to volunteering as easy as pie.

With all the health perks associated with volunteering, there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t give it a shot. By helping improve your community, you’re also helping yourself. It’s a win-win! Once you get in the swing of things, you’ll be a happy and healthy volunteer in no time.

Reward Volunteers is a free, easy way to track the time you spend volunteering. By logging time and sharing it via Facebook, volunteers can win prizes from companies that are committed to rewarding folks who give back to their communities. The more time logged and the more likes and comments a volunteer receives, the more chances they have to win prizes for themselves and the organizations they serve.

Nonprofits can also create accounts, list opportunities, schedule volunteers and track their hours. Reward Volunteers can connect to any volunteer management system and track volunteer hours for sponsors, prize donors and employers. Try it out!

The program was developed by the farm families who own Cabot Creamery Co-operative. Cabot farmers are often the first to volunteer in their local communities and they seek to honor the important efforts of volunteers across the country.

The post 8 Long-Term Health Benefits of Volunteering appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

The mid-level donor is defined differently for every organization, but typically looks like someone who gives more often than once, but isn’t a recurring donor yet, or isn’t giving enough to be considered a “major donor.”

Maeve Strathy lets us know that a lot of times these donors are actually willing and able to give more – they’re just not being cultivated effectively. The tactics that help to move entry and mid-level donors into the major level may surprise you, but are tried-and-true ways to make the most of your fundraising efforts. 

Some of the things that Strathy and Randy dive into in this episode include:

• #DonorLove
• Defining the mid-level donor
• Donor conversion to inspire larger gifts
• And so much more

Following the tips and tricks Strathy outlines will get you that much closer to transforming your fundraising effectiveness.  

You can subscribe to the Hubcast on iTunes and Soundcloud to make sure you don’t miss out on our latest podcast.

The post [PODCAST] Donor Conversion: From Mid to Major | Ft. Maeve Strathy appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.