Volunteer Recruitment: Finding the Right People to Join In

When recruiting new volunteers for your program or organization, it is important to attract the right people. These are people who support the organization’s mission and goals. But finding these people can seem tricky.

Potential volunteers are looking for opportunities they are excited about, believe in, and would be proud to support.

There are a variety of methods to try when recruiting new volunteers.

1. Word of mouth: The current volunteer base will most likely be associated with like-minded individuals. If they are having a great experience volunteering for your program, ask them to share that enthusiasm with others in their circle.
2. Community events: Have specific volunteer recruitment materials describing your mission and goals, and link to a website for potential volunteers to learn more.
3. Posts on social media: Posts depicting volunteers making a difference will engage with your audience. Facebook posts will engage retired or nearly retired people, while LinkedIn will attract working professionals.
4. Email address tagline: List your most current volunteer needs in your email signature with your contact information.
5. Ask your connections to spread the word: Reach out to past volunteers, guest speakers, and participants in your programs. They may know someone who has an interest or skills you are seeking.

If you print any flyers or brochures, make sure they are easy to read and have a clear call to action, as well as a phone number and email address for people to ask questions.

Volunteer recruitment takes place year-round. These efforts might bring in a new volunteer in the next week or maybe you are planting a seed of awareness and interest for them to remember in a year from now. It may take multiple times to see and hear your message before the right volunteers respond.

by Tracy Hemsath, Volunteer Leadership and Development Agent, 2025