- The number one reason why people don’t get involved is because they weren’t asked.
- Even though a cause, such as fighting cancer, seems as if it would be important to everyone, be prepared to sell them on why they should participate, donate, and provide support.
- Even though it is volunteer work, you still have to treat it a little bit like work. Set goals, develop a plan to achieve your goals, create a timeline for implementation, develop a way to measure your progress and enlist a committee of dedicated volunteers to help get the job done.
- You cannot say thank you enough. Thank your sponsors, thank your donors, thank your volunteers and thank the community. A little bit of recognition and gratitude goes a long way.
- You need a strong marketing and PR plan. It should include traditional media elements, grassroots marketing efforts, and a social media strategy. After all, what good is a cause, a fundraiser or an event if there is no community support?
- You will likely be asked to take on more and more volunteer responsibilities. Be prepared to say yes if you can do them effectively. If you can’t do them justice, then you must also be prepared to say no. As a dedicated volunteer, that is often a tough word to say.
- Think of everyone you know as a potential supporter, donor, or fellow volunteer. Your doctor, dentist, accountant, your child’s teacher, your mechanic, your hair stylist - these folks are all people you interact with regularly. Why not let them know about your volunteer efforts? You never know where that conversation might lead you or the organization you volunteer for.
- Effective committee meetings are a must. Even though your fellow volunteers are there for the same reasons you are, no one, even your most dedicated volunteer, will continue to attend ineffective committee meetings.
- Create a volunteer succession plan. Have someone waiting in the wings – someone who is ready to take over important roles such as the committee chairperson role. A succession plan gives them a chance to shadow the current person in that role and then the following year they are fully prepared to step into that role.
- Switch up your committee roles. Encourage volunteers to take on a new role within the committee. Volunteers that take on the same tasks, year after year, can get burned out. More importantly, they are likely not bringing fresh ideas to their particular area of involvement.
Ten Things I Have Learned as a Nonprofit Volunteer
December 8, 2009 by Meggan Cowan
Posted in Public Relations and Marketing, Volunteerism | Tagged donor, goal, grassroots marketing, marketing plan, PR plan, recognition, Social Media, succession plan, supporter | No Comments Yet
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