Volunteer Recruitment and Retention

Getting and Keeping Volunteers

Pam NewittVolunteer CoordinatorThe Watershed Center for Environmental Advocacy, Science and Education

Where to Look

Your membershipColleges and universitiesReligious organizationsScoutsPosters at:

LibrariesPreschools

Advertise in weekly bulletinsCorporate groupsVolunteermatch.com or equivalent

Once you find them!

Greet them with a smile and give them your attentionExpect them.Keep them busy. Thank them, thank them, thank themProvide good training.Match the right volunteer with the right job

Right volunteer for the job

Make sure they have the tools they need to succeed.

Know their strengthsEven if they don’t

In a Harvard University study, McClelland and Atkinson put people into three general motivational types.

Knowing which group your volunteers fall under is:

Achievers

Like accomplishments and resultsSets goals and likes to solve problemsAre well organizedHates to have their time wasted

Set clear goals that are attainable within their time constraints.Allow the to work out a problem, decide a method and strategy.Provide feedback and offer them independence and a challenge

Affiliators

“People” peopleSensitive, nurturing, caring. May easily get their feeling hurtMay need more handholding.

Are great followers. Work very well in group settings

Power People

Personal Power PeopleExerts personal power often for their own agenda.Use power “on” people. See power as finite.

Social Power PeopleEnablers, want to impact and influence others in a win-win way.Use power “for” peopleSee power as infinite

Both want projects where they can influence the long term outcome and get high visibility and recognition.Look mostly at content. Ice-breaking games etc. felt as a waste of time.

Last Slide

Insert Sunset here!

Actually a sunrise, but who’s counting!