Recruitment. I feel like volunteer recruitment can be a struggle for many affiliates, including the affiliate I volunteer for. Finding people who have a continued interest in coming around is just TOUGH. While it can feel good to pounce on a new volunteer and plug them into an open position, I have learned from experience that this is NOT always the best approach. I have found it incredibly helpful to reach out to friends in other affiliates and find out what has worked for them. We are all in this together and are working toward the same goal. Why not share ideas and approaches?

I realize there is no one-size-fits-all approach to apply to our affiliates across the country. What works for the Portland, OR Affiliate, may not be the same as what works for Western NY or for Philadelphia, but at the end of the day, we are all human, we all have our own interests and need to feel valued.

Hear me out – consider a slow play. On your first chat with a prospective volunteer, paint a clear picture of what the affiliate looks like, and what a commitment to the affiliate could look like. Then invite them to the next few affiliate meetings. Let them hear what is going on with the affiliate currently and identify what they think the needs or tangible tasks are. Ask THEM where their interests lie and what task they are up for taking on. It is important to me to meet people where they are, rather than expect them to fit into a box I’ve created for them. Once a volunteer is engaged by taking on tasks, it makes room for larger conversations like asking them to take on role – officially, or even unofficially. Managing a new volunteer’s experience positively can really go a long way to make them feel like their work is impactful and valuable.

Long story short, this slow play approach has worked well for the Portland Affiliate. We have slowly built up a strong, welcoming team, but at the end of the day, this is just one affiliate’s approach.

Here’s my VAC plug: we are here to support you guys. This includes supporting you and your affiliates with recruitment, retention or any other pain points/struggles you may have. Ask us to connect you with other affiliates who are showing success where you may be struggling. Share your success stories with us so that you can potentially help other affiliates who may be struggling in that same area.