Volunteer Recognition Day: Finding the Right Volunteers for Nonprofits

Volunteering gives people a way to contribute to the community while giving event organizers a much-needed helping hand. An added bonus: Volunteering can be the freeway for networking, growing relationships, and retaining work ethic. Clients are looking for event planners with great reviews and an outstanding reputation — a part of which comes from volunteers. In celebration of Volunteer Recognition Day on April 20th, we’ve created a guide on how to find the right volunteers for nonprofit events. 

Recruiting Events
Productive and excellent volunteers are out there — you just need to find them! Start by searching within your organization or the organization handling the event. Typically, people who are connected to the event are the most efficient and willing to help. The internet is also a great tool for finding volunteers. Post to social media, your website, and community groups. Groups, along with college websites, can help you find individuals who are looking for opportunities in event management, customer service, and nonprofit experience.

Set Expectations
By properly establishing your expectations for volunteers, they are able to understand your needs, better assist you, and carry out their responsibilities. Giving detailed information and guidelines for their tasks sets everyone up for success. You can be assured that they will be more productive and reliable. Communication is key.

Communicate Effectively
Communication is the best way to build relationships with your volunteers. By doing so, volunteers will feel more confident when approaching you, which leads to open doors to success and clarity. Prior to the event, volunteers should meet each other to start building their own communication and work better as a team.

Follow Up and Feedback
Don’t end your event by simply saying “thank you” and letting them go. Take the chance to receive valuable feedback that can aid you in carrying out an improved event next time. Their opinions will give you the information you need on how to better manage events. Plus, you can even retain volunteers for future events.

Finding volunteers can be challenging, but setting aside time to find the right ones will help you in the long run. Properly planning and preparing will help both you and your volunteers. Whether you’re an organization looking for team-building activities or an Orlando event planning group looking to host an interactive, fun, and unique event, we are here to help. We are your one-stop-shop for every game, activity, and carnival ride out there. Let us bring new life to your event. Call the experts at Fun Planners today at 407-955-4949, or contact us online. Our team can help take your event to the next level!