Learning Pathway 1 | Recruiting Volunteers
This content was originally published on VolunteerMatch.
Recruiting volunteers is about more than filling roles—it’s about finding passionate individuals who share your mission and want to make a real impact. A strong recruitment strategy ensures volunteers feel valued, engaged, and empowered right from the beginning.
Without a targeted approach, mismatched expectations can lead to disengagement and high turnover. By creating clear position descriptions, understanding what motivates your volunteers, and implementing structured onboarding, you can attract and retain a dedicated team that drives your mission forward.
Part 1: Before you start
Before recruiting volunteers, it’s essential to lay a strong foundation by understanding your organization's needs and defining clear roles. This section explores key preparatory steps, such as identifying gaps, creating volunteer personas, and setting expectations to ensure a successful recruitment process.
Part 2: Recruiting for a Role
In Part 2 we explore best practices for volunteer orientation and training, emphasizing the importance of risk management, safe engagement, and clear learning outcomes. The section also highlights strategies for creating effective curricula and support for volunteers, ensuring they are well-prepared and confident in their roles.
Part 3: Making the Match
The final section focuses on effective volunteer recruitment strategies, highlighting the changing needs of today’s volunteers. It provides practical tips for designing roles, using platforms like VolunteerMatch, and making your recruitment efforts engaging and impactful.
Recruiting the right volunteers is just the beginning. Once you’ve built a strong team, the next step is creating lasting connections that keep them engaged and motivated.
In Learning Pathway 2: Building Volunteer Relationships, we’ll explore how to foster trust, maintain open communication, and navigate challenges with confidence. Join us as we move from recruitment to relationship, because a strong mission is powered by strong connections.