How to Ask People to Volunteer

Recruiting volunteers can be both frustrating and challenging. Learn how to make it fun and rewarding.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Enthusiasm
• Fresh ideas that excite people to want to work.

1. Before you ask for volunteers find one other person who is as excited as you, who will assist you in recruiting. Studies show that projects, ministries, charities are most successful when they start a project with at least two people who want something to happen. Do not attempt to skip this step.

2. When you approach prospective volunteers you need to let them see your excitement. For example: You want to help young people in your church, synagogue or mosque. Tell them the benefits (changed lives, future leaders, mentoring a new generation). If you are excited it will spread to them.

3. Support your volunteers. Tell the OFTEN that you appreciate them and need them. CELEBRATE them. That means publicly thank them and say how grateful you are for them and their assistance.

4. Ask each of them to think of at least one other person they can recruit to be a volunteer. This keeps the cycle going and most importantly, it encourages the volunteers. Why? They see a fresh influx of new helpers and this tells them they are making progress.

[jnusom]

on 10/9/2009 great tips