How to successfully connect people to volunteer opportunities

Volunteer Service Organisations like Rotary, Lions, Apex, and Rotaract provide a noble service to the community. In smaller communities, these services are often quite critical to maintain and sustain the environment, health, safety and wellbeing of people in our communities.

1. Be Legit – Walk the talk

Whatever volunteer opportunity you’re advocating, it will be easier to attract support if you authentically believe in its merits. Even better if those merits align with your code and values, particularly when you’re wanting to authentically pitch to a group of people or potential sponsors.

Example: I personally love everything that Path of Hope stands for in its fight against domestic violence. After a few rounds of building Ikea furniture for the Path of Hope Support Centre shoulder to shoulder with my crew, bantering with them and making them feel welcome among others, it was pretty easy to get them to volunteer again and again and even bring their mates from work (I’ve seen volunteers walk off the job because they weren’t properly engaged).

The banter also bolstered their awareness of domestic violence and self-sustainability for those affected by it. Win win.

*Path of Hope – Volunteers hustled from multiple agencies 2017*

2. Manage risk with your opportunities

It’s good sustainable business to ensure that the opportunity not only aligns with your volunteer organisation’s purpose, but is also of acceptable risk to your organisation and it’s volunteers.

One time I had a bold but experienced crew who were pushing another charity high tea in Maylands. Our target audience was different. When we failed to hit the acceptable ticket sale threshold by due date as part of our project plan, we simply cut our losses and didn’t lose any cash nor put the organisation at risk. Unfortunate, but safe. That same wiser crew then pulled off a killer charity fashion parade at Perth Town hall shortly after. Bam.

3. Engage the right people, at the right time in the right way

If you ‘post and pray’ an event onto a chat or on Facebook and nothing else - then expect people to help you out, you better also pray that the opportunity is a super accessible, self-selling gig.

If not, you want to be mindful as early as possible via your early project planning stages - of exactly what volunteers you need and the skills needed. Ideally it’s an accessible activity that would resonate well with your people.

If you’re good, you’ll personally ask them in advance and allude to the business criticality of their involvement for early commitment.

If you’re really good, you would have already attained collective buy-in of the event through an annual member strategic planning weekend (Rotaractors can be good at this), or at least a Club survey.

Why? Buy in is critical. It’s easier for your people to support a mission if they feel it’s their mission as well. This gives legit meaning to ‘Go Team.’

Example: At Rotary of Elizabeth Quay we were smart enough to survey the membership. Out of 29 results, the majority supported a non-perishable Food Drive (initially for Foodbank). The same membership then supported the event with Vinnies with plenty of pre-committed volunteers which exceeded goal expectations and built 177 food hampers through 3.2 tonnes of donated food.

Vinnies house paint with Rotary of Elizabeth Quay 2019. Popular/accessible regular service activity.

4. Look after your people and recognise them

This is the most important principle and if you’re a good or aspiring leader – should be the easiest because kindness is free. You should genuinely care about the welfare of your teammates - particularly if you’re initiating a project- before, during and after execution. Great leaders I’ve seen like my decorated Volunteer Fire Emergency Services Brigade Captain, who I’d risk my life with - do this well.

Why? Because if the cause of the project isn’t enough motivation for them to perform, quite often your crew will perform for you (or at least the squad) - because you care about their fitness goals, their challenged family, you asked about their dog on Facebook and discovered she is sick. You may not even realise they volunteered to fill a gap in their life and your service opportunity gives them meaning and life inspiration.

Your consideration for them may be more important than you think. If you don’t have time for people care, you can potentially expect lesser results.

When you recognise your people’s efforts individually and celebrate success with them, you create or strengthen a great relationship or even friendship. One that could even benefit your future causes which has worked well for me from a retention perspective. (Seriously, 50% of why I do volunteer stuff is the amazing people and the other 50% is putting my Catholic faith into action).

*Catwalk for a Cause 2012 at Brookfield place. The ‘A-Team’ behind the event drove multiple projects*

I dedicate this blog post to all the awesome volunteers I’ve had the honour to serve through multiple: Rotary Youth Enrichment Camps, charity wine tours, 2 charity high teas, Vinnies Migrant Refugee education workshops, John Curtin volunteering weekends, a Catholic Leadership Academy in it’s 5th year, 4 charity fashion parades, 1 charity cocktail event for Ugandan education and a Vinnies Food Haul for families in need, Path of Hope support events and others I’ve missed.

If you’re reading this and intend to connect people and service opportunity – Please Look after your people.

I wish you all the best for your cause.