RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS
Pray!
Pray for God to give
you the people you
need.
Have the right attitude
See this as an
opportunity for God
to do amazing things
through this person
Always be recruiting
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There will be seasons when
you need to recruit
In between those seasons,
continue to recruit
Plan it in your calendar
Start with a Strategy
▪write down all the positions that you
need filled (war board)
▪write down all the places you can go
looking for people
▪write down a list of people to ask
Keep track of people
▪ What did you ask them to do? (position)
▪ Where did you ask them to help? (service time, room)
▪ When did you ask them (date)
▪ How did you connect with them (email, phone, chat)
▪ What was their answer
DID ALL THIS & STILL NO VOLUNTEERS?
Maybe it’s not WHAT you are asking,
but HOW you are asking
that is the problem.
Raise the Awareness
Let people know about the ministry & the
difference it is making
▪ Pictures / Video
▪ Share them on social media
▪ Word of Mouth
▪ Bulletin – celebrate the wins
▪ Displays
Tell the story
▪Why is this ministry making a difference?
▪Who is it impacting?
▪Where would you be without it?
Video at: https://vimeo.com/135996317
People want to
be part of a
winning team
STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
DON’T KNOW WHO ELSE TO ASK?
Maybe it’s not WHO you know,
but who THEY know.
GET TO KNOW PEOPLE
New People
Go to places where you will meet new
people
▪ Ladies’/men’s event
▪ Youth night
▪ Senior’s event
▪ Newcomer event etc.
WRITE DOWN THE NAMES OF PEOPLE
THAT YOU MEET
GET TO KNOW PEOPLE
Personal Connection
Take time to talk with people
People will be more likely to
volunteer with you if they know
you and a little bit about you
DON’T KNOW WHO ELSE TO ASK?
Ask a connector
Find someone who knows a lot of people
in your church, and ask them if they
can help you think of people to ask.
Ask other staff or ministry leaders
Ask volunteers to ask their friends
Finding the right fit
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
People will enjoy volunteering &
will stay volunteering for longer if
you find the RIGHT FIT for THEM.
Instead of finding a person for every
job, find a job for every person.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT
Ask them, if they were to plan a dinner party,
what would they enjoy doing the most:
• Plan all the details for the party
• Decorate & set up for the party
• Hang around with the people at the party & get
to know them
• Entertain people & tell stories at the party
• Make and serve the food for the party
• Help do what ever needs doing
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT
This will help you better understand
their passions & gifts.
If people serve where their passions
& gifts are, they will enjoy serving
there.
AFRAID TO ASK?
Remember
The worst they can say is no
So ASK!
PERSONAL ASK
1. Go for coffee
2. Share the vision for the ministry
3. Tell why you think they would be
great at doing this (experience,
passion etc)
4. ASK them
5. If they say no, have a back up plan
6. Follow up with a next step
RECRUITING IDEAS
IT’S ALL HOW YOU SAY IT
Instead of asking,
“How often would you like to help?”
Ask them,
“What will work better for you,
EVERY WEEK or EVERY OTHER WEEK?”
If you ask for a low commitment,
You will get low commitment.
Start high, and work down from
there.
DO A RECRUITING EVENT
5 Keys to a successful event:
- Run event more than one Sunday
- Grab people’s attention (different each week)
- Raise the awareness during the event
- Give people options
- Give them a way to respond that day
GRAB PEOPLE’S ATTENTION
RAISE THE AWARENESS
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video announcement
bulletin announcement
FB post
display in atrium
Handouts
bulletin inserts
video display in atrium
sandwich board signs
Do as many as possible
each week
GIVE PEOPLE OPTIONS
- 1x event
- summer help
- fall help
GIVE THEM A WAY TO RESPOND THAT
DAY
Be sure to write down their name & contact info so
you can follow up in 24 hours with a next step
How to KEEP Volunteers
You need to keep pouring
VISION
into your volunteers
6 KEYS TO KEEPING VOLUNTEERS LONGTERM
1. Sweet Spot
2. Relationships – with you and others
3. Specific Responsibility (don’t ask them to be a
helper)
4. Increased Responsibility
5. Time Off & Understanding when they are away
6. Appreciation
THINGS THAT WILL HELP KEEP
VOLUNTEERS
1. Tell them what is expected of them (job descriptions)
2. Give them the tools / supplies that they need
3. Build a relationship with them
4. Invest in them (conferences, emails, resources)
5. Communicate with them
6. Tell them stories of how they are making a difference
7. Follow through with what you say you will do for them
8. Ask for their input
9. Thank them over & over in as many ways as possible
10.Brag about them in front of other people
Circle Strategy
ARE YOU INVESTING IN VOLUNTEERS?
Investing in volunteers
will help you grow leaders
Volunteer Appreciation
IDEAS
LANGUAGE MATTERS
When sending emails use phrases like:
▪ Hello amazing volunteers
▪ To the best volunteers on the planet
…
▪ You are an important part of our TEAM.
▪ I appreciate you.
▪ You are making a difference.
▪ We couldn’t do this without you.
▪ Thanks for making an impact in the lives you serve.
TAKE THE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU &
SHOW APPRECIATION IN EMAILS
(ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING)
Displays
Lots of ideas on Pinterest
Give them stuff
▪Hand Written Cards in the mail
▪Gift Cards
▪Free Babysitting
▪Food
▪Chocolate
SOME THOUGHTS ON APPRECIATION
EVENTS
Make it Family Friendly – the last thing
you want them to do is pay for a
babysitter
Make it Schedule Friendly – can you tag
it on to a time when they are already
coming?
Make it Fun! – be creative & think
outside the box
FAVOURITE VOLUNTEER BOOKS
Simply Strategic Volunteers – Tony Morgan & Tim Stevens
The New Breed – Understanding & Equipping the 21st
Century Volunteer – Jonathan McKee & Thomas W.
McKee
Volunteers that Stick – Jim Wideman
Rock Solid Volunteers – How to Keep your Ministry
Team
Engaged - Larry Fowler
Q&A