Recruiting Volunteers

Having recruited many volunteers over the years, I know the importance of immediate recruitment strategies. Yet, before I share these short-term strategies, I want to emphasize the importance of having a long-term recruitment strategy (see my blog on 10 Long-Term Strategies for Recruiting Volunteers). The following immediate strategies work best when combined with the long-term strategies.

1. Pray for God to raise up workers

We must never underestimate the power of prayer when it comes to recruiting volunteers. Prayer is both a long-term and short-term strategy for mobilizing people to serve.

2. Approach former program participants

Who are the people who have served in your ministry in the past? They may have taken a break from volunteering in your ministry, but that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t come back if asked.

3. Ask current volunteers to approach others

Ministry leaders sometimes think that they’re the only ones who should recruit people for their ministries. A better approach is to encourage everyone on the team to recruit within their networks.

4. Look for people who have an affinity with your ministry

When I agreed to chair the Missions Committee at my church, I asked the church staff and the former chairperson for a list of people in the church who had gone on missions trips. I knew some in this group would be excellent candidates for a missions-focused committee.

5. Approach people in person

In most cases, a face-to-face invitation to participate in a ministry is much more effective than an impersonal public plea for help.

6. Create short-term volunteer opportunities

Most people will not jump into a long-term volunteer position right away. They are much more likely to help with a one-time event or to participate occasionally. In fact, Helen Little in her book called Volunteers: How to Get Them; How to Keep Them, says that 75% of volunteers in a member organization like a church will be occasional volunteers.

7. Expose people gradually to your ministry

Having spent many years recruiting volunteers as a pastor and lay leader in the church, I have learned that adopting a long-term approach to recruitment is essential. It may not produce results immediately, but over time, it will help you develop a ministry that attracts volunteers. After you have developed a volunteer-friendly culture, these short-term recruitment strategies will be much more effective.

Here are 10 long-term strategies for recruiting volunteers:

1. Pray for God to raise up workers

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of prayer in the recruitment process. When God begins to tug on someone’s heart to serve, it’s pretty hard to resist.

2. Help people discern their calling and strengths

A long-term approach to recruitment moves away from filling spots to helping volunteers understand their God-given calling. When people serve in their areas of passion, they're often much more satisfied and productive (check out my blog on personal calling to explore this further).

3. Serve your current volunteers well

If your current volunteers feel appreciated and supported, word will get out to others that your ministry is a great place to serve.

4. Build a strong sense of team

One of the primary reasons why people volunteer is to experience community. Strengthen your existing team of volunteers and the team dynamic will draw in others.

5. Start mobilizing early

One of the most successful high school basketball teams in British Columbia, Canada is from a small private school. They play at the very highest level in their age category and consistently win. One of the reasons for their success is that the coach starts training players for the team when they are as young as seven-years-old. His long-term success is based on his commitment to mobilize early. If we can mobilize children and youth to serve, we are much more likely to have capable adult volunteers in 5-10 years.