Recruiting and retaining volunteers

From AFSWiki

An organization such as AFS, which conducts the bulk of its operations through volunteerism, depends on recruiting new volunteers to sustain and grow its programs. The process of finding new people who will commit to offering some precious personal time can be a bit time consuming and complex in and of itself.

Contents 1 The Draw to Volunteer 1.1 Why we volunteer-- our motivation 1.2 Key factors in volunteer retention 2 Likely Volunteers 2.1 Returnees 2.2 Former Host Family Members 3 How to... 3.1 Recruit New Volunteers 3.2 Retain Volunteers 3.3 Integrate Returnees 4 See Also

The Draw to Volunteer

Why we volunteer-- our motivation

Volunteers contributions and commitment is critical to the success of AFS. It is important to understand what motivates peole to volunteer. Understanding motivation will help to recruit and keep volunteers.

• "Because I want to give something back to the community."
• "I might need the service one day myself."
• "I would just like to do something good for other people."
• "Because it's a really worthwhile service."
• "They helped my family, so I want to help them."
• "To keep me busy. I can't stand doing nothing."
• "I've got some skills, and I want to keep using them."
• "I like to meet people."
• "So I can learn a new skill."
• "Because I needed to do something worthwhile when I retired."
• "Now, I have the time to. Before I didn't."
• "I was just lonely."

For each person there is probably a combination of reasons. People volunteer for their reasons, not yours.

Key factors in volunteer retention

• A feeling of self worth
• The appreciation they are shown
• A strong sense of "family," friendship, and camaraderie.

It is important to tap into these feelings and motivations to retain volunteers.

Likely Volunteers

Typically, new volunteers have had a previous connection to AFS and are familiar to the program. Usually a returnee or former host family member wants to restore or continue their involvement with AFS. Occasionally, a particularly service-oriented person will volunteer for a team, but more commonly new volunteers have already enjoyed an AFS experience, and are interested in giving back.

Returnees

Returnees probably form the single largest bulk of all volunteers. Returnee volunteers can be from almost any age group-- AFS having existed 60 years now, can stretch the age range of volunteers to be quite large. Returnees volunteer in all capacities, but good ideas for young, recent returnees include:

• Assistant Sending Interviewer
• Orientation volunteer to participate in discussions

Young returnees, since they are so close in age, are excellent in communicating at the same level with the other students. One role often considered for returnees is as a liaison, but this role is often better suited for a returnee who has graduated from college as the liaison minimum age is 21 years old.

Former Host Family Members

Former host parents often thoroughly enjoy their AFS experience and want to continue participating with AFS. If their children have moved away, or for whatever reason, they prefer not to host another exchange student, they may very well like to volunteer. Former host parents will typically enjoy volunteering as:

• Liaison
• Event organizer
• Orientation volunteer
• Host family interviewer
• Community volunteer

How to...

Recruit New Volunteers

1. Ask them to volunteer

• If asked, 63% of people will volunteer, compared with 25% who volunteer without being asked. (Source: Independent Sector's Giving and Volunteering in the US 2001).
• Some of the best recruiters are enthusiastic, happy, current volunteers.

Strategies:

Call people who have been involved in the past. Call people who have international interests. Provide sign up sheets and/or handouts at all meeting and events listing volunteer opportunities. Put up posters in strategic places. Use media: radio, newspaper, school newspapers, church bulletins, and yough group newsletters, etc.

2. Define the job with clear expectations

• Include the tasks to be done, deadlines, calendar, time required, training opportunities, and benefits to the volunteer.

Retain Volunteers

1. Say thank you publicly and privately.
2. Give them meaningful work and tasks they want to do.
3. Keep them informed.
4. Ask for suggestions or opinions and make them feel that their suggestions are valuable and welcomed.
5. Provide time for socialization and friendship building.
6. Provide training. It can show that you value theim and their skills. It can bring them together to learn new things of interest, share experiences and swap ideas.

Integrate Returnees

• Returnee
• Returnee Welcome
• Integrating Returnees in the Sending Process
• Returnee activities
• Returnee Coordinator guidebook

See Also

• Calling party: hold an event to contact friends of AFS in your community, as a way of finding volunteers, host families, students to go abroad, and more.
• Recruiting and Integrating Volunteers training module
• Community relations event
• Volunteer Registration
• Grants, Internships, Jobs in International Education for AFS Returnees and Others