How to Recruit Young Professional Volunteers for Non-Profits

Too often, small or newly emerging non-profits seek word-of-mouth and local face-to-face connections to find volunteers for professional-level positions in the organization. The result is often unreliable or flaky members who simply end up being unable or unwilling to fulfill their position's responsibilities. It's the organization's dream to be able to hand pick applicants with which they are truly impressed and who have excellent potential, but this seems impossible in such a small organization.

But it is possible.

With web sites like volunteermatch.org, an organization can post any volunteer position from small, once a month jobs to professional positions in marketing or development.

The key is to post positions as if they were real paying jobs. There should be a job description, responsibilities and duties, qualifications and a request for a resume and cover letter. Organizations can afford to be that picky, because it weeds out flaky volunteers. If they are willing to put the time into the application, they will more than likely be reliable and committed to your organization.

Another great option is to include the perks of the position, such as tickets to performances (if it's a performing arts organization, let's say), merchandise, free event attendance, networking or work experience for a resume. Many college grads looking to build their resumes are willing to work for nothing if the experience looks worthwhile.

The next step however, is to be picky. An organization with a mediocre pile of applicants should not then, pick the best of the so-so. Until you see a resume or interview someone who you really like, don't bring them onto your team! Contact those applicants who have submitted resumes and let them know that you are still making the decision, and they are still in the running. After a few months of seeking, then, only in desperation, should you accept someone you're not one hundred percent happy with - only when you really need the help and have no one else.

Small non-profits should not be afraid then, to seek a marketing coordinator, development coordinator, webmaster, graphic designer or the like. If the internet is used in the right way, an organization can open up tons of possibilities for itself and expand in ways it did not think possible so early on.