Volunteer Recruitment

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