Build Your Fundraising Team
How To Recruit More Volunteers
For larger fundraising projects you should put together a team to help you
otherwise you will be stretched far too thin and stand a good chance of failing.
The ideal team from a cost perspective is volunteer-based but you might have to
occasionally hire someone especially if it’s for a specialized task that most
people can’t do.
Many people dread being asked to volunteer and do so begrudgingly but you will
be surprised at how many people you ask will be more than happy to “roll up
their sleeves” and pitch in for no other reason than to help out a good cause.
The best people to approach in building your fundraising team should be
individuals or groups that are sympathetic to your cause. Example: Parents with
players on the football team have a vested interest in helping the team get new
uniforms.
Others are just naturally giving in their time and are usually involved in
several projects at once. If you can land one of these types of go-getters on
your team they often have the drive and ambition of several volunteers.
To find volunteers just use common sense. Try the people that are tied to the
cause first and build from there. You might consider placing ads in your local
grocery stores if they have free Community Bulletin Boards in the entrance and
exits. Another idea is to approach your local paper and see if they will donate
a small ad for you to use to find help.
Talk to your prospective volunteers and tell them exactly what you are trying to
accomplish and what you would expect from them in terms of time and effort. It’s
a good idea to have some type of fundraising plan drawn up that you can show
them as this not only shows that you are organized and serious but they will
also be better able to see how the time and skill requirements fits into their
schedules and abilities.
Training should be done by you or someone that knows the exact role the
volunteer will be performing and you want to be sure to thoroughly go over any
tasks and duties they will be performing so there are no misunderstandings later
on. Be careful to not talk down to them or lecture them. Remember, they are
giving you one of their most precious resources, their time, so respect that and
them as a person and you will go far.
It is important to match the task with the person when making job assignments.
You probably wouldn’t want someone who is an expert in selling to stuff
envelopes when they would be more valuable and happy working the phones trying
to solicit donors.
If you are working from an office environment be sure and make it as pleasant
and comfortable a place as you can. Easy access to snacks and drinks (maybe
provided free by a generous donor?) should be available and any other creature
comforts you can add will be most welcome.
If it’s a long project you might want to consider some type of event for
reaching a milestone. This would of course depend on your budget but it could be
something as simple as bringing in pizza to celebrate.
Always keep an eye out for overwork and stress. People that have volunteered
want to help you so respect them and if it looks like they are being overwhelmed
it’s time to bring in some more help. The key idea is to keep them happy and
wanting to continue to help rather than feeling like they are stuck because they
are too polite to quit.
Be sure and give praise and say thanks often to each and everyone of your
volunteers. Let them know how appreciative you are of their help.
Keep an eye out for any personality conflicts and work swiftly to resolve them.
This might be something solved easily like relocating someone to another part of
the office or it might mean asking the person to leave. Don’t be afraid to do
this if you have to because you ultimately are responsible for the group as a
whole and the success of the project falls on your shoulders. Be a leader!
Follow these simple steps, communicate frequently, respect and thank your team
often and you will find that your fundraiser will be a great success!
About The Author
For Easy Fundraising ideas and tips visit us at
www.easyfundraisingsite.com
Related Pages
Fundraiser Preparation - Everything you
need to know about getting ready to raise funds.
Advance Planning - More from the series on
Preparation about the importance of planning ahead.
Advance Planning: Part 2 - Additional
specifics about what needs to be done ahead of time.
Business Focus - Continuation of the
Preparation series about focusing on the business aspects.
Written Documentation - More from the
Preparation series about why you need written documentation.
Recruiting Volunteers - Preparation tips
about the best ways to recruit volunteers.
Communication - Final piece of the Preparation
series about the best ways to communicate your need.
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