‘Tis the Season to Recruit Volunteers
Posted by Jenna Sheehan on October 08, 2025
With kids back in school and routines settling in, many adults find themselves with extra time and a renewed interest in giving back. For nonprofits, this season presents a prime opportunity to strengthen your volunteer base. Here’s how to make volunteer recruitment a true community affair.
Build Local Connections That Matter
Is your organization truly visible to the businesses, residents, and schools in your area? Volunteers often gravitate toward causes that feel close to home. Start by mapping your neighborhood:
- Identify untapped audiences: Near-by neighborhoods or local apartment complexes, office buildings, and local schools may house individuals eager to contribute.
- Match skills to needs: Employees in nearby businesses might offer expertise in areas like web design, accounting, or event planning.
Once you’ve identified potential partners, introduce your nonprofit as a neighbor. Send personalized outreach materials, host an open house, or organize a casual community event. And don’t overlook digital spaces, join local Facebook groups, and social media platforms whose users are your target audience, and create a presence on platforms like Nextdoor to amplify your reach.
Inspire Action Through Storytelling
Recruitment isn’t just about listing opportunities; it’s about sparking motivation.
- Be specific: Outline current volunteer roles, required skills, and time commitments.
- Show impact: Share real stories, photos, and testimonials from volunteers who’ve made a difference.
- Be transparent: Highlight both the rewards and challenges of volunteering to set realistic expectations.
Make the next step effortless by including clear calls to action, phone numbers, website links, and social media handles for applications and inquiries.
Leverage Your Stakeholders
Your board members, major donors, and long-time volunteers are powerful advocates. Keep them informed about your volunteer needs and encourage them to spread the word.
- Challenge campaigns: Ask a board member to volunteer for a day and challenge their peers or employees to do the same.
- Peer-to-peer outreach: Equip stakeholders with talking points and shareable content to amplify your message within their networks.
Harness the Holiday Spirit
As we all transition into the holiday season, don’t let momentum fade. Many families and friend groups seek meaningful ways to give back during this time. Organize volunteer-supported events to share your mission and recruit volunteers.
- Celebrate the season while showcasing your mission.
- Offer short-term opportunities that can lead to long-term engagement.
- Create memorable experiences that turn one-time volunteers into lifelong supporters.
Relationship Building
Volunteer recruitment isn’t a one-off task, it’s a relationship-building strategy. By connecting authentically with your community, inspiring action through storytelling, and leveraging your network, you’ll create a sustainable pipeline of passionate supporters ready to advance your mission.
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As a member of the Firm’s audit department, Jenna supervises the conduct of audit fieldwork for nonprofit and governmental organizations. She has expertise working with a considerable number of public and private foundations, human service agencies, and other nonprofit organizations in the areas of audits, Single Audit, reimbursement, tax and information returns, and financial reporting