Non-profits depend on volunteers and there are many ways to find enthusiastic and hard-working people for your organization.  You can recruit volunteers by advertising with flyers or through various media outlets, but the best way is by word-of-mouth referrals from current staff and donors. You can also try an online volunteer matching site like Idealist.org or Volunteermatch.org.

Before you begin looking, think about where you need assistance and plan out how many people you will need and how long you’ll require their help. It is important to be organized. Be prepared so that workers are not sitting around bored with nothing to do – that’s the fastest way to lose volunteers! You may even want to write out a job description with a break down of responsibilities for each person. Have a designated place for them to work before they arrive.

Think about how someone will fit in with your organization’s mission and environment and try to match a person’s talents and skills with appropriate tasks and activities. Be upfront about what is expected and attempt to provide interesting work with many opportunities for volunteers to learn something new.

Remember to show your volunteers the same respect and appreciation given to donors. Make them feel welcome, be open to suggestions and let them know how they are making a difference. Most importantly, remember to say thank you.