If you work for a non-profit organization, big or small, chances are you rely on the generosity of volunteers at some point during the year.  And now that the weather is warming up, it’s a great time to be thinking about how to get your volunteers outside and involved in your events!

Flickr photo courtesy of dheuer

Your organization’s volunteers might help direct athletes at an event, stuff envelopes for a mailing, or even raise money online.  By the way, if you’re looking for an online tool to help organize your volunteers, our friends at VolunteerSpot have a great one.

People like to volunteer for causes they care about.  People are usually very busy.  So, the easier you make it for people to volunteer, the more your organization can benefit.  A no-brainer, right?  We found some great insights over at the Entry Level Living blog about how Children for Children is connecting volunteers with their organization FTW (for the win).  Allison, a prospective volunteer with a busy schedule, decided to volunteer for this particular non-profit’s event because:

• It matched her values, both in terms of the cause and how the event was being run.  As a strong supporter of youth leadership and organizations that target families and friends for community involvement, Allison loved Children for Children’s family-oriented service day event and the fact that it was coordinated and led by the organization’s Youth Planning Committee.
• The organization made it easy to communicate and responded quickly when she signed up to volunteer. Allison signed up online and received a confirmation and additional information within minutes.  The timely response helped her plan, as her schedule tends to fill up quickly.
• The one-time event opportunity facilitated group participation and networking.  Allison saw the event as an opportunity to involve her family and friends and to meet other people who share her interests and passions.
• The event had an immediate impact. A specific goal was stated: to decorate reusable canvas bags and fill them with healthy foods for a local food pantry.  The sense of accomplishment at the conclusion of the event was felt by all who participated.
  

Here at Firstgiving, we care about all kinds of causes and know how important volunteers can be for your organization.  That’s why we volunteer together in our community.  In fact, if your organization is in the Boston area and needs some volunteers this summer, let us know!

How do you make it easy for volunteers to contribute to your organization?