It’s happened to all of us – posting a volunteer description that doesn’t recruit the necessary number of folks to complete the job. Here are a few tips to make your opportunity stand out.

1. Show the Impact: How will the volunteer service make a difference? What will the impact be on the community or the world? For example, picking up trash is not a glamorous volunteer opportunity. However, when presented as an opportunity to beautify the community, support the environment and increase safety for friends and neighbors, it becomes much more appealing.
   
   Whenever possible, try to use specific impact information, such as “Eight volunteers are needed to paint our preschool classrooms. Help us create a safe and enjoyable learning environment for more than 20 local three-year-olds.”
   

2. Set the Expectations: A volunteer is more likely to sign up for a project if he or she has a full understanding of the job. Outline what the project entails, what supplies and training will be provided, what amenities will be available and what volunteers should bring.
   
   For example – where should volunteers check in? Will there be restrooms on site? What about parking? Will water be provided? Will volunteers be working indoors or outdoors? The more of these details that you can provide, the fewer excuses your volunteers will have to not show.
   
   
   
3. Bring on the Feel Good Vibes: Whenever possible, incorporate opportunities for volunteers to have a direct feeling of satisfaction about their work. If appropriate, build in interaction with clients by inviting volunteers back to see their work in action or with testimonials about how they were affected by the volunteers.
   
   Collecting school supplies and packing them in backpacks is an important volunteer opportunity. And, when volunteers have the opportunity to deliver the supplies to children directly and feel good about the work they’ve completed, that feeling of satisfaction is a great incentive to give back.
   
   

4. Outline the Benefits: In addition to job satisfaction, there can be many personal advantages to volunteering. Networking opportunities, learning new trades or skills, health benefits and more. If there are any specific perks to your volunteer project, be sure to highlight them!
   
   Back to the example of picking up trash – “Get your steps in while making the Poudre Trail a safe place for everyone! Help beautify Fort Collins by clearing trash from along the trail – a great project for the entire family!”
   
   

5. Make the Project Approachable: In reality, the work that you have to complete may be a large and / or tedious project, but this can be overwhelming for a volunteer. By breaking the project down into more manageable chunks, you’re more likely to get more bites on your volunteer posting.
   
   For example – if your project is to repair a fence, consider breaking it into three separate projects. 1) Removing the damaged fence portions. 2) Cutting the wood for the new sections of fence. 3) Installing the new fence portions. This allows for someone to give just a few hours of their time without committing to an entire day and can still get the job done.

Need helping making your volunteer project the best it can be? Contact one of our volunteer engagement experts at volunteer@uwaylc.org for more information. United, we strengthen our community.