Recruitment and Selection

Last year we had difficulty maintaining a minimum number of volunteers. How can we recruit and support volunteers, especially men, so they'll remain with us at least through the year?

The reason most people don't volunteer isn't because they don't want to; they just haven't been asked. Our panel tells us that the best volunteer recruiters are other volunteers. Men, in particular, seem to get involved when they hear peers' stories, rather than when they read an ad.

If you aren't getting the response you want, reach out in other ways. Where do potential volunteers spend their time? When are they likely to respond to a call to service? In addition to civic organizations and retirement communities, look for volunteers in less obvious places. VISTA leaders from the Washington Reading Corps (WRC) have "reached out to retired teachers ... tapped into sports teams, local colleges and universities, and nearby high schools," Mary explains.

It's just as important to understand the limits potential volunteers face. Mary talks about one VISTA in Washington who found that the State Highway Patrol wanted to work with the tutoring program but couldn't commit individuals to specific times each week. Together, they devised a way officers could rotate through regular State Patrol slots.

Also, consider broadening your assumptions about who can tutor; half of WRC's volunteers are peer and cross-age tutors.

Once recruits materialize, screen them appropriately as required in your district before making assignments. Finding the right fit between volunteer and assignment and preparing the volunteer for service are keys to keeping members, according to Jeri. "The national service database is a great resource for recruiting people who have a desire to serve and a commitment to serving a particular community.1"

"I also play devil's advocate in the initial interview," she adds, "to show applicants exactly what they are getting into. I encourage AmeriCorps applicants to look at other programs because they should be in a program to best meet their needs. AmeriCorps members are giving a great deal of themselves, but they also need to get something in return—good experiences and training they can take with them."

Once potential volunteers decide to serve, they need to be trained, supported, and valued throughout their experience. Providing tutors with ongoing and responsive training, a clear understanding of their role, opportunities to interact and give feedback, and recognition of their service can help volunteers become self-confident and committed.

1 (In addition, Impact Online operates VolunteerMatch, an Internet database of those who want to volunteer and volunteer positions open throughout the country. The database is searchable by location, category or type of position, and date. Programs can post positions and search for volunteers for free at www.volunteermatch.org.)