When a volunteer-involving organization is looking for new volunteers, there are at least four ways to find out about it or to go about it. They will advertise or post volunteer opportunities, often known as “putting out a call for volunteers,” or you could contact them to make a general offer or a specific offer to volunteer with them, or you hear about it from others.
Places and methods organizations have used to put out a call for volunteers:
- Newspaper advertisement or as part of a newspaper article
- A radio announcement
- Through a local Volunteer Centre
- Their own website or their social media (Facebook, Instagram)
- Their organizational newsletters
- Local TV channels
- Posters hung up in the community or at the origination itself
- ChairtyVillage — a Canadian-wide resource for many things including volunteering
- Encourage current volunteers, staff members and their friends to spread the word
- Faith establishment bulletin boards (mosque, synagogue, church, etc.)
- Community bulletin boards (e.g.: libraries, clubs, fitness centres, pools, schools, etc.)
- Set up a booth at a local event
- Partner with other organizations or businesses to expand their outreach
- At a volunteer fair — where organization representatives gather to recruit volunteers
When a volunteer-involving organization puts out a call for volunteers they will include information and details that can help you to see if the fit is good for you and if it appeals to you. (e.g.: day/days of the week and hours, number of volunteers sought, duties, physical requirements, benefits to the prospective volunteer, how to apply, etc.)
If the call for volunteers is appealing but one or two aspects of it can’t work for you, still contact them as many things can be negotiated when you speak with them.
A second way is to contact an organization that appeals to you and offer your help to them without specifying what you have in mind. You may contact them before the organization even has a chance to put out a call. Volunteer-involving organizations love when enthusiastic folks do this — it saves them time and resources!
A third, option — that might describe you — a person with skills, experience and education in a particular field or discipline who offers to volunteer in a specific way. In some cases, the organization might not even know they need you until you make an offer to them! Or they may already have a skills-sharing program, and you’d be able to be a part of it.
See the link to our article “How to Make an Offer to Help” for more on this, below.
A fourth option could be that you hear about it from those you know. So don’t keep it to yourself that you are keen to volunteer — share this good news with others!
Most, if not all, charities, non-profit organizations, volunteer-run organizations and social enterprises engage volunteers, in fact some organizations rely on volunteers for 100% of their work. Many organizations have lasted decades or more due to strong volunteer involvement. Wouldn’t it be great to be a part of that?
For more detail on some of the above please see our articles:
