1. Volunteer Recruitment
Provincial CHB Conference 2011
presented by
Karrie-Ann Wilkie

2. Framing the Session Understanding the Volunteer Development Cycle
Defining Recruitment
Before you Recruit
Recruitment Strategies
Sharing Successes and Challenges
Available Resources
Potential Next Steps

3. The Volunteer Development Cycle
Impossible to talk about recruitment without understanding where it fits in the Volunteer DEvlopmetn Cycle.
Each part of the cycle affect the other. Although assessing needs is traditionally seen as the place to start – there is no real “start” … each afcet affects the other.
Recruitment itself has a it’s own cycle of identify, inform, involve, invite, & invest

4. Defining Recruitment
Volunteer Recruitment is the process of matching an organizations needs with a volunteers interests and skills.
Identifying practical and successful recruitment strategies for getting the right people for the right positions is critical. (Volunteer Canada)
Defining recruitment becomes defining EFFECTIVE recruitment . And as tempting as it can be if your CHB #’s have slipped to define recruitment as every warm body .. It is not a beset practice.

5. Defining Recruitment
Recruitment is NOT something you do when you need new members
Recruitment is an on-going process and should be a standing item on your CHB agenda

6. Before You Recruit Research Volunteer Trends and Demographics
In order for your recruitment efforts to succeed you want to ensure that your plan is congruent with the changes that have occurred – or are occurring – in society as a whole in terms of volunteerism.
Include some trends – see hard copies

7. Before You Recruit
Once you’ve looked at these trends, you need to ask yourself:
“What do these trends mean for my CHB and its volunteers?”
“If I am not getting the right volunteer, have trends changed in such a way that I may be recruiting for positions that no longer fit people’s motivation, time or lifestyle?”
Give example

8. Before You Recruit Assess your Needs
Is there support from my CHB? Consider a Volunteer Development Cmte.
Be Clear about what you want from volunteers. What skills/knowledge/time commitment is req’d.
Be Clear about what you have to offer volunteers.
Do I have the required recruitment materials in place?
Give examples of policies and procedures
Examples of recruitment materials

9. Examples of Recruitment Materials
Position Description
CHB R&R but also sub cmte roles once in place.
Orientation Document
Confidentiality Agreement/Policy
Media Agreement
Conflict of Interest Policy
Criminal Records Check
Overall Promotional Materials
Do any additional resources exist within the organization or immediate community?
ie: Volunteer Resource Manager in the District? Volunteer Centre in your community?
We tend to think of these as flyers and advertisements ….
Conflict of Interest Policy

10. Recruitment Strategy Volunteer Recruitment Plan
- All of your recruitment strategies can be synthesized into one recruitment plan.
- A recruitment plan is essential for any volunteer based group or organization. A general “call for help” will not ensure that you are matching skills to needs.
- A recruitment plan is a WORKING DOCUMENT – always changing and evolving to your CHB’s needs.
- Addressing a formalized plan can be daunting, but even informal recruitment does not have to be “unplanned”.
Still considered to be the number one method of recruitmeing the right person for the right positiion

11. Volunteer Recruitment Plan
Who should develop the Plan?
Volunteer Development Cmte & Coordinator?
Who should implement the Plan?
Entire Board? Cmte? Coordinator?
Who is responsible for the Plan?
Executive ensure it’s standing item on Agenda?

12. Volunteer Recruitment Plan
What should a plan include?
Strategies/Actions
Detailed Tasks
Timeline
Person(s) responsible
Indicators of Success

13. Volunteer Recruitment Plan
See Handout for Sample
Take framework of plan to CHB Mtg.
Establish Volunteer Development Cmte
Make Volunteer Recruitment/Development a Standing Item on the Agenda

14. Key Volunteer Resources
Volunteer Canada’s website. Volunteer Canada is the leading voice of volunteerism in the country and has numerous reliable resources from discussion papers and demographic studies to tool kits and networks of Volunteer Centres across Canada.
Imagine Canada is one of the largest on line resource centres for people who work in Canada’s charities and nonprofits.
The Nova Scotia Volunteer Forum is a sit for individuals, organizations, companies, academia, or government agencies with an interest in supporting volunteerism. The Forum connects volunteers throughout the province and provides an opportunity to share information.
Information on the collaborative agreement between the govt of NS and Non profit voluntary sector. Also includes some NS statistics, various resources and potential Volunteer Award opportunities.
The Canada Survey of Giving Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) provides the most comprehensive overview of the contributions of time and money Canadians make to non profit organizations.
Engaging 50+ volunteers – a resource guide.
Who Cares? Shifting Patterns of Community Participation
Posted on Website and Handout
Copy Orientation Manual, Trends, Flyer,

15. Sharing Successes & Challenges
What Recruitment Strategies have worked for your CHB?

16. Sharing Successes & Challenges
What challenges have your CHB faced with recruitment?

17. Potential Next Steps
Take this information back to your CHB and share the key highlights at your next meeting
Consider forming a Volunteer Development Committee & make their reports a standing item on your agenda
Begin developing a Volunteer Recruitment Plan

18. Thank you

19. Recruitment Cycle
identify
invest
inform
inform
inform
invite
involve