Tapping Community Volunteer Resources

Small fundraising organizations often suffer from a lack of available volunteer resources; even large organizations have difficulty finding enough volunteers at times. A lack of volunteers can severely limit the scope of fundraising efforts, and in turn the amount of funds raised.

The good news is that small and volunteer-poor organizations have a larger well of volunteers to tap than they might think. A given organization is not limited strictly to group members; there are family and friends that might be willing to lend a hand, and community resources to be tapped as well.

So where can a group in need of volunteers look for help?

• High school, middle school, and local college student groups. Honor societies, student councils, and student governments regularly include community service as a requirement for membership


• School Civics classes. Many schools include community service and volunteer work as an assignment for class completion for Civics and other classes; some schools have even made community service a requirement for graduation


• Youth groups, church groups, and municipal youth/recreation centers. Again, these groups often trade their free membership for community activity; those that do not make it a requirement may still strongly support community service, and at the very least, they have the ear of a large number of energetic youngsters


• Social Service Agencies. Sometimes social service agencies require children in their care to complete community service, especially if the youngster has landed themselves in trouble, it may be a court ordered service, too; many times these children have difficulty finding outlets to fulfill their service requirements, particularly in rural areas. Talk to a supervisor about the possibility of connecting with these children and lending a hand in their mentoring or reformation. The children in these types of programs are generally not serious offenders, and they can be a great resource for helping run event-related activities for a fair or carnival


• Local businesses. Not all businesses have cash resources available to donate to worthy causes, but in return for some good words and good PR, local businesses may be willing to donate the services of their paid employees


• Town Government. Just like local businesses, government officials have a vested interest in positive PR and the betterment of their community


• Partnering charities. If your group is deemed worthwhile, other philanthropic charities may be willing to partner and help you out; they may be willing to do so in exchange for future help on their end, too

This is an article created by the FundraisingIP.com Editorial Team. For more fundraising ideas and fundraiser help, go to our article directory at FundraisingIP.com/articles.