17 Booster Club Volunteer Recruitment Tactics

How To Recruit More Volunteers For Your Booster Club

Booster clubs can never have enough volunteers. After all, the more volunteers you have, the greater the success of your events and fundraisers!

But it always seems to be a challenge to get volunteers, right? Sometimes we shake our heads when we realize we have hundreds if not thousands of parents in our school system and only a very small fraction step up to volunteer. Then I remember how busy people are: they work, they take care of their household, they have a family, they chauffeur and attend extracurricular activities like plays, sports, and concert. That doesn't leave much time left to do volunteer work.

Thankfully, there are 17 tactics you can implement that can increase the number of volunteers at your next event.

1. Focus on the Benefit

Begin by defining the value of the volunteer's contribution. Every volunteer opportunity creates a valuable benefit for your students, your teachers, your school, and the community. Make sure you point out what that benefit is! Examples: "In just one hour, you can generate $1,000 to fund student opportunities when you work the register at the school store." "Show our teachers/coaches your gratitude by serving food at this year's Appreciation Luncheon."

2. Persuade, Don't Beg

The typical way that booster clubs ask for help from volunteers goes something like this: "We need your donation! Please support us!!" That is begging. There's no benefit to the reader. And even more important, it's too vague.

3. Be Concise

Make every word matter. More words = less chance they will be read. The person you are asking to volunteer is also being asked questions constantly by their family, their employer, their friends, their neighbors, businesses they shop at, and advertisers. After you write a volunteer solicitation email, wait 24 hours, re-read it, remove as many words as possible without changing the message, and then send it. You'll be surprised how concise your request can be.

4. Ask What They Do

When a potential volunteer asks "what kind of help does your booster club need" answer with a question: "What do you do?" Learn what their interests are, what skills they have, and then find a way to utilize their expertise to help the club. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see the wide range of experience you could tap into in your hometown. But only if you ask.

5. Make It Sound Fun, Not Scary

Potential volunteers are afraid they will be dragged in to a huge, long term commitment if they offer to help. Give them some easy options in the beginning, like helping to hang spirit wear shirts on hangers or setting up folding chairs. Those small tasks will give them an opportunity to meet you and enjoy the satisfaction of helping others (which may lead them to offering to help on bigger tasks in the future).

6. Make It Easy

Make sure your website makes it as easy as possible for people to volunteer. On every page of your site, include a prominent "volunteer" link. When you send an email asking people to volunteer for an event, include a simple, clickable link to the online sign-up form. Say something like Volunteer Opportunities instead of showing them a long link overloaded with gibberish characters and numbers.

7. Show Gratitude

Your events simply would not happen without volunteers. You need those volunteers. The fastest way to lose a volunteer is to let them think you don't appreciate them. The size of their donation is irrelevant. Whether they donated a napkin, their time, or $10,000, every donor appreciates being thanked. Be sure you send a personalized "thank you" after each donation is received.

8. Social Proof

Social proof is a psychology term. It means "when I see other people doing something, I tend to think I should be doing it too." You can establish social proof by acknowledging your volunteers on social media. Future potential volunteers will see past names and subconsciously think "oh, I guess this is something I should be doing, so I'll volunteer" especially if they see names they recognize and respect.

9. Offer Incentives

Consider offering incentives to volunteers, such as recognition, thank-you events, or discounts on club-related activities.

10. Personal Invitations

Reach out to individuals personally, especially those who have shown interest or have skills that could be valuable to the club. Personal invitations can be very effective.

11. Partner with School Staff

Collaborate with school administrators and teachers to help identify potential volunteers among school staff, such as retired educators or staff with relevant skills.

12. Student Involvement

Encourage students to talk to their parents or guardians about volunteering for the booster club. Sometimes parents may be more inclined to volunteer when their child expresses interest.

13. Volunteer Training

Provide training for new volunteers, so they feel confident and prepared for their roles. This can also help build a sense of community and belonging among volunteers.

14. Feedback and Recognition

Recognize and appreciate the efforts of your current volunteers. This can encourage them to stay involved and potentially recruit others.

15. Promote a Fun and Inclusive Atmosphere

Make sure your booster club is an enjoyable and welcoming place to be. When people see that it's a positive environment, they may be more likely to volunteer.

16. Regularly Update Opportunities

Keep your volunteer opportunities fresh and relevant. People may be more inclined to volunteer if they see new and exciting projects or events.

17. Define Roles and Responsibilities

Clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of volunteers. This makes it easier for potential volunteers to understand what is expected of them and how they can contribute.

Example of a Benefit-Oriented, Persuasive, Concise, Easy, Grateful Volunteer Solicitation Email

Here's an example of an effective volunteer solicitation email. It was sent to all parents when a booster club coordinated a staff appreciation breakfast. The school sent it to all parents, and made sure to spell out how voluntary donations of time or resources would benefit teachers. The sign-up form asked parents to donate food, drinks, paper products, and labor to feed 150 people. This email successfully attracted all of the donations needed:

Remember that volunteer recruitment is an ongoing process. Continuously communicate the positive impact of volunteering and the benefits it brings to the booster club, the community it serves, and to the volunteer! Building a strong and committed volunteer base takes time, effort, and persistence.

Recruiting volunteers doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right strategies, you can build a strong, engaged, and enthusiastic volunteer community for your booster club. Start implementing these tips today and watch your volunteer numbers grow!