Millennial volunteers are a goldmine for coordinators.
Tech-savvy, passionate and willing to help, Millennials can make up an incredible workforce for your organization. But how do you get them hooked on helping you out? Research shows that Millennials respond well to good design, relevant content and organizations with a strong mission that give back to the community. We’ve rounded up a few easy ways to get Millennial volunteers to your organization and to keep them coming back.
What’s the Website? Millennials, and just about everyone else at this point, hop on a website for nearly everything they need. If your organization’s website still looks like it was created in 2008, chances are you’re not grabbing Millennial attention as best as you could. A clean, visually appealing site with easy-to-access information will take you far with Millennials looking for a quick reference point for your organization.
Keep it Social. Social media is a top way for Millennials to communicate with their peers (and then some), so offering a well-rounded social media presence to your volunteers is key. A strong Instagram account, designated hashtags for your event and live updates with platforms like Facebook Live and Snapchat offer volunteers an opportunity to share their volunteering experience with their social circles. Bonus: they can help spread the word about your organization to friends and followers!
Swag. Everyone loves swag, but Millennials are especially excited about the offer of free anything. Shirts, caps and tote bags are classics, but you can also get creative with branded koozies, visors, fannypacks and more. And, when in doubt, offer snacks! Something as simple as a few bags of chips and some seltzer water goes a long way.
Be Transparent. At the end of the day, volunteers are there because they care about your organization. Have a well thought out mission statement and ample information on how your organization helps your community. Offering a clear, concise explanation of what your organization does gives volunteers a quick way to explain why they’re volunteering for your specific event.
