{"id":16859,"date":"2019-12-20T15:09:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T20:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/?p=16859"},"modified":"2024-11-01T13:23:28","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T17:23:28","slug":"encourage-youth-to-become-long-term-volunteers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/encourage-youth-to-become-long-term-volunteers\/","title":{"rendered":"Encourage Youth to Become Long Term Volunteers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Professional fundraisers know that younger people typically\nhave less disposable income than older donors. This lack of income means you\nmost likely aren\u2019t relying on young people to give to your organization. But an\ninability to give money doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t have anything to offer! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What young people often have in greater supply than adults is time. Their time as volunteers to your nonprofit is valuable. Volunteers can save you money on salaries and help lighten the load of regular staff. But how do you convince young people to spend their free time doing good in their communities? Use these tips to inspire volunteerism and philanthropic spirit in the youth living in your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Incentivize volunteerism<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Young adults can be motivated to volunteer if it helps them\naccomplish personal goals. For instance, if your nonprofit is okay with filling\nout volunteer timesheets, young adult volunteers can report their time for\nscholarship consideration, memberships to honorary societies, or reap\nadditional benefits tied to the amount of volunteer time they report. Social\nbenefits are also important; most young people are most likely to volunteer if\nthey can volunteer alongside their friends. Try framing your volunteer\nopportunities as a way for groups of friends to make a difference together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does your nonprofit run a store or have connections that you\ncan use to offer rewards to your volunteers? Your young adult volunteers may\nbenefit from resources you have to offer in exchange for the services they\nprovide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Providing physical rewards, discounts, or gifts in exchange for long term service is a great way to motivate young people to put in hours of volunteer work with your nonprofit. Helping them work toward scholarships, reach servant leadership goals, or providing goods and services in return for their work provides tangible benefits to your volunteers. Create a budget for your volunteer fund for this purpose so that your young volunteers know that their hard work has value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Let them work hard to play hard at events<\/h3>\n\n\n
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If your nonprofit hosts teenager-friendly fundraising\nevents, a great way to increase participant numbers and get your volunteers\nfundraising for your cause is to ask them to work the event. In exchange for\ntheir time setting up or tearing down the event, offer them free admission and\nfactor in breaks where they can enjoy the festivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have enough event crew members? Let your volunteers create a peer-to-peer fundraiser and raise funds to cover the cost of their ticket instead! You make more money and your volunteers earn admission to the event. In this scenario, everyone wins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep track of which fundraisers appeal to young adults. Music festivals, 5K races, and other active, fun events can draw in young people. Let your younger volunteers work for their admission and encourage them to invite their friends and family to buy a ticket to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Teach them business skills and technology<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Volunteering with your organization should add value to your volunteers\u2019 lives. In the case of young adults, you can teach new skills and business technology that teens can use to pad their resumes. While fax machines are less common, you\u2019d be surprised how many businesses still use them. Can your average teenager send a fax? Probably not. But in their first job, they may need that knowledge. The same goes with large photocopiers, high-grade DSLR cameras, and any industry-specific software or hardware your nonprofit uses. This offers your volunteers business experience as well as practical experience with tools they\u2019ll likely need when they start their careers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your nonprofit operates a storefront, teaching volunteers retail skills like taking inventory, operating cash registers, and providing good customer service is valuable. Retail jobs are often occupied by young adults and college students. These entry-level roles are many teens\u2019 first taste of a professional work environment. By teaching your young adult volunteers these skills, you make it easier for them to find retail jobs or even transition to paid positions with your nonprofit if necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Appeal to their desire to help others<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Ask young people for help at community events<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
One of the best ways to encourage young adults to volunteer with your organization is to ask. You shouldn\u2019t be surprised to know that many young people desire to help others. The desire to do good is present in people of all ages, but it\u2019s especially prevalent in Generation Z. In fact, many people refer to Gen Z as \u201cphilanthro-kids!\u201d According to Forbes, \u201c2015 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that teenagers, 16 to 19 years of age, have a high volunteer rate — 26.4% — compared to a volunteer rate of 18.4% of those ages 20-24.\u201d Many young people just lack an outlet to perform good deeds on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recruit volunteers at community events. Ask if you can set up a tent at school sporting events, county fairs, at the local mall, or during festivals and celebrations. Let young people know about your volunteer opportunities and communicate the benefits of volunteering with your nonprofit. Make it easy for would-be volunteers to sign up and reach out to them right away to get the onboarding process started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Partner with schools to recruit volunteers in class<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re able to partner with the local school district to recruit volunteers, you could go so far as to make volunteering with your organization a school sanctioned after school activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep that desire to help alive in your younger volunteers by letting them know what their volunteerism accomplished. How many hours of work do volunteers save your organization from putting in? How many more people are helped because of the work your volunteers do? How much money did volunteers help raise at your fundraising events? This information is a valuable motivator for your young adult volunteers. Not only do they get to see the value of their hard work, this information can be very impressive on their resumes or college applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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