Volunteer recruitment strategies
Stop begging from the pulpit. Here is a systematic approach to building healthy volunteer pipelines that last.
Recruitment isn't about filling holes; it's about helping people find their purpose. When you shift that mindset, everything changes.
1Identify Potential (Don't Just Wait for Volunteers)
Most people are waiting to be asked personally. Relius helps you find who to ask.
Who to look for in Relius:
- The "Regular but Unconnected"
Filter for: Attended 3+ times in last month AND Not in a Group AND Not Serving.
- The "New Member"
Filter for: Joined in last 6 months. They are often eager to plug in.
- The "Gifted Match"
Use AI Search: "Find people with musical background who aren't on worship team."
2Create Clear Position Templates
Ambiguity kills volunteering. People are afraid to say yes if they don't know what they're signing up for. In Relius, create Position Templates for every role.
Example: Door Greeter
- Time Commitment: 1 Sunday per month, 8:30am - 10:30am
- Responsibilities: Open doors, smile, hand out bulletins, help guests find kids check-in.
- Training: 15-minute walk-through on first day.
- Reports to: Connections Director.
3Automate the "Interested" Workflow
When someone checks "I'm interested in serving" on a connection card, speed matters. Set up a Workflow in Relius:
- Trigger: Form submission "Volunteer Interest".
- Action 1: Send automated email: "Thanks for raising your hand! We're excited to help you find your spot."
- Action 2: Create task for Ministry Leader: "Call [Name] within 48 hours."
- Action 3: Add to "Pending Volunteers" group.
4Use AI to Match Volunteers
Relius AI can analyze member profiles to suggest good fits.
AI Recommendation Engine
"Based on Sarah's past involvement in youth ministry and her recent note about wanting to mentor, she might be a great fit for the High School Small Group Leader role."
5Retention: The "First 90 Days"
The first three months are critical. Set automated reminders for yourself:
- Week 1: "How was your first time serving?" text message.
- Month 1: Coffee check-in. Is this role a good fit?
- Month 3: "You're doing great" handwritten note.
Measuring Health
Don't just count heads. Look at the Volunteer Health Dashboard in Relius to see:
- Participation Rate: What % of your adults are serving? (Healthy is >40%)
- Burnout Risk: Who is serving more than 3 times a month?
- Pipeline: How many people are in the "Interested" but not "Active" stage?
Build your dream team
Relius gives you the tools to find, train, and keep amazing volunteers.
Start managing volunteers