Volunteers are the lifeblood of many nonprofit advocacy efforts. During a busy election season, a strong volunteer team can make the difference between simply having ideas and successfully executing them.
Finding Volunteers
- Your Existing Network: Start with your members, subscribers, and social media followers. A dedicated email or a series of posts calling for help is a great first step.
- Partner Organizations: Ask your coalition partners to put out a call to their networks.
- At Events: Have a clear sign-up sheet at all your events, from casual meet-and-greets to large community rides.
- Volunteer Matching Platforms: Websites like VolunteerMatch and Idealist can connect you with people actively looking for opportunities.
Review our more detailed Volunteer Guide for more tips. {.is-success}
Volunteer Roles
Be specific about what you need help with. Clearly defined roles make it easier for people to sign up for tasks that match their skills and availability. Examples include:
- Event Logistics: Helping with setup, check-in, and breakdown of events like candidate forums.
- Content Creation: Assisting with filming or editing for short-form video or candidate interviews.
- Outreach: Distributing flyers, staffing tables at community events, or phone/text banking.
- Research: Helping to track candidate appearances or research their past statements on relevant issues.
Managing and Retaining Volunteers
- Clear Communication: Have a single point of person for volunteers and use a consistent channel (e.g., email, Slack, WhatsApp) to share updates.
- Training: Provide a brief orientation or training session for each role so volunteers feel confident and prepared. Our general /community/volunteer-orientation guide can be a useful starting point.
- Show Appreciation: Thank your volunteers publicly and privately. A post-election thank-you party or a simple handwritten card can go a long way.
- Gather Feedback: Ask volunteers about their experience and what could be improved for next time. This helps them feel valued and provides you with useful insights.
Support Materials
Volunteer Recruitment Email Template
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Volunteer Recruitment Email Template
Expanded details for this section
Volunteer Recruitment Email Template
Subject: Volunteer to Help Make [Your City] Safer for Biking and Walking!
Hi [Name],
The upcoming [Date of Election] election is a critical opportunity to make our voices heard and ensure the next leaders of [Your City] are committed to safe streets for everyone.
Here at [Your Organization's Name], we're launching our nonpartisan election engagement program, and we need your help to make it a success. We'll be educating candidates and voters about the most important issues facing people who walk and bike in our community.
We are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks, including:
- Helping at our Candidate Forum on [Date]
- Distributing flyers and talking to community members
- Assisting with our candidate ride events
- Helping with research and tracking candidate statements
Whether you have a few hours a week or can only help on one specific day, your contribution will make a huge difference.
If you're interested in volunteering, please fill out this form [Link to your volunteer sign-up form] or reply to this email.
You can also use a spreadsheet like our Volunteer Roles & Sign-up Sheet Template to organize your team.
Thank you for being part of this important work. Together, we can build a better, safer [Your City].
Sincerely,
The Team at [Your Organization's Name] {.is-info}