Tips for civil society organizations
& professionals
Looking for volunteers? New faces, young people or old hands in the field? Whether you are looking for volunteers for your foundation, association or client, there are more than 100,000 volunteers on this platform to do something good. Below are a few tips to help you get started with NLvoorelkaar.
1. SEDUCE YOUR VOLUNTEERS
With an average of more than 10,000 current volunteer vacancies on this platform, it is important that yours positively stands out. It's about seducing the perfect volunteer for you. Easier said than done perhaps, but based on our data we do have a few concrete tips that immediately generate more reactions:
- Provide an attractive (profile) photo . That doesn't include a logo ;-)
- Pay close attention to the title and the first 2 lines. You will see this first in the overview and in the e-match emails that we send to available volunteers.
- Be specific in what you need and expect. If you are flexible or open to ideas from the other person, indicate that you would like to fill this in with the volunteer. Flexibility in this is the trend of this year and is greatly appreciated by volunteers.
- Also mention why you/your client/your organization is so nice . And what it benefits the volunteer: meeting new people, good for your CV, free training sessions or intervision, etc.
- Consider how people can get in easily :
- Are there one-off volunteer jobs ? These are perfect for getting to know your organization and lower the barrier to start volunteering. They can also be found via our calendar!
- Are there options for groups ? Volunteering together with others also lowers the threshold. For example together with the family, colleagues or a group of friends.
- If your organization does not have standard one-time volunteer jobs, you may be able to create them. For example, a relay solution: You ask volunteers to come and help 2-3x with an activity. Each time, half of the volunteers present are experienced and the rest are new. They look great together. Or one volunteer coordinates, then others can join when they are available. For example, when walking in a wheelchair, drinking coffee or weekly bingo.
2. Personal, without personal data
A personal request for help or a volunteer vacancy scores. On average, these kinds of questions get a response twice as often! The personal elements are all the things that make it unique: specific hobbies of the person you're going to help, characteristics of your organization - just you know, those little details that make it special.
But please note: the requests for help and volunteer vacancies that you post on this platform are public and therefore visible to everyone. So do not share personal information such as last name, address, telephone number or sensitive information via a request for help. You can easily share this kind of data with volunteers via a personal message.
3. BUSINESS CARD: YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
Not only your questions or vacancies are visible, the organization you work for is also visible on this platform. Handy, because then volunteers can see at a glance which vacancies there are and discover more about your organization in general.
When you register as a professional, you create a profile for yourself. You can then indicate for which organization you work or create a new organization profile. If you are 'manager' of an organization profile, you can adjust this profile . Provide a good photo, logo, enthusing description of your organization and current contact details (website, telephone number, etc.)
4. FINE POLICY
Drawing up a good volunteer policy forces you to think about a vision on the deployment of volunteers. Volunteers are their most important capital for (volunteer) organizations, so invest enough time in them. Why does my organization work with volunteers? What is its added value? Where and how, and with what tasks and responsibilities do I deploy my volunteers? Where is the boundary between the deployment of volunteers and that of paid employees?
It provides clarity about the role/tasks of volunteers and thus enables a more targeted and better recruitment of volunteers. After all, you know what competencies and skills you are looking for. Clarity also reduces conflicts between, for example, the board, paid employees and volunteers. Deploying volunteers on their competences and good supervision lead to less turnover among volunteers, so that you have to put less energy into finding new volunteers.
You can read more about this on the NOV website.
5. VALUATION
Of course you appreciate the efforts of your volunteers! They are committed to your organization every time with heart and soul. It sometimes seems so obvious, but of course it isn't. How do you let them know that you appreciate their volunteer efforts? A few ideas for inspiration:
- Give a compliment . About their enthusiasm, commitment or something they are particularly good at. As long as it's genuine and personal, it's always good!
- Birthday Card . Who doesn't like that? May also be digital if costs or personal data are a problem. A personally recorded WhatsApp (and if you dare: a birthday song ;-)) makes someone feel very special on their birthday.
- Volunteer Day . Is there special so not forgotten. A nice card, video message, gadget (eg a fireworks star with the text: 'if every volunteer got a star, it never got dark again'.
- Party or outing . You can be as crazy as you want, but this is of course about doing something fun together and celebrating what has been achieved. Go on a picnic, an expedition to another volunteer location, cook together... it doesn't always have to cost a lot. Be creative!
- Gift or gift card . From magazine voucher to book voucher and from dinner voucher, cinema or theater voucher to a voucher from Thuisbezorgd.nl, with which your volunteers can order a meal at home themselves
6. VOG, AVG AND OTHER ABBREVIATIONS
Organizations can require their volunteers to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG), also known as 'proof of good conduct'. The volunteer can demonstrate with the VOG that he or she has not done anything in the past that stands in the way of voluntary work. The VOG is therefore an important part of the prevention and integrity policy of every voluntary organization. The VOG can be requested for free here.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR in Europe) has been in effect since May 25, 2018. The GDPR replaces the General Data Protection Regulation. The new regulation on privacy of personal data applies to all organizations that store personal data (personal data) in a file. This applies to the storage of personal data in digital files as well as to data that is on paper. From now on, the latter must also be safely stored without a stranger being able to do so. Every volunteer organization therefore also has to deal with the AVG!
You can read more about both subjects on the NOV website.
7. MORE MONEY FOR VOLUNTEERING
There are various options for social, voluntary organizations and associations. A round of Googling can yield to support your organization. There are generally 4 forms of support:
- Funds
Funds where you can apply for financial support include the Oranje Fonds, the VSB Fonds, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the Grote Clubactie and Jantje Beton. There are usually also regional or local funds that can be called upon. To be eligible for funds, an organization must almost always be a foundation or association. Usually there are well-defined criteria for eligibility for funds. To find out which funds are available and which criteria they use, it is useful to consult the Fund Book and the Fund Disc. These can be viewed at the Public Library, or otherwise requested from the FIN. - Grants
Most associations or foundations receive subsidies from the municipality. Much less often from provinces or the national government. Subsidies are often awarded for one or several years, after which a new subsidy application has to be submitted in order to be eligible for subsidy again. - Sponsorship
Often it concerns local companies that lend a helping hand. Both financially and through the gift of goods, for example for the Christmas package. Usually, in return, they are asked to advertise. - Crowdfunding
With crowdfunding you ask people to donate a small contribution. You can collect money on a crowdfunding platform to, for example, enable the purchase of a means of transport. Volunteers can be used to transport clients to and from the care location.
Experiences
Laura
"With NLvoorelkaar I reach new volunteers that I don't meet with my other recruiting channels."
bye
"Great that you have direct contact with volunteers and can even search for help."
Roland
"With NLvoorelkaar I can see what is being requested and offered at the neighborhood level, which is very handy."
ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS
In our help center you will find answers to all your questions, tips and tricks or you can simply contact us directly.