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MIT Alumni Volunteers

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Building a Volunteer Pipeline

Volunteer Recruitment, Succession Planning, Pipeline

For your group to be successful, it is essential to have a strong sustainable pipeline of engaged and diverse volunteers at every level. This often means considering volunteers representing different age groups, gender, ethnicities, geographical locations, experience levels, areas of expertise, and life or career stage. When building a volunteer pipeline, consider the following recommendations.

  • Clarify which roles will need to be filled in the next 1-5 years. Identify roles with term limits to time your succession planning.
  • Clarify expectations and time commitments in job descriptions.
  • Enlist your leadership team in identifying and engaging new talent.
  • Talk to your Association staff liaison to help identify new talent or prospects you may have overlooked.

  • Ensure that every member of your leadership team understands the volunteer responsibilities and is prepared to explain the roles.
  • Member-to-member, personalized recruitment is far more effective than a mass email.
  • Be clear about the commitment and the rewards. Emphasize the networking and learning opportunities inherent in volunteering.

  • Many volunteers are just waiting to be asked.
  • Look at your volunteer team, and identify the demographics that are not represented. Target alumni who will help engage new demographics (MIT10, Cardinal and Gray, affinity groups, special interest groups, geographic representation, etc.)
  • Specify the opportunity to your members' expertise to ensure that they will enjoy the role and get something out of it in return.

  • Once you have recruited volunteers, make sure they feel included and useful.
  • Develop an atmosphere where mentorship happens and is encouraged. Consider assigning your leadership team to coach new volunteers individually.
  • The best stewardship is a satisfying volunteer role. Check in with your new volunteers about how things are going, and listen to their ideas for changes or improvements.

Thank your committed volunteers! The best recruitment tool is personal outreach from happy volunteers, and thanking them for their work goes a long way towards ensuring that they are willing to recruit new members.