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Steier Tips

Recruiting and Training Volunteers

While there are several important elements to every capital campaign, one of the most critical is leadership. The men and women who comprise your leadership team will serve as the face of your campaign. The quality of individuals you identify, recruit and train to represent your organization will have a major impact on the overall success of your effort.

When considering people for leadership roles remember these key characteristics:

     ·  Leaders attract leaders. Use high profile supporters or volunteers to recruit         high profile and respected leadership to your campaign.

     ·  Focus on individuals who have been financially supportive of your mission as         well as those who have been supportive with their time and passion. Typically,         these individuals understand the needs of your organization and will likely be         interested in contributing their time, treasure or talent to your cause.

The executive leadership of the organization is instrumental in matching individual strengths with volunteer opportunities. Prior to a campaign, consider involving key individuals in feasibility studies, focus groups or steering committees that will impact long-range planning. Those who participate in the early stages will be obvious choices to fill leadership roles when the campaign begins. Share your vision for the organization and invite them to share their energy and leadership in pursuit of that vision.

Remember that even the most committed volunteers are still volunteers, who are balancing full-time jobs and demanding family lives. It is important to be flexible and understanding while they consider your request to be part of the leadership team. When recruiting these leaders, provide specific details about their involvement:

     ·  Job descriptions
     ·  The number of meetings they will be expected to attend
     ·  The length of time they will need to commit
     ·  Assist with donor identification and solicitation
     ·  Financial gift to the campaign
     ·  Publicly supporting the mission as ambassadors

Training volunteers is the best way to give them confidence and ensure success. Training sessions give volunteers a better understanding of the organization's needs and equip them with the necessary tools to conduct successful solicitations. Use role playing to illustrate successful solicitations and demonstrate how to handle solicitation objections.

The most important gift you can give to your leadership is gratitude. Repeatedly thank volunteers for their time, energy and commitment. Praise and appreciation go a long way in forming committed leaders.

These volunteers are the face and heart of your organization. It is critical they have the necessary tools to be successful. Your organization and the success of the campaign depend on it!

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