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Recruiting Volunteers

National CASA standards require that member programs follow approved written policies for volunteer recruitment, including being inclusive and having a written plan for recruiting and selecting volunteers who reflect the children served. CASA/GAL programs should have a standardized packet of written information to recruit volunteers, and engage in recruitment efforts involving community collaboration, media outreach and speaking engagements.

For additional information about National CASA standards for recruiting volunteers, see section 7.A. Recruitment in the National CASA Standards for Local CASA/GAL Programs. 

Tips and Best Practices

Fresh Idea from the Network:

Recruiting Volunteers from Jury Pools
Sheila Parks, director, 8th Judicial District Court CASA, Las Vegas, shares how her program is reaching more than 1,000 community members each month with a minimal investment of time and money. (August 2011)

Also see responses to the July 2011 "Big Question" about popular ways to recruit volunteers.

National CASA Technical Assistance Bulletin: Ideas for Using Non-Advocate Volunteers to Build Capacity in CASA/GAL Programs (130 KB PDF)

Characteristics of a Good Recruitment Message, reprinted with permission of Steve McCurley, VM Systems

Cultural Sensitivity in Your Publications

Recruiting Volunteers of Color

Volunteer Recruitment Techniques

Volunteer Recruitment Ideas (35 KB PDF)

Making the Most of Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Efforts
Amia Barrows, CASA training coordinator from Newport News CASA (VA) describes how to communicate with and screen volunteers for success.

University Students Speak Up for Children
El Paso CASA has a new source of enthusiastic volunteers: pre-law students from the University of Texas-El Paso.

Volunteer Recruitment in Tough Times, by Kim Deer, program manager of Okmulgee County Family Resource Center, Inc.

Podcasts

podcast iconMale Volunteer Recruitment: Arkansas
In this National CASA podcast, Jullian Holloway, Arkansas CASA state director, describes a male-volunteer recruitment model. Listen using the audio player below.

podcast iconMale Volunteer Recruitment: South Carolina
Executive Director Paige Green of Richland County CASA discusses the CASA Quarterbacks male volunteer recruitment model.

Websites

Volunteer Match and United We Serve  are excellent resources for posting opportunities.

The National CASA website contains a search engine that enables prospective volunteers to locate a CASA program in their community. Programs are encouraged to ensure that their contact information is current by sending regular updates to National CASA.

The Billion + Change Initiative is operated by the Corporation for National and Community Service to leverage $1 billion in skilled volunteering and pro bono services from corporations.

The Nonprofit Readiness Toolkit for Pro Bono Volunteering is an online course from the Corporation for National and Community Service that includes examples of pro bono engagement and a self-assessment for nonprofits interested in expanding their use of pro bono services.