I’ll never understand why leaders of volunteers in some organizations put off answering volunteer inquiries.

Why is this a problem? Someone reaches out and says, “Hey, I’m interested in volunteering with your organization.” They’re basically walking up to the front door with free energy, skills, and time. And what happens? Nothing! Silence. Days go by. Weeks, sometimes. Maybe someone eventually gets back to them. Maybe they don’t. By then, the potential volunteer has lost interest or gone somewhere else. It makes me want to tear my hair out.

I know, we’re all busy. Everyone in the non-profit world is stretched super thin. There are programs to run, reports to write, board meetings to sit through. Answering random emails from strangers or following up with people who talked with you at an event probably feels like one more thing that will need to be done once the “urgent” work is finished.

But here’s the kicker. Those strangers are potential volunteers, volunteers who, once they’re through........

© Castanet