Missing Link: Engaging Youth

to Build Our Future

Not About Recruiting Youth

How do you build an infrastructure that will support a youth program!

Defining Youth

Young Adult – (21-35/40) YP Groups

Collegiate – (18-22)

High School – (14-18)

Middle & Grade School (14 and under)

Analyze your Data

What does your current volunteer database look like?› Age Groups› Diversity› Skills Sets

Figure out your gaps and focus on those areas.

Look at your Opportunities› Are they flexible?› Are they age appropriate? › Are they creating leadership opportunities? › Are volunteers learning a new skill?› Are they long term or short term?› What type of training involved?

When I did this!

› Are they flexible? SOME › Are they age appropriate? Most are 18

years of age or older › Are they creating leadership opportunities?

YES › Are volunteers learning a new skill? YES› Are they long term or short term? Most

are long term› What type of training involved? Most

have extensive training

AHA Moment

Our opportunities did not match with the lifestyles of the missing demographics within our volunteer base.

Discovery I discovered we had a gap in the 18-30

year old age group.

We were missing out by not engaging this skilled volunteer pool.

We also had a gap in 18 & under but I felt our return on investment was greater if I put my energy in recruiting the 18-30+ age group.

WHY do we want to engage this age group?

› Fresh energy & ideas› Create future leaders› Tap into their talent & need for experience

› Become lifelong supporters

Before You Start

Get buy-in from management

Buy-in from your Board

Look at your programs to see how you can

engage youth/young adults in them.

Look at your volunteer base – Do you have a

few key volunteers in the age group you are

recruiting to lead?

Create a Case

Talk to your CEO and Board

Show them the results of your volunteer

database scrub.

Explain the benefits engaging this age

group can have on your organization.

Explain why you need their support and

the benefits to them.

Program Manger Buy-In

You don’t want to create more work for

departments.

Look at the opportunities & how can

these groups support their program.

Benefits to the program and clients you

serve.

Next Steps

Work with those key volunteers you have identified

Have them recruit a few friends Work with your program directors to

think of ways to engage youth to support their program.

Work with your youth leaders to develop the club, create a plan, & implement that plan.

Building a Youth Program Does Not Happen Overnight

Success Stories

Club Red of Northeast WI

The Beginning

Started in September 2014 20 active members Governed by a leadership team

› President, Membership, Events, Communications, Fundraising.

Give – Guide – Provide Support core mission and programs of

the American Red Cross.

About Club RedClub Red of Northeast Wisconsin is a young professional group that provides you with an opportunity to network with other socially-conscious professionals and help our community. Our mission is to Give, Guide, Provide.  Whether planning social fundraising events or participating in community service projects (Give), you can support events that can help save lives. Club Red Members will also have mentoring opportunities with our youth volunteers (Guide) and leadership development through opportunities available within the group (Provide).

Working with YP’s

5 Ways Young Professionals Want to Be Led

1. Empower us; don’t micromanage our talent

2. Sponsor us; serve as role models

3. Allow us to manage our own brand; don’t define us

4. Trust us; don’t question our intentions

5. Challenge us; don’t marginalize us

http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2012/03/12/5-ways-young-professionals-want-to-be-led/

Structure Started with two Created framework with guidance from

myself and our executive director. Brought in additional YP leadership from

current database. Developed leadership structure

› President, Membership, Events, Communications, Fundraising.

Kick off Party Monthly meetings/engagement

opportunities.

Buy-In

Co-Presidents are members of the Board of Directors for NE WI

A board member comes to monthly meetings to mentor and network with club.

Program leads provide activities members can get involved in.

College

Red Cross Clubs

UW Oshkosh Red Cross Club (2 years) UW Green Bay Red Cross Club (7 years)

Structure Follow the guidelines of the

College/University to start a campus service group.

Create a leadership team. Develop a calendar and make sure to

work around campus events (spring break, exams, summer break).

Pair-up club program chairs with your direct organization chairs or key volunteers.

Example: Services to the Armed Forces (SAF)

UWO Club SAF Club Chair – Kaitlyn Red Cross Program Director – John Kost SAF Veterans Home Lead Volunteer – Chuck Patzer

- Connect to discuss club opportunities. - Work with UWO Student SAF chair to organize.- UWO Rep Kaitlyn, lined up the volunteers from the UWO

Red Cross Club. - Implemented a each semester opportunity of playing bingo

and bowling with at the King Veterans home. - Wrote a story about it for our blog.

http://redcrosswisnews.org/2015/03/11/bridging-the-generation-gap-through-volunteering/

We cannot always build the future for

our youth, but we can build our youth for

the future. ~Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Key Tips in Success Opportunities have to be flexible. Be able to lead or follow. Talk their language (social media, texting,

etc… Fun. Social – be able to meet people. Ask for their opinion. Don’t micro manage. Create a calendar – More success if

younger volunteers can know in advance.

Under 18

Utilize the power of your YP & College Clubs the engage the younger generation.

- Teaching programs to HS or Middle/grade school.

- Engaging young youth in volunteer projects if right fit.

- Teaching the YP/College Clubs how THEY can be mentors.

High School

Middle & Grade School

Trickle Down Impact

CEO/ED Board Program Leads Community Members YP College HS Middle School & Grade School

Reference Slide

Red Cross YP Toolkit: http://redcrossyouth.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/10/youngprofessionalsgrouptoolkit.pdf

Red Cross clubs http://www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/school-clubs

What Young Volunteers Want from Your Non profithttp://nonprofit.about.com/od/volunteers/fl/What-Young-Volunteers-Want-From-Your-Nonprofit.htm

Do Something https://www.dosomething.org/

Questions

My Contact Info

Jody Weyers, CVA

E-mail: jody.weyers@redcross.org

Phone: 920-619-8387

Twitter: jweyers2

Facebook: search for Jody Weyers