Recruiting Volunteers & Foster Parents for the Humane Society

Lisa Copeland

Mission

“To rescue as many abandoned and unwanted animals as possible from a life of despair, starvation, disease, and suffering, and to provide them with temporary homes until permanent homes can be found” (HS handbook).

Goals “To provide all foster pets with the best pet

care and medical care possible” “To thoroughly screen all potential

adopters to ensure a good match between the pet and adopter”

“To ensure that the adopter understands the lifelong commitment to the pet and agrees to provide a loving home where the pet will be considered a part of the family for the remainder of its life” (HS handbook).

Members Approximately 900

Volunteers 120, but only about 30 are active

Foster Parents Very few – when people foster, many times

they end up adopting the animal, therefore not being a foster parent any longer

(* Couldn’t get the exact #)

Culture

There are policies and procedures that must be followed

The organization is also very friendly and welcoming to new people and ideas.

Publics to be Served

Donor public Board, Staff, Members, Volunteers Local Animal Shelters Media public Animals

Competition “Competition for volunteer assistance is

stiff, with the vast majority of volunteers donating their time to religious (43.4%), health care (18%), or educational (17.3%) organizations”.

A survey conducted showed that only 4.8% of people who volunteered in 2000, gave their time to environmental and animal welfare organizations.

(www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/volunteer.pdf)

S.W.O.T Strengths

Respected board members and organization Weaknesses

Shortage of “active” volunteers and fosters Opportunities

Many animals in need of the organization’s services Threats

Pet stores, backyard breeders, puppy mills, and other nonprofits who seek volunteers

Marketing & Campaign Strategies Inform school career offices about the organization and

let them know that the organization is in need of volunteers, etc. (This can give the students work experience also)

Post flyers at local vet offices and zoos

Have a website; list volunteer opportunities

Work with the media to inform public about the organization; post pictures of animals (pictures work better than just write-ups)

Reward those volunteers who recruit new volunteers

Have parties and other events for members and volunteers

“Recognize volunteers in speeches, media, meetings, etc”

Give praise to make people glad they came and volunteered

“Celebrate birthdays of committed volunteers”

“Provide food and refreshments after projects”

“Never allow people to feel that you wasted their time or that they weren’t really needed”

Have flexible volunteering schedules

Ask people to volunteer – they will be more likely to do it if asked.

(www.fiu.edu/~time4chg/Library/recruit.keep.html)