Volunteers decide in a few seconds whether an opportunity is for them. A clear, specific opportunity gets more signups, and better-matched ones. Here’s how to set yours up so the right people say yes.
1. One opportunity for each thing you’re looking for
Keep each opportunity focused on one role or task. If you’re looking for help with fundraising and mentoring, create two separate opportunities.
Volunteers search for the kind of work they want to do. A mentor scrolling past an opportunity that’s mostly about fundraising won’t stop to read the detail. Two focused opportunities each reach the right people, and you can tag skills and choose a type that fits each one.
2. Write a title that says exactly what the role is
Your title is the first thing volunteers see, so make it do the work. Say what the role is and, where it helps, what it’s for.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| Volunteers needed | Fundraising volunteers for our Christmas appeal |
| Help wanted | Mentor for young people starting their first job |
| Website project | Web designer to rebuild our charity website |
You don’t have to include your organisation’s name in the title. It’s shown to volunteers automatically alongside every opportunity.
3. Choose the right opportunity type
The type you pick tells volunteers what kind of commitment they’re signing up for.
- Assignment: for ongoing roles or projects that run over time, such as becoming a trustee, mentoring, or building a website.
- One-off event: for when you’re looking for people to show up on a specific day, such as a fundraising event, a community clean-up or a food bank shift.
4. Tag the skills that matter
Skills tags help us match your opportunity to volunteers with the right experience.
- If the role calls for experience (for example, accounting for a treasurer role, or design for a website project), tag those skills so volunteers know what to bring.
- If anyone can do it and you’ll train people up during the engagement, choose Any skill level. This keeps the opportunity open to everyone.
- Choose as many skills as are relevant, across all the categories. A mentoring role might draw on communication, coaching and career skills at the same time.
5. Pick an image that stands out
Choose a picture that catches the eye and gives volunteers a sense of who you are. Photos of your team, your space or your work in action tend to do better than stock images or logos. Make sure it’s clear and bright, and that you have permission to use it.
Read more: Why a good cover image matters
6. Let your profile tell your story
Volunteers can see your organisation profile from every opportunity you publish. That’s where your mission, your track record and the communities you work with live, so you don’t have to repeat any of it in each opportunity.
Before you publish, check your profile is up to date. Then keep your opportunity description focused on the role itself: what the volunteer will do, when, where, and the difference it will make.
Read more: Update your profile with key information
7. Don’t forget to publish
You can save your opportunity and come back to it at any time, but volunteers won’t see it until you publish. Once everything looks right, hit Publish.
Publishing doesn’t commit you to anything. Every signup comes to you for approval, so you stay in control of who takes part.
Quick checklist
- One role or task per opportunity
- A title that says exactly what the role is (no organisation name required)
- Assignment for ongoing roles, One-off event for a specific day
- Relevant skills tagged, or Any skill level if you’ll provide training
- An eye-catching image that shows who you are
- An up-to-date organisation profile
- Published