As we prepare for National Volunteer Month in April, this report from the Points of Light Foundation, "Reimagining Service 2035," is a bold effort to reinvigorate volunteering in America. Through their listening sessions with civic organizations, this one preliminary finding will resonate with you, as it does with us:
Feelings of belonging—and how it is created (or not) in volunteer spaces—play a significant role in recruitment and retention. Nearly half of the survey respondents indicated that they did not sign up to volunteer or even stopped volunteering at some point in the past due to feelings that they would not or did not belong.
How can you apply this to your work and the chapter?
Are you responding to volunteer inquiries within a few days?
Do you start your email with "Welcome to PORCH Chapter!"
Do you help the volunteer see themselves in the chapter and the mission?
Do you share what the chapter, or PORCH, is doing with volunteers?
Do you help volunteers see how they serve alongside over 2,000 volunteers hosting monthly food drives every month?
How do you help volunteers feel as if they belong in the chapter?
PORCH in Photos: PORCH Raleigh (Sunset Hills)
Bridget in Raleigh (Sunset Hills) kicked off their chapter with amazing energy and recently completed their 3rd collection, "Once again, Sunset Hills neighbors stepping up to help our NCSU neighbors! We dropped off 130 lbs of food to support Feed the Pack Food Pantry!" Find them on the PORCH Raleigh Facebook page with a few other Raleigh chapters.
Springing into Recruitment
As spring arrives, so does renewed energy across PORCH communities. We’re seeing an increase in volunteer inquiries and expanding outreach to local pantries to build new partnerships.
There’s no single “perfect” outreach tool—what works best is a mix of approaches. Printed materials like postcards and door hangers are a great way to introduce PORCH, especially at community meetings or tabling events. They’re most effective when they direct people to your social media, where consistent messaging and a clear “how to get involved” call to action encourage them to take the next step. From there, a personal, face-to-face connection helps turn that interest into lasting engagement.
"How did you hear about PORCH?" A review of over 700 Get Involved form submissions across 43 chapters:
35% social media
25% family or friend
25% Google/internet search
10% News article or video
10% Community presentation
5% PORCH sign
5% signs, flyers, postcards, or door hangers
Wrap up:
Discovery happens online (social + search)
Decisions happen through people (word-of-mouth)
Action happens when it’s easy and timely
Social Media Spotlight: PORCH Youngsville, NC
PORCH Youngsville is growing. They have expanded into seven neighborhoods in Youngsville, supporting The Journey Ministry Pantry. Thanks, PORCH Youngsville, for highlighting new neighborhoods on Facebook!
1st collections: add names each month, 6th and 12th milestones.
Quarterly we'll add up the pounds
The Front PORCH is your go-to space for tools, tips, and resources to help you build and grow your chapter. Check often for new items. And email us for a resource that doesn't yet exist. Ensure you're signed into your PORCH email to have full access to all materials.
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