Whether you are in nonprofit leadership or just have a heart for community outreach, this post is for you. In this post we will discover the three main stakeholders you need to build relationships with if you want to build an outreach initiative that stands the test of time.
The work you do in your local community is incredibly worthwhile! You are planted there for a reason and God has a purpose with you being right where you are. Living missionally in your community is possible and you don’t have to do it alone. You can be even better equipped for it by fostering the following relationships well.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
1: Volunteer Engagement 101
Some of the best volunteer recruitment tips I ever received (that worked!) include sharing the heart of the program, not just the practical stuff. People connect with other people’s stories. We shared photos and testimonies from our program in a place that was visible to outsiders and that drew a lot more volunteers in. We also gave our team a distinctive uniform (just a bright yellow cap) that helped outsiders identify our volunteers.
It also helps to be very clear about what you need. One time we made cards that listed our exact needs and asked people to physically take a card. For example, it read something like: “We need someone to come 2 afternoons a week for 2 hours to read storybooks that we provide to a group of 10 kids”. That sounds much more manageable for people than something vague like “Join our kids’ afterschool program”. In short, you have to let them know what they’re getting themselves into if they sign up!
Something that nobody warns you about, but that you might be finding out for yourself is that managing volunteers is far harder than recruiting them! This is why it is helpful to hand-pick your volunteers. Sure, it should be open for anybody to join, on a certain level. But those on the frontlines should be committed, equipped, and share a passion for the program that will last longer than a few weeks.
2: Build relationships with community members
Any coordinator can plan events and promote programs, but it takes something different to craft a community outreach program that stands the test of time. Connecting with community stakeholders will help you identify community needs so that the initiatives you launch are impactful and lasting.
This aspect is arguably more important than organizational and leadership skills since this is where the passion for a community truly takes root. Asking excellent questions allows you to understand the other person’s worldview and understand a community’s needs. It is valuable to ensure such conversations are still respectful, free of agendas, and genuine.
An important facet of managing this kind of outreach project is monitoring and evaluating effectiveness as you go. Surveys and questionnaires are great, but this important step is often left until the very last moment because, well, it’s just not a lot of fun for most people. However, talk with the community you’re serving for 5 minutes about the program and you are sure to find out exactly what you are doing wrong and how to fix it.
3: Connect to other local outreach programs
There are many methods for effective community engagement. If you are doing all the “right things” and it still is not working, it is worth considering what it might look like if you partner with other existing outreaches. Learn from them about successful fundraising ideas that work in your context. Gather resources from them like a community needs assessment. In other words, don’t reinvent the wheel!
The essence of missional ministry is asking God where He is at work
and jumping in with what He is already doing.
Collaborative community initiatives are gaining popularity, because building partnerships with local organizations is the best place to start if you want to impact a community. Together, you can implement outreach programs that engage and connect diverse community members with resources and services.
Through nonprofit collaboration, you can engage your community all year round without the headache. This is a great example of Service Above Self, since you will be making a decision of building partnerships to impact the social good rather than making a name for yourself.
Summary
By learning how to select the right volunteers and how to keep them around, you will grow the program and not waste your energy on doing the same thing over and over again. The most important bridge to build, however, is your relationship with members of the community you are serving. Finally, networking is very valuable and will help you to not reinvent the wheel but rather stand on the shoulders of those who have come before you. Overall, this post highlights the power of listening to and knowing the needs of the community you are working with.
This post focused on the more practical and strategic side of things, but there are also theological foundations and spiritual tools necessary for living missionally in various cultural and social contexts. Everything that you are passionate about can be aligned with God’s missional purposes! We have associate, bachelor, and graduate certificates in Missional Praxis that will equip you even more for the work you feel called to do in your community.
Eljoh Hartzer is combining theology and art to nurture faith journeys across generations. She is a masters-level practical theologian with the University of Stellenbosch. She is also a writer and editor in the niche of Christianity and children’s content and she illustrates children’s books. Eljoh resides in the Swartland area in the Western Cape province of South Africa. She is a staff writer at Missional University focusing on missional theology and practice.
