Earlier this year, I wrote a blog about engaging with Millennial and Gen Z donors. In it, I highlighted the idea that “Gen Z have learned how to effectively use their online platforms to advocate for causes they care about, often spreading awareness, and giving their time, attention, and social support rather than their limited financial resources.” I’d like to circle back and expand on that idea by sharing a few tips and tricks to inspire the involvement of younger volunteers (who could become donors in the future if engaged and stewarded well).

If you’re looking to increase the number of young volunteers at your organization, start by considering your circles of influence. Much like donors, volunteers tend to have a connection to the organization, the capacity to make a gift (in this case, the gift of their time or talent), and they care about the organization’s mission. Whom do you know that fits these criteria? Those individuals would make great volunteers. However, it’s highly likely that they belong to the same generation as you do, not a younger one. So, how do you reach those who aren’t part of your generation?

There are a few simple things you can do. You can utilize your circles of influence by asking individuals to consider their own circles. By repeating this process, you’re expanding the search, are likely to reach individuals who are not overlapping with your own circles of influence, and will eventually reach those belonging to younger generations. You can do the same thing with your existing volunteers too. You can even do it online—those connected to you on social media are typically already in your circles of influence and will meet the previous criteria to some degree, even if just by association.

You can use social media to attract and appeal to potential volunteers and when such posts are shared, they can circulate among and spread across a multitude of circles, reaching more people, many of which are likely to be younger if they were reached via social media. Because they’re digital natives, younger generations spend much of their time online. If you’re hoping to reach them, using social media is a strong bet. Plus, if they have time to spend perusing social media (and if you’re lucky, come across a call to volunteer at your organization) it’s highly likely they’ll also have the time, or rather the capacity, to volunteer if it appeals to, or better yet, inspires them.

Perhaps you’re looking to not only increase the number of young volunteers, but to ensure they are truly committed to your organization and its mission. The best volunteers are those who really care, so how can you ensure those you reach not only have a connection to the organization (directly, or through you or someone you know) but care about its work? I already said you can use social media to attract and appeal to potential volunteers, but what I forgot to mention is that what you share matters just as much as who you share it with. If you’re hoping to inspire the next generation to join your cause as volunteers, consider sharing your own story of meaningful involvement. Ask yourself: What makes my involvement meaningful to me? What has occurred in my life to make supporting this organization (or its mission or cause) a priority? (Or at least worthy of your own time, talent, or treasure.) Sharing your involvement story is a crucial step toward inspiring others to start their own. It’s the act of inspiring that creates a sense of caring in those who might not already, despite having a connection.

But the sharing doesn’t stop there. For caring to be at the forefront, you also need to share what about the organization (or its mission or cause) is important to you, why it’s important (to you, to others involved, to the community, etc.), and how others can get involved (this is also an opportunity to share how you got involved if it wasn’t part of your story of meaningful involvement). The bit about how others can get involved should be as straightforward and simple as possible—include whatever is most relevant, like a direct link to sign up for a shift at an event, the email address of your volunteer coordinator, or a link to upcoming volunteer opportunities listed on your website. The more complicated it is, the less likely anyone’s follow-through will be, even if they care.

Engaging younger volunteers requires leveraging your existing networks and harnessing the power of social media, where they are most active. By expanding your outreach and sharing compelling stories that highlight the meaningful impact of your organization’s work, including what has come of your own involvement, you can inspire younger generations to contribute their time and talents too. By effectively communicating your experiences and making it easy for them to get started (seriously, ease is key to increasing participation), you not only attract new, younger volunteers but also lay the groundwork for them to one day become dedicated donors.