Recruit More Volunteers
Website Makes a Difference to University of Colorado Hospital Volunteers
In their words...
"Our volunteer services department is extremely pleased with the new online volunteer applications. The number of applications we receive has increased dramatically since moving the process online, not to mention the online forms are easier to read and organize than our previous process. I feel that we have joined the 21st century now that volunteers can apply online."
Rita Alexander
Manager of Volunteer Services
The University of
Colorado Hospital
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Changing a Time-Consuming Process
Hospitals depend on volunteers to provide support to patients and their families. From greeting patients with a welcoming smile, to assisting the Emergency Department and Cancer Infusion Center, to performing infant hearing tests, the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) volunteers are known for providing valuable assistance and a personal touch.
For years, prospective volunteers would call and ask about potential opportunities, inquire about the interview procedure, and request a form be mailed to them. This process worked, but it was time consuming and labor intensive for the staff.
Although UCH never had a problem filling their volunteer positions, their volunteer services department was looking for a new way to encourage volunteerism and streamline their processes. So they turned to Geonetric and the Web for help - and got more than an improved process.
Creating a New Volunteer Section
We were already working together to create a new Web presence for UCH, and we sought input from the volunteer department on how the Web could improve their internal processes and recruitment efforts.
The team created a new and compelling volunteer section that:
- Promotes the many benefits for becoming a volunteer at UCH, as well as lists of the current openings at the hospital;
- Explains the application process step-by-step, so potential volunteers can gather the needed information and references; and
- Allows prospective volunteers to submit a secure online application, with separate forms for adult and teen volunteers, denoting their different requirements.
The new process is much easier for the staff. Rather than spending time fielding phone inquiries and mailing forms, the staff now directs interested volunteers to the site, because all the needed information is there ... in one place and up-to-date.
105% Increase in Applications
After the volunteer section of the new website was complete, a link to the volunteer opportunities was included on the Quick Links section of the home page. This position gives the volunteer opportunities prominence and helps drive traffic to the section.
- UCH's received more than 246 volunteer applications in the first four months after go-live. Previously, UCH received about 30 volunteer requests a month, so the Web has significantly impacted the application process.
- UCH also notes that applications among summer teens and college students have increased, thanks to their ability to find UCH volunteer opportunities through online searches.
Wishful thinking...
Download a PDF of this case study and email it to your volunteer coordinator with the subject line "Wouldn't it be nice....????"
