I was surprised that even in a very rural area it was easy to solicit a lot of support from the parents and the community. Start with the local schools (PTO organizations), visit local organizations (VFW, Lions Club), and local churches. You really only need a core group of devoted individuals to make it happen. We don't have a lot of money in our community, but we're about halfway to our playground budget goal by combining little bits from all over the place - the little bits add up to a lot. I would also encourage writing articles and submitting them to local papers - they often will run them for free. Papers look for positive press to come to them.
Hope that helps,
Tina
Hi! We're in a small community outside Chicago and are just at the point today that we're ready to order our equipment with an intended July 28 Build. Our next steps are to rally build day support among neighbors and this part seems daunting. Even though many people have expressed support, both financial and verbal, during the past two years of fundraising/initial phase effort, now it's time to put words into action and I'm wondering your techniques of initially contacting individuals for participation. We were thinking a grass roots outreach (there are 314 homes in our neighborhood in which the park is the center focus) where we literally get on the phone and go door to door asking for help. We'll then hold an initial volunteer meeting to begin the task of organizing teams, etc. I notice you assigned people with specific skills/contacts to certain jobs and that's what we're planning on doing as well. My questions:
1) How did you go about your initial outreach? What roadblocks did you encounter? 2) How did you learn of people's skills if they weren't initially apparent? i.e. a banker who is handy w/tinkering? 3) How often did you meet once volunteers were identified? 4) Do you suggest creating formal materials to aid in recruiting or just rely on speaking points, etc? 5) Any other advice for successful recruiting?
Obviously, we're at a critical juncture right now and we're excited beyond belief but a bit overwhelmed. Thanks!
HI RPAG,
WE ARE NEARING THE TIME WHEN WE WILL ORDER OUR EQUIPMENT TOO,AND THEN FOCUS ON BUILD DAY ORGANIZING. WHAT HAS WORKED WELL SO FAR AT MEETINGS AND FUNDRAISING EVENTS IS A FORM I GOT IN THE KABOOM! TOOLKIT. DO YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE? THERE ARE SEVERAL USEFUL FORMS ON A DISK IN THE BACK OF THE COMMUNITY BUILD-PLAYSPACE MANUAL. I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THE DISK WAS THERE UNTIL RECENTLY. ONE IS A VOLUNTEER SIGN UP FORM THAT HAS AN AREA WHERE THEY CAN MARK OF THEIR SKILLS. I HAVE ALSO ADDED THIS SPACE TO ANY FLIERS/FORMS WE HAVE CIRCULATED AND IT HAS WORKED WELL. I CAN FAX YOU ONE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE. THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER FORMS IN THERE THAT WOULD HELP GUIDE YOU THRU YOUR BUILD DAY, I WILL BE HOLDING ON TO MINE 'WHITE KNUCKLED' I'M SURE, WHEN BUILD DAY COMES.
MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PEOPLE TO COMMIT MORE OF THEIR TIME. I HAVE LOTS OF INTERESTED PEOPLE, BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH TIME TO HELP OUT BEHIND THE SCENES. I THINK I WILL ATTEND THE WE PLAY COMING UP IN ATLANTA SO THAT I CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT RALLYING FOR SUPPORT AND BUILD DAY ORGANIZING.
RPAG:
We had a community build last summer, and had the same concerns...here's what I learned:
1. Target your efforts with a purpose. Any civic organization, church, chamber of commerce, or group has a meeting time; ask to have a few minutes at their next meeting to let them know of your project...then expand awareness through your network of people by asking for specific things. Being very specific helps...ask for 10 wheelbarrows if that's what you need. I ask for help spreading the word that you need help, and what kind of help you need.
2. Divide the build into teams...one team on decks and posts, one team on swings, etc. Don't worry about people's apparent skills...we take anybody and everybody. Their individual interests and skills are useful for each part of the process. We assigned people to teams randomly, and had very few problems or issues. It is advisable to put some of the "stronger" volunteers on the concrete and surfacing teams...they are a LOT of work.
3. We met with our planning committee volunteers on a weekly basis about 6 times before the build. Build Captains got together for the first time at the site preparation day, and build volunteers only came to the build day.
4. Formal recruiting materials can be helpful...I have a simple volunteer commitment flyer that asks if they are willing to help. Once I have their info, I create a database that I can use a mail-merge function to create mailing labels to send them a postcard thanking them for their commitment and reminding them of the build date. Some press releases about the need for volunteers also helps some. Most of the volunteers were recruited by the direct ask...through networking.
5. Push the idea of networking to create awareness, and have each person who commits to help bring a friend or two to the build...Not only are the volunteering to help build the playground, their volunteering to recruit more volunteers for you. Then thank the heck out of them...run an ad in the paper thanking everyone who attended, list their names in a newsletter, etc.
6. Don't be overwhelmed. You will have all the help you need. At our build, we wanted 150 volunteers, and got a total of about 90...and we still finished about 1.5 hours earlier than expected.
Another thing that we have found to work is to invlove your local fire and/or police department. For some reason this seems to draw crowds. They also have contacts with fire fighter and police personnel from surrounding areas that are willing to help with the cause.
We are building our playground in a week and a half and have found that continuous communication in the community has been key to encouraging community support and engagement. Developing a good relationship with local newspaper and tv. In our case it was the local access channel very willing to help. I submitted progress photos and press releases on progress along the way. I sent every check presentation photo that was taken and every one was published. Consistently keeping it in the newspapers in one form or another. Community got very supportive financially and for volunteering for our community build.
We are really just getting started with the whole project but we went to a planning and zoning committee this past week and it was brought up that we were planning a community playground on the daycare property. The MAYOR has gotten really excited about the project and is now willing to help us recruit volunteers and possibly help us fill some of our committee positions. I really did not expect to get that much support from the mayor that easily, he even said he might have some money left in his budget that he could donate. so don't limit your possibilities, and be vocal about your project from the beginning.
We are in a major push in our last month before build for volunteers. I (the project leader) and another member have been attending all the community group meetings - we take our poster with our drawings on it, present on what we are doing, ask for support, and acknowledge the blank stares. :) The fire department has been very generous, and the farmers in our area (we live in an agricultural area) are being very supportive with their trucks and heavy equipment. We also just found a wonderful volunteer coordinator and she has armed herself with lists to call (she's calling the parents of every student in our school since it's a school build). The key is just getting a great core team, and, if I can find one in my miniscule community, I'm sure anyone can. :)
Best wishes to all.
The MAYOR has gotten really excited about the project and is now willing to help us recruit volunteers and possibly help us fill some of our committee positions . . . he even said he might have some money left in his budget that he could donate . . . so don't limit your possibilities, and be vocal about your project from the beginning.
I came across this great quote while visiting Seuss Landing at Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure that really seems to capture the Kaboom spirit. It is from the Dr. Seuss book "the Lorax" and was painted on all the garbage cans in this section of the park:
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
Inspirational, huh?
Yeah, I just found out yesterday how cruel folks can be to volunteers. I love that quote from the previous poster and with a week left to the build, I know it's important for the leader to maintain a positive attitude. Let's just say that I never imagined a volunteer would be pulled into a room by the school administration and told she's overstepping her bounds and all sorts of mean, untrue things. But, we have to remember to continue to perservere for the kids even amongst persecution. Thankfully I read Romans last night and found something that enabled me to sleep:
"Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good".
So, no matter what craziness I encounter in the next week, I need to do good for the kids. And, the amazing thing is that most of the community is rallying behind me. There are many supporters, with a few very vocal and powerful naysayers - because when you do something from the heart, and for the kids, people, for the most part, get on board. The best of luck to everyone. I hope you all end up with loving and supporting communities. But, if not, keep on doing good!
Thanks for sharing this, munsonelicia! (And welcome to the Forums!)
What do you think was the key ingredient in making your project a success? Did you do some great fundraisers? Did you have a great planning team? Tell us more!