There are thousands of grassroots conservation groups around Australia worried about their ageing volunteer base. The easy assumption to make is that young people are not as interested in, or committed to volunteering as their older colleagues. I’m here to tell you this is not the case. It’s not them. It’s you.

There are very simple strategies grassroots community groups could be exploring to be more relevant and appealing to young people. 

1. Use social media

Young people are digital natives and are more likely to engage with non-profit organisations through social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok than they are to respond to emails. Non-profit organizations should create engaging content that resonates with younger audiences and is shareable on social media.

By using social media, you’ll develop a profile with young people. They’ll know who you are and what you do which means when you need to recruit hands-on support for one of your projects you don’t need to build that relationship from scratch. 

2. Focus on issues that matter to young people

What is it about your movement that young people are likely to feel a connection to. Climate change, mental health, the cost of living and social justice are top of the list right now. Even if these issues are not part of your core business, you need to address them and make sure your prospective volunteers know that you are doing so.

3. Create opportunities for engagement

Young people do not engage with not-for-profits the way that older volunteers do. They are unlikely to commit to a full-year activity with regular hours every week. They’re much more likely to commit to half a day to participate in a project or activity with very clear parameters. As well as volunteering opportunities you might also consider internships, youth boards, mentoring or leadership programs. By engaging young people in meaningful ways, non-profit organisations can create lifelong advocates for their cause.

4. Be transparent

Be transparent about your operations, finances, and impact. Young people want to know where their time, money, and energy are going, and they want to be confident that they are making a difference. If you’re not regularly reporting on impact then you need to start immediately. This isn’t simply rattling off a list of projects or activities you’ve completed but rather being really clear about the impact your work is having.

5. Create a sense of community

Young people want to feel like they are part of a community that shares their values and interests. Grassroots not-for-profit organisations and community groups can create a sense of community by organising events, creating social media groups, and fostering connections among members both online and IRL. 

6. Provide opportunities for skill-building

Young people are interested in building skills and gaining experience that will help them in their personal and professional lives. Consider offering skill-building workshops, training opportunities, and programs that support mentoring and leadership.

7. Empower young people to take on leadership roles

Contrary to popular belief, young people want to be involved in decision-making and to have a say in the direction of the organisation. One of the barriers to doing this is committees that have been in place for decades on the pretence that ‘no-one else wants to do the job’. 

Grassroots not-for-profit organizations and community groups can empower young people to take on leadership roles by creating youth advisory boards and giving young people a voice in organisational decisions. Open up your committee roles regularly and consider having maximum terms for your office bearers. This means there is a high turnover of people on your committee and you will soon see a change to how people especially young ones – volunteer for positions of leadership.  

It is also important to plan for recruiting and retaining young people as volunteers because they are the future of our grassroots groups. By involving young people in meaningful ways, you can create a pipeline of future leaders and advocates for your cause. Young volunteers bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and energy to non-profits. They can also benefit your organisation with skills and experience such as digital literacy and social media savvy. Young volunteers can help your non-profit organisation stay relevant, innovative, and effective. By investing in young volunteers, non-profit organisations can build a strong foundation for their future success.