Volunteers in crisis: How clubs fight for members

Volunteers in crisis: How clubs fight for members

On June 11, 2025, an important event organized by the district sports association took place, at which Prof. Meier gave a lecture on the topic of “Volunteering in the Crisis”. The event brought together a large number of interested people, but the speaker dampened the listeners' expectations right from the start. He made it clear that there are no silver bullet solutions to the challenges clubs face today.

One of the central challenges is finding volunteers for leadership positions. Prof. Meier emphasized that this has become significantly more difficult since the pandemic. In this context, he also pointed to a noticeable social change: While members used to be active for many years and later take on responsibility within the club, today's people increasingly think in shorter periods of time and show less willingness for long-term commitment.

The change in member loyalty

The difficulties in retaining and acquiring members are not just a current phenomenon, but require a continuous process of adaptation. Loud Volunteering24 It is important for clubs to carry out an internal analysis of the membership structure in order to better understand their age, gender, interests and commitment.

One element that is often overlooked is the reasons for former members leaving. This information can provide information about weak points and help to develop targeted measures to improve the club's attractiveness. Targeted audience analysis is necessary to raise the profile of ideal members and develop tailored strategies, rather than taking a broad approach that may not appeal to anyone.

Digital strategies for membership

In today's world, the club's external image is of crucial importance. The club website acts as a digital business card and must be appealing and informative. An up-to-date event calendar and contact options are of great importance in order to attract interested parties and retain existing members. Digital advertising campaigns and search engine optimization increase the club's visibility and help attract new members.

Additionally recommends Volunteering24 the use of social media not only to maintain contact with existing members, but also to reach out to potential interested parties. Influencer marketing can play an important role in increasing reach and credibility. Communication via newsletters and emails about activities and membership benefits should also not be neglected.

The challenges of declining membership numbers and the need to increase the attractiveness of clubs are current topics that Prof. Meier also addressed in his lecture. Openness to change and innovation will be crucial to secure the future of the clubs. Regular member surveys help to develop needs-based measures and promote the integration of people with a migration history, which contributes to cultural diversity.