Promotional yard signs power volunteer recruitment

Nonprofit awareness campaign yields big results

By Stephanie Lamie

A little extra visibility can go a long way. That’s a lesson learned by the team at Big Brothers Big Sisters^® of McHenry County opens in new window. A chapter of the nationwide organization, it helps local youth realize their potential through positive, one-to-one mentoring relationships with adult volunteers. But those volunteers aren’t always easy to come by. So when Christina Wolf, development and recruitment coordinator, needed to raise awareness of the nonprofit’s need for mentors, she used promotional yard signs to spread the word.

Small sign, big impact

“We’re always in need of mentors for these kids,” Wolf said. “It is a challenge to recruit volunteers for the program, and we always have a list of youth waiting to be matched.”

The organization serves all of McHenry County, which includes several cities and villages in the Chicago metro area. A footprint across multiple communities makes it tough for messaging to break through. But Wolf had a bright idea: With many employees, board members and volunteers living throughout the county, she provided them yard signs to expand reach and raise awareness of the need for mentors. Dozens of signs went up in neighborhoods countywide.

The small billboards made a big difference

During the first six months the promotional lawn signs were displayed throughout the county, the organization saw a 55% increase in volunteer inquiries compared to the year prior. Each sign, designed by marketing manager Haley Draper, was imprinted with “Mentors needed” and a QR code directing users to a volunteer inquiry form, making it easy for interested community members to enter the pipeline to become a mentor.

“Our county is so big, and the signs really expanded our reach,” Wolf said. “They improved our visibility. They’re just like a billboard—everybody that drives by sees them.” A yard sign displayed in front of a home conveys a personal connection to the cause. It’s placed with intention, signaling to neighbors and passersby that there’s real meaning behind it. That can make it more powerful than even a much larger billboard. From promoting upcoming events and new businesses to boosting awareness campaigns, promotional yard signs are a tried-and-true strategy for drawing attention— and driving results.

Note: 4imprint partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County and sponsored the promotional yard signs mentioned in this story.

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