Recruitment Toolkit

Promote your program

• Extension Social Media Recruitment Campaign developed by Sam Wisneski, Extension Digital Engagement Specialist 

• Clips suitable for Instagram Reels or Facebook Stories: 

  • What does it mean to be a Master Gardener?: https://vimeo.com/985964025/aeeb76bd48?share=copy

  • Becoming a Master Gardener: https://vimeo.com/985963756/82ed9c1dba?share=copy

  • Master Gardener priorities: https://vimeo.com/985963974/b40b741461?share=copy

  • Master Gardeners as educators: https://vimeo.com/985963918/a4940aa63f?share=copy

  • Community and giving back: https://vimeo.com/985963807/e76d5f7f27?share=copy

  • Connecting with other gardeners: https://vimeo.com/985963866/4f5673121a?share=copy

  • Words of encouragement: https://vimeo.com/985964070/f8b73852d0?share=copy 

• Share the Master Gardener volunteers-in-action video series

• Customizable news release (download and update the Stearns County example)

  • Additional news release versions

  • FYI: Extension press release

• Customizable flyers, customize, print and post flyers in your community

• Announcement examples

• Events calendars -- post your events!

• Presentation Template

Grab attention

• Print your own event signs -- print version 1, 2; instructions

• Order promotional materials including apparel, table cloths, other items.

Distribute promotional items

• Print your own: Recruitment cards, business cards, posters, postcards, notepad, handouts, labels, flyers, bookmarks

• Professionally print: Recruitment cards, postcards, notepad, banner

• Order professional brochures online

Connect with applicants

• Contact applicants via email or phone to confirm that you've received the application

• Set up a time to welcome and introduce the applicant to the program and recruitment team:

  • Introduce the program’s mission, vision, priorities and your group's community work.

  • Use the meeting time to determine how someone’s gifts and talents fit into the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program, not to identify barriers to their participation.

• Review the suggested talking points, question examples, and rubric.

• Confirm if the candidate would like to proceed in becoming a volunteer.

  • Ask applicant to submit a background check online request and complete the safety of minors training. 

• Welcome new interns to the program! 

  • TIP: Use one of the  "welcome to the program" emails (version 1; version 2) as a starting point when writing your message.

• After receiving confirmation that the applicant would like to join the program, share the skills and interest form to learn:

  • which projects they are most interested in,

  • the audiences they would like to work with, and

  • the experiences and skills they can share with the program.

Review financial assistance process

• Financial Assistance Form (included in the application)

• Group leaders confirm financial assistance funds are available.

• Processing the financial assistance request:

  • The group leader confirms the intern list with the state team/Arboretum education registrar.

  • Via a phone call, the registrar confirms funding with the interns who've requested support and processes registration.

    • • Question: What are you able to pay?

      • The financial assistance amount requested is usually 50% of the core course cost or less.

      • Financial assistance is provided upfront.

  • The state team and Registrar expedite moving funds from the local university EFS account to  the state program account.

Tap into weekly promotional packet

6-week recruitment plan to plan recruitment events in your county.

2026 recruitment presentation and tips

• Recruiting: Core Course and Recruitment Toolkit Overview 

  • 2026 Google slides 

  • Recording: Recruiting the Class of 2026

  • Recruitment tips