How to go viral on TikTok and attract more volunteers
In short
Fun, joyful TikTok videos can show what volunteering is really like and help your charity reach more potential volunteers. Try a day in the life of a volunteer, a dance challenge or behind-the-scenes clips with staff, ask volunteers to share them, and reshare on Instagram and Facebook. Not every video will go viral, so keep posting consistently.
Want to use TikTok to attract a flood of eager volunteers? You’re in the right place! TikTok isn’t just for dance trends and cute pet videos. It’s a powerhouse for spreading your mission far and wide. Here’s how to create fun, shareable content that makes volunteering look irresistible.
Post ideas that pop
🔥 A day in the life of a volunteer
Showcase the real (and ridiculously fun) experience of volunteering! Film a volunteer’s day, from their morning coffee to their last high-five of the day. Make it snappy, energetic, and packed with feel-good moments. Bonus points if they do a dramatic “before and after” of their day: tired but fulfilled!
💃 Get your volunteers to bust a move
TikTok loves a good dance challenge, so why not make one of your own? Get your volunteers grooving in their uniforms or dancing while doing their tasks. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be FUN. Awkward moves encouraged!
🎤 Involve your beneficiaries, patients or clients
Nothing tugs at the heartstrings (or gets engagement) like a genuine, joyful moment. Capture interactions between volunteers and the people they’re helping, whether it’s shared laughter, a touching testimonial, or an adorable kiddo saying “thank you.” Cue the happy tears! 🥲
👩💼 Rope in your staff
Your team is the backbone of your cause, so put them in the spotlight! Have them share funny behind-the-scenes clips, playfully “audition” to be volunteers, or try their hand at a trending TikTok sound. The more personality, the better!
Tips to make your videos shine
😃 Smiles and laughter are your best friends
If your video radiates joy, people will want to be part of it! Capture those genuine giggles, heartwarming moments, and high-energy interactions.
🎭 Keep it light-hearted and playful
TikTok is the land of silliness, so embrace it! Show off the goofy side of volunteering, whether it’s someone struggling to carry boxes or an over-the-top “expectation vs. reality” skit.
👕 Wear your merch
Got branded t-shirts or caps? Get them on camera! Not only does it create brand recognition, but it also makes your volunteers look like part of a fun, united team.
🎶 Use catchy music and bright colours
TikTok is all about visuals and sound. Use upbeat tracks, vibrant settings, and fun transitions to make your content pop!
How to help your video go viral
📲 Post on your organisation’s TikTok
Regular uploads keep your profile fresh and engaging. Plus, your audience will start recognizing your brand as a must-follow for feel-good content.
📢 Ask volunteers to share on their accounts
Volunteers have their own circles of influence, so get them involved! Ask them to repost your content, or better yet, create their own spin on it.
🔄 Reshare, reshare, reshare
Post your TikToks on Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, and Twitter. The more places people see your content, the more engagement you’ll get.
Most important rule: keep going
Not everything will go viral (sad but true). But the more you post, the better your chances! TikTok’s algorithm rewards consistency, so keep trying, experimenting, and having fun. You never know which video will be the one that blows up! 🎉
Now go forth, create, and watch the volunteers roll in! 🚀
Finally, some examples
A day in the life of a volunteer by The Hospice of St Francis who have garnered over 4000 followers. Some of their posts receive hundreds of thousands of views. What a superb job they are doing!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdA4BPE6/
POV (Point of view) of their volunteers by Refettorio Felix London, and this post got a whopping 35,000 views!!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdA46EgD/
Here Naomi records and shares a day in the life of a volunteer and shares on her own account. This shows it can be even more powerful if your volunteers will share it themselves. It adds authenticity and reaches a different audience.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdA4NMUH/
The British Red Cross have really taken the new trends onboard, their account has almost half a million followers! Here they take the classic tiktok dance approach and weave volunteering into it nicely.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdA4FAcd/
Getting started with Volunteero
Volunteero is volunteer management software for charities, nonprofits and events. With its recruitment tools, you publish an opportunity once and it appears on your website search board, the Volunteero Marketplace and GoVo. Book a demo to see how it works.
Written by
Co-founder and CEO
Ashley Staines is the co-founder and CEO of Volunteero. After seven years in investment banking, he started it to make volunteering easier to organise.
