In the credit union industry, community service is an honored principle — one that's especially promient in November and December, when many credit unions plan charitable endeavors. Those efforts could be wasted if nobody donates to the cause, participates in the event or helps do the work, but there are ways to avoid feeble philanthropy. Here are five secrets for rallying more volunteers, wooing more donors and getting the word out, all from credit unions that ran record-setting charity events this year.

1. Cast a really wide net for volunteers

Employees aren't the only source of volunteers; reaching out to members can vastly improve participation, according to Lisa Lehman, who is a marketing manager at Park View Federal Credit Union in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The credit union, which has $177 million in assets and about 10,700 members, recently ran a Veterans Day community service event, during which volunteers stacked wood, sorted books and donations, cleaned, did yardwork and provided other help to show appreciation for military veterans.