Think budget . Most volunteer programs, even those in the nonprofit sector, started small. The staff was part time, volunteers did many clerical tasks to support the program, and volunteers formed recruiting teams to bring in more volunteers. Government programs are not awash with money. However, volunteers are not free.
Administrators can exhibit support by finding the dollars to fund the program.
Think about the most hospitable location for volunteers and paid staff. This will vary from organization to organization, but in the wrong place the volunteers can languish and die or drive staff to distraction. Again, this is a good topic for the staff advisory group to discuss. There is more to consider in organizing a volunteer program, position descriptions, applications, screening, training, and recognition, to name a few. But getting started right, means the other elements of the volunteer program will fall into place more easily.