Let’s be honest, everyone has a different opinion on volunteering.
“Volunteering is great for the community!”
“Volunteering makes me feel good about myself and giving back is rewarding.”
“When I volunteer I get to take a day off of work and that’s a nice plus.”
“We get cool t-shirts and free lunch when we volunteer with X organization.”
While many people believe that volunteerism is a benefit for the community, it is very clear that volunteering is actually beneficial to two parties; the volunteer and the organization or non-profit. In order for everyone to get the best experience out of a volunteer event and to continue to create a culture of giving there are a few Do’s and Don’t’s all volunteers should be aware of.
- The fields of Volunteerism, Non-profits, and Charitable Giving are specialized careers. There are many people that work in non-profits, handle volunteer engagement, create community projects, and raise funds for a living. These individuals are well trained, highly specialized in their fields, and many have Bachelor’s, Master’s, and even Doctorate degrees in not for profit and community work. Like any career, their experience may range from 1 year to 50 years but in the world of community development, that experience could be equivalent to double that in any other type of work. These individuals eat, sleep, and breathe their mission because it is something that they care deeply about. And if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be working as many hours as they do for as little pay as they receive. My point here: volunteerism, non-profits, and charitable giving are specialties and if you do not work in these fields, you probably don’t know as much about the volunteer project you are working on as they do. You would never walk into an IT firm and begin critiquing their work without a full understanding of their position, so why would you do that to a volunteer coordinator? If all volunteers operated under this mindset, it would be much easier for individuals working in their fields to focus on the mission of their organization.
- Go with the flow and take a back seat. Unskilled labor is slow. Operating on a tight budget leads to unexpected bumps in the road. A small staff leading a large group of volunteers is not easy. If the organization you are working with runs out of your size t-shirt, take a larger size. If you really wanted to plant seeds in a garden but the organization really needs volunteers who can weed the garden – weed the garden. The needs of the organization should be prioritized over your needs as a volunteer. Do what is asked and remember why you are volunteering. The mission at hand is to be able to feed hundreds of hungry families. The means of accomplishing that mission sometimes come in a different way than volunteers anticipated – ex. pulling weeds instead of planting seeds. It is important to keep the end game in mind and do whatever you can to serve the organization in the same way that you would do whatever was needed of you at your job.
- Volunteering is a privilege. Regardless of the fact that many non-profits rely on volunteers to operate, individuals must recognize the benefit that they receive as well. Volunteering provides many wonderful feelings of “a job well done” and leaves individuals feeling like they made an impact. That boost in your step you earned for helping out is a service to you as well! Thank non-profits for the opportunity they have given you to assist them in their mission and practice graciousness about your ability to be able to spend time serving others who may not have that same privilege.
Volunteerism can serve EVERYONE but having the right attitude, mentality, and knowledge is critical to achieving that success.