Importance of Volunteerism

When it seems like society is focused on getting more, spending more and achieving more, it helps to think about the importance of volunteerism. It can get people to think beyond themselves and focus on the needs of others.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 61.8 million Americans took the time to volunteer one or more times between September of 2007 and September of 2008. That is more than 26 percent of all people in the U.S. More women volunteered than men, and the most popular age group for volunteering was 35 to 44. The median number of hours volunteered was 52 per person, which is more than a week’s worth of work.

The broad definition of volunteering is offering to do work for no compensation, but people tend to do work for organizations that have some personal meaning for them that gives them fulfillment. But the importance of volunteerism is not just for that reason. Volunteers are greatly needed, and in fact, many organizations depend on them. Here are a few reasons why.

Nonprofit organizations, especially newer or smaller ones, rely of volunteers to get the word out about them. It’s basically like the telephone chains of old. One person tells 10 of her closest friends. These 10 each tell another 10, and so on. When more people know about an organization, these people can be asked to:

• Donate or raise money
• Help recruit media attention
• Find ways for the organization to fulfill its mission
• Assist with social networking

If organizations had to pay all of the people who assisted them in this capacity, the cost would be astronomical.

Millions of nonprofits have special events each year. This includes animal shelters, environmental organizations, foundations for medical research, schools, libraries and even "friends of” groups for parks and historical sites. The events can include:

• Black tie dinners
• Charity walks and runs
• Public art projects
• Large-scale food and supply collections
• Auctions
• Concerts and music festivals

All of these events require dozens, or even hundreds, of volunteers to make them run smoothly. This includes volunteers on the days of the events and in the months leading up to them.

Organizations also need volunteers for less public needs. For example, every office needs someone to answer the phone, file papers, type and keep things organized. These duties often fall upon volunteers. Other volunteer duties that are recurring vary by organization, but common needs are for:

• Food servers and preparers
• Tutors for youth and adults
• Writers and editors for newsletters, fliers and letters
• Technical support people
• Drivers for pickups and deliveries

Since the majority of volunteers right now are in their 30s and 40s, it seems that people need to spread the word of its importance to both the older and younger set.

AmeriCorps, one of the largest volunteer networks in the country, has provided more than 540,000 long-term staffers who have completed more than 705 million service hours since the program launched in 2003. This organization, which is funded and run by the U.S. government, has gone a long way in instilling the idea of volunteerism into young people in America.

It is not uncommon for those who recently graduated from college to spend one or two years in AmeriCorps before beginning their long-term career pursuits. Also, there are high schools that require 40 or more hours of volunteerism of their students as part of the criteria for graduation. Americorps also has a division known as SeniorCorps which seeks volunteers over the age of 50.

One great way to promote volunteerism to others is just to lead by example. Volunteering seems to be contagious.

• Tracking Charitable Donations for Taxes
• Fundraising Strategic Plan
• Request for Donation Letters

• List of Nonprofit Organizations
• Furniture Donation Pick Up
• Sample Letters Asking for Donations
• Samples of Non Profit Fundraising Letters
• Samples of Thank You Letter for Donations

• Volunteer Appreciation Ideas
• Main Page
• History of Volunteerism in America
• Examples of Volunteerism
• Volunteer Communication