Conscious Choice: Become A Better Volunteer

November 1996

Become A Better Volunteer

by James E. Perry

Since the early 1980s, non-profit organizations have been called on to deliver a growing number of vital human services — health care, education, advocacy, housing, and much more with fewer financial resources. While financial contributions have been on a roller coaster of rise and decline during that period, volunteerism has fortunately increased at a steady rate in America. In fact, volunteers today, through their efforts on behalf of non-profit organizations, are playing a major role in determining the overall quality of American life.

Thousands of community organizations need your time and talent. So, whether you currently give volunteer time or have been considering joining the millions who do, let me offer these few tips that may help you become a better volunteer.

Think about your reasons for volunteering. What do you want out of volunteering? Over 95 million Americans report volunteering an average of 4.2 hours per week for charities around the country. As you might expect, the reasons for giving time are many and varied. According to a study by the Points of Light Foundation, women are more likely than men to volunteer for projects that allow them to provide direct services to others. Men, on the other hand, were reportedly more attracted to computer, sports, and environmental projects.

Regardless of your gender, the type of organization you seek and the volunteer service you provide should take into consideration what you wish to receive from the experience of volunteering. For example, if you are looking for direct client interaction, volunteering for a social service organization like a Meals-On-Wheels or aids buddy program would likely provide the opportunity. If you are motivated by a particular issue (such as global warming, homelessness, animal rights, or poverty, etc.) you would want to look at cause-oriented volunteering. If you want self-expression through volunteerism, perhaps you would consider volunteering at a community theater, a local parks department, or a performing arts organization. For those who want to enhance their careers or job status, volunteering at a professional association or club would make an ideal match. Of course, you may simply want to enjoy the personal satisfaction that comes from helping others. In that case the opportunities are endless and available in any organization or volunteer assignment.

Think about your skills. Make a list of your interests, skills, talents, and life experiences. This is actually a very good self-awareness exercise and you may be surprised by the length of the list. First, look at those skills that you might want to apply in service of a non-profit organization. Ask yourself how they might be useful in a volunteer capacity. Maybe you are a good listener and could give a few hours each week as a companion to the elderly. Perhaps you are an accountant by trade and could volunteer your time to assist with an organization’s bookkeeping. Secondly, look at those skills you might want to develop or enhance. Many organizations offer a chance for advancement through a range of volunteer assignments. A teacher could, for example, enhance his or her skills by volunteering as a tutor. Some individuals give time as administrative or office volunteers to develop their computer skills.

In either case, a review of your list of skills and talents will help you and your prospective organization decide what will be a suitable volunteer assignment. Compare your list to the organization’s list of volunteer job descriptions.

Think about the time. Find out what time commitment the organization requires for a particular volunteer job. Take a look at your weekly schedule. How much time can you comfortably give? If you want to make a short-term commitment, like volunteering for a few hours at a special event, you may feel able to give a few more hours that you could on a regular basis. If the volunteer job requires a set amount of time every week, make sure it consistently fits your personal schedule and lifestyle.

Find out if there is support from your workplace. More and more companies are encouraging volunteer activity on the part of their employees and are finding creative ways of promoting volunteerism. Some companies loan their executives to charities for a period of time for technical assistance or support. Others give workers time-off with pay to volunteer. Some companies even have designated departments handling volunteer placement or referrals to volunteer opportunities.

Find out about confidentiality requirements. The nature of most volunteer work requires that the information you receive is to be kept confidential. In the course of your volunteer assignment you may learn certain facts about individuals being served by the organization that are of a highly personal and confidential nature such as a person’s medical condition, finances, or living arrangements. You may also discover information about other volunteers that is not meant to be disclosed. In most cases you will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement or pledge.

Require accountability and support from the organization you choose to serve. Most organizations have a staff member assigned to direct or coordinate their volunteers. Talk to that person openly about your volunteer assignment or experience. Feel free to discuss issues around training, supervision, interaction with other staff and mutual expectations.

A few years back I had the good fortune to serve as director of a small hospice program. The delivery of hospice services has traditionally relied heavily on the skills and talents of numerous volunteers. Consequently we maintained an aggressive volunteer recruitment, training and retention program. As part of our volunteer training program we coached our candidates on The Volunteer’s Bill of Rights. This statement of rights contained several points for our prospective volunteers to keep in mind as they began their volunteer service. This helped our volunteers know what they could expect of us as an organization and kept us mindful of our responsibility to them. Among the most important of these Rights were:

Volunteers have the Right to sound guidance and direction — by someone who is experienced, well informed, patient, and thoughtful.

Volunteers have the Right to be treated as co-workers — a part of the team — not as “just free help.”

Volunteers have the Right to a suitable assignment and the appropriate training for the job.

Volunteers have the Right to be heard — to have a part in planning — to feel free to make suggestions — to have respect shown for an honest opinion.

Of course, rights bring with them responsibilities. Be willing to bring your best to this work. Henry David Thoreau once wrote “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” As volunteers, you have the unique opportunity to ennoble your life by bringing your heart, your sense of humor, your enthusiastic spirit and your very best efforts to your volunteer assignment.

When it is no longer possible for you to bring your best to a volunteer assignment, share your feelings with your volunteer supervisor or coordinator and be willing to take a break to avoid burnout. Periodic breaks from volunteering are generally viewed as healthy stress management tools and are usually in the best interest of the volunteer and organization alike.

Be willing to give and take. Finally, in order to become a better volunteer it is vital to remember that giving and receiving belong together — they are the demonstrations of the flow of divine energy. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life...no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” Once you have made a commitment to the joy of volunteering, you will open yourself to the intangible rewards volunteerism offers. As you put your caring to work, the happiness created by your giving spirit will return to you multiplied.

James E. Perry is President of Genesis Associates, a Chicago-based consulting firm working primarily in the not-for-profit sector. He offers a workshop on Bringing Your Spiritual Gifts to the Marketplace.

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