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What Is Volunteerism? A Guide to the History & Benefits

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Volunteers

Updated - 03/21/2025

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Volunteering takes many forms, from informally helping your community to supporting a nonprofit. One-third of the nonprofit workforce is made up of volunteers, demonstrating the importance of these dedicated supporters. If you run a nonprofit, volunteers are likely a significant part of your organization.

In this guide, we’ll explore volunteerism’s history and benefits. Then, we’ll review how your organization can promote volunteerism in your community and improve volunteer management. We’ll cover:

Volunteerism definition
History of volunteerism
Types of volunteerism
Why is volunteerism important?
How to incentivize volunteerism
How software can support volunteerism

At its core, volunteerism is the engagement and mobilization of groups of people to support others or fight for a worthwhile cause. Volunteer programs take place worldwide, and volunteers have improved the lives of many. Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon!

Volunteerism definition

Volunteerism is the act of contributing free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization. Rather than receiving a financial reward, volunteers change the lives of their community members out of feelings of social responsibility and a desire to give back.

Nonprofit organizations can provide direction for these passionate individuals with structured programs designed to maximize impact for a specific cause. Individuals who sign up to volunteer with a nonprofit engage in formal volunteering, which is documented and recorded, while those who help out in their community on an ad hoc basis participate in informal volunteering.

Currently, informal volunteering is more widespread than formal volunteering. Fortunately for nonprofits, the two types of volunteering are not necessarily in competition. Most informal volunteering is based on relationships between individuals rather than a desire to work with a specific cause.

History of volunteerism

Today, volunteering is recognized as a highly effective form of giving, but how did it all begin? There’s a fascinating history behind how simple acts of kindness became the formal workforce we see today.

Volunteerism origins

While the idea of helping others has likely existed as long as humans have, the first volunteer organizations can be traced back to medieval Britain, where over 500 volunteer-run hospitals operated to help the poor and sick.

In the 19th century, organized volunteering started to pick up steam, such as the YMCA, which began in 1844 in London. The 20th century saw the birth of many more volunteer organizations committed to making a positive impact. One example is the Rotary Club, which was formed as a place for people of different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs to come together and exchange valuable ideas, create friendships, and make a change.

Volunteering fun facts

Volunteerism has a long and storied history in both the United States and the world as a whole. Let’s take a look at some fun facts about the history of volunteerism:

The verb “volunteer” first originated in 1755.
Volunteerism in the United States dates back to the Revolutionary War when civilians contributed to the war effort.
The American Red Cross, one of the most influential humanitarian organizations in the world, was founded by Clara Barton in 1881.
About 63 million American adults volunteer annually.

The internet has provided the greatest boost yet to the popularity of volunteering. It allows people to communicate with others worldwide, spreading awareness of volunteer initiatives without any restrictions due to physical barriers.

Offering virtual volunteer opportunities can help your nonprofit connect with new audiences and grow its reach beyond your local community.

Now, with the help of volunteer management software, organizations can build even more bridges to connect with their volunteers. With various digital tools, nonprofits can enhance the volunteer journey by making their programs run as smoothly as possible.

Types of volunteerism

Volunteerism takes many forms, and anyone can be a volunteer. That’s one of the best things about volunteering; there are a multitude of ways for individuals to make an impact according to their interests and skills.

Let’s examine some of the different volunteer types to better understand where volunteers come from and what skills they bring to the table.

Corporate

Corporate volunteerism involves employees contributing their time and talents to assist nonprofits and other charitable organizations. Businesses often promote corporate volunteerism among employees by offering paid time off to volunteer (VTO) or volunteer grants.

Volunteer grants are a type of corporate philanthropy initiative that involves businesses donating to nonprofit organizations after their employees have volunteered with those organizations for a certain amount of time. This means that if any of your volunteers qualify for a volunteer grant, they can earn your nonprofit free additional revenue.

Here’s the general process for applying for a volunteer grant:

The supporter volunteers like normal. Record their hours accurately, as almost all businesses’ volunteer grant programs are based on the number of hours their employees volunteer.
The volunteer looks up their volunteer grant eligibility. This information can likely be found in an employer’s employee handbook or CSR software. Additionally, nonprofits can help volunteers discover their eligibility for volunteer grants with tools like corporate giving databases.
The volunteer submits their volunteer grant application. These applications usually ask for basic information about your nonprofit, such as your mission and contact information and how many hours the employee volunteered.
The business reviews the application. Program requirements and review processes vary from company to company. Some businesses may contact your nonprofit to confirm the volunteer hours reported and verify your status as a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

If the application is approved, you should expect to receive a payment from the business or their CSR vendor, depending on their payout process. After receiving a grant payment, thank the volunteer who requested it!

Student

Many students are required to volunteer a certain number of hours to fulfill requirements for their classes or clubs. For example, National Honors Society students generally need anywhere from 10-50 annual volunteer hours to retain their memberships.

In addition, many high school and college students participate in service-learning projects combining elements of education and volunteerism. These opportunities teach students valuable skills while allowing them to contribute their time and energy to help worthy causes.

If you have student volunteers, strive to find opportunities that help them improve their skills and engage in networking opportunities. This may be especially important for college students who will soon seek employment since job candidates who volunteer regularly have 27% higher odds of finding employment.

School-based

Schools often rely on volunteer support to care for their students. Many schools have parent-teacher associations (PTAs)—alliances between parents and school staff members to complete projects that benefit students. Volunteers also contribute in unique school-oriented roles, such as helping with after-school programs or chaperoning field trips.

Community

Anyone looking to contribute their time and efforts to improve their community is a community volunteer. This can include individuals who volunteer at food banks, hospitals, animal shelters, nature centers, and other community organizations.

Virtual

With the rise of online volunteer opportunities, virtual volunteerism has become popular.

It offers convenience to volunteers who are remote, have limited mobility, or just prefer to work from home. Anyone with an internet connection can be a virtual volunteer.

Due to the increased distance, virtual volunteers require different management strategies. Volunteer managers should schedule regular check-ins with these volunteers to answer questions, keep them on track, and ensure they have a positive volunteer experience.

Emergency relief

Emergency or disaster relief volunteers come into play after a major, devastating event such as an earthquake or hurricane. These volunteers provide healthcare services, clean-up services, and other forms of support during an emergency, such as passing out food, water, and other supplies.

Event

Many volunteers help with major nonprofit-hosted events, such as concerts, festivals, conferences, and fundraisers. For these events, you may need a larger team to set up the space, run activities, and assist guests.

No matter what type of volunteering your organization offers, ensure you provide your volunteers with constant support and encouragement. Your volunteers make a significant difference in your community and deserve to be recognized for their contributions.

Why is volunteerism important?

Volunteers offer crucial support during crises and times of peace. Many nonprofits wouldn’t be able to operate without their help. Plus, volunteer time is incredibly valuable—the estimated value of each volunteer hour contributed in the United States is $33.49!

Volunteerism doesn’t just offer benefits to nonprofits and other community organizations. It also benefits the volunteers themselves. Volunteering is linked to improved mental and physical health outcomes. It can also offer other benefits like:

Strengthening communities. Volunteers offer their time and skills to support your organization and local community. When they’re regularly seen around your community helping local residents, they can bring people together and strengthen support for your nonprofit.
Teaching volunteers valuable life skills. Volunteering allows participants to gain new skills and knowledge in areas that interest them. They can network with new people and practice essential skills that will be useful in the workplace, such as skills related to leadership, project planning, and task management. Plus, volunteer positions look great on volunteers’ resumes and will help them prepare for future opportunities.
Gain new knowledge. Your volunteer programs create opportunities to unite like-minded people and learn from individuals from different walks of life. This is an excellent way to expand your volunteers’ understanding of others in their communities. It also helps you, as a volunteer manager, to learn along the way!
Boost donations. Nonprofits that run effective volunteer programs where volunteers are motivated, happy, and engaged can also earn donations, as volunteers often give to the nonprofits they support. Studies have shown that 79% of those who volunteer with a nonprofit also donate to that organization. When volunteers have a great experience, they’ll be much more likely to contribute monetary donations alongside the gift of their time and energy.

How to incentivize volunteerism

If you’re a volunteer coordinator or nonprofit professional looking for volunteers, there are a few simple things you can do to inspire greater volunteerism in your community:

Make it easy for volunteers to find your opportunities and register. Get your opportunities in front of the right audience with a strong marketing strategy. Share events on social media, email, and your website’s blog. Use your volunteer management system to create a streamlined sign-up process for new volunteers that lets you review applications and assign shifts immediately.
Offer tangible benefits. While volunteers don’t expect anything in return for their work, you should still explain what benefits your nonprofit can provide. These benefits might include valuable training opportunities, leadership development, social/networking events, or free merchandise like t-shirts.
Make your volunteer program inclusive. Reduce volunteers’ participation barriers by making your opportunities as inclusive as possible. Prioritize the accessibility of your in-person and virtual events and reach out to volunteers to ask how you can help make your opportunities more accessible and convenient.
Say thank you often. Let volunteers know how much you appreciate their support by sending frequent thank you emails and letters and getting creative with unique appreciation ideas. These include gifts like tote bags, potted plants, and water bottles, or experiences like volunteer appreciation parties.

There are plenty of ways to ensure your volunteers feel content and satisfied, from offering a seamless registration process to giving tangible incentives and expressing appreciation for their hard work.

How software can support volunteerism

An efficient volunteer management solution is the best way to continue promoting volunteerism and managing volunteers effectively. These platforms help grow your reach, increase volunteer retention, and even help you transform volunteers into donors using inspiring outreach campaigns.

When it comes to volunteer management software, our recommended option is Bloomerang Volunteer. This solution is a streamlined, user-friendly tool that gives volunteer coordinators access to the following helpful features:

Streamlined recruitment workflows that make it simple to collect essential volunteer information, background checks, and waivers
Robust scheduling capabilities to create unlimited schedules, send event notifications and reminders, and track attendance
Self-serve volunteer options, including online applications, volunteer dashboards, and a mobile app that allow supporters to sign up for opportunities that align with their skills, availability, and interests
The ability to send personalized volunteer outreach messages to thank supporters by referencing their unique impact
360-reporting features, including custom and pre-built templates to facilitate end-to-end reporting
The opportunity to cultivate volunteers as donors and vice versa through two-way profile sync with Bloomerang’s nonprofit CRM
Customizable recruitment, scheduling, and administrative settings to tailor the tool to your nonprofit’s specific needs

Bloomerang Volunteer is a seamless solution designed to improve the volunteer experience for both nonprofit staff and supporters. Get a demo today to see how this tool can help you grow volunteerism in your community.

In conclusion

Now that you’ve explored volunteerism, its history, the different types of volunteerism, and why it’s important, it’s time to start brainstorming how you can provide an excellent experience for your volunteers that they will remember for a lifetime!

When your volunteers enjoy engaging with your organization, they’ll want to continue putting their best foot forward and donating their time. This is why it’s essential to plan out your volunteer program effectively and offer the type of experience your supporters seek.

Looking for additional volunteerism resources? Start here:

Your Go-To Volunteer Management Guide: Tips for Nonprofits. Dive into our top tips for managing your volunteers to promote long-term engagement and retention.
The 9 Best Volunteer Apps for Better Engagement in 2025. Explore the top volunteer apps for volunteer coordination and volunteer self-serve options.
Volunteer Scheduling: Top Strategies and Tools for Success. Use these best practices to build effective volunteer schedules that meet your organization’s needs.