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What Is Volunteerism? A Guide to the History & Benefits

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Volunteers

The Buyer’s Guide to Volunteer Management Software

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Volunteering exists in many forms, from informally helping your community to supporting a nonprofit. In fact, one-third of the nonprofit workforce is made up of volunteers. This means that if you run a nonprofit, volunteers are likely a major part of your organization.

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

Volunteerism definition
History of volunteerism
Types of volunteerism
Why is volunteerism important?
How to incentivize 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 with each other as 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 is a fascinating history behind how simple acts of kindness became the formal workforce we see today.

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

In the 19th century, organized forms of 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.

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 stems all the way back to the Revolutionary War when civilians chipped in to support 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. The internet allows people to communicate with others from all around the world, 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 a variety of digital tools, nonprofits can enhance the volunteer journey by making their programs run as smoothly as possible.

Types of volunteerism

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

Let’s take a look at some of the different volunteer types to give you a better understanding of where volunteers come from and what types of 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 their 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. Be sure to 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 in their CSR software. Additionally, nonprofits can help volunteers discover if they’re eligible 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, as well as how many hours the employee volunteered.
The business reviews the application. Program requirements and review processes vary from company to company. Some businesses may reach out to 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, be sure to 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 around 30 annual volunteer hours to retain their memberships.

In addition, many high school and college students participate in service-learning projects, which combine 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), which are 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 help out and 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 any other community organizations.

Virtual

With the rise of online volunteer opportunities, virtual volunteerism has grown in popularity.

Virtual volunteering offered a safe alternative to in-person activities during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and today, 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.

Virtual volunteers require different management strategies due to the increased distance. Have volunteer managers schedule regular check-ins with these volunteers to answer questions, keep them on track, and ensure they are having 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 out with major nonprofit-hosted events, such as concerts, festivals, conferences, and fundraisers. You may need a larger team for these types of events to set up your event space, run activities, and provide assistance to guests.

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

Why is volunteerism important?

Volunteers offer crucial support during both times of crisis and times of peace. Many nonprofits wouldn’t be able to operate without the help of volunteers. 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. Your volunteers offer their time and skills to support your organization and local community. Volunteers who are regularly seen around your community helping local residents 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 important 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 bring like-minded people together 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 as well!
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. 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. Let’s take a look at a few:

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. Use your volunteer management system to create a streamlined sign-up process for new volunteers that lets you review applications and start assigning shifts right away.
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, such as 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 are all effective ways to make your volunteers feel special! From offering a seamless registration process to giving tangible incentives and expressing appreciation for your volunteers’ hard work, there are plenty of ways to ensure your volunteers feel content and satisfied.

In conclusion

Now that you’ve explored what volunteerism is, 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!

Remember, using 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 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 are looking for. Good luck!