Volunteerism continues to be one of the best ways to give back to one’s community, regardless of one’s financial status; the only investment volunteerism requires is time. The best way to make the most of a volunteering experience is to choose a cause that one truly cares about rather than picking any just for the sake of it. This way, the contribution of time will be more meaningful for being backed by a particular passion.
Volunteerism is ultimately all about community and supporting one another for a more united and empathetic world. Although it is commonly thought to be a selfless act for the benefit of those impacted by the various causes and their associated nonprofit organizations (NPOs), there are actually solid benefits for the volunteer, too.
Not only does it allow the volunteer to support a cause they are passionate about, but it also provides a means of connecting with others who share this same passion. In this way, volunteerism builds community by having people cooperate to serve a common purpose, from assisting the unhoused to contributing to cleaner oceans to educating disadvantaged individuals, to name a few causes.
On top of helping those impacted by these causes and the volunteer gaining personally from their work, the NPOs also directly benefit from the act of volunteerism. Many NPOs need more funding and other resources and can use any help possible, especially in service. Volunteers have the power to keep these organizations on their feet by functioning as unpaid employees to help execute necessary operations.
With current global issues surrounding mental health, climate change, the environment, and wealth/class issues, volunteerism is as critical as ever. Everyone should feel called to at least one specific cause if they wish to contribute to change in their communities that can have a ripple effect and build a better world of cooperation and empathy.
Why Do Americans Volunteer and What Have Been the Benefits of This?
The aforementioned global issues naturally exist in North America. Every country chooses to tackle its issues differently, and in America, volunteerism is a trendy avenue for change. Understanding the history and culture of the country may help answer the question: Why do Americans volunteer?
Of course, on an individual level, there are numerous reasons to volunteer for a cause, among them being passionate about making a real difference. This passion can come from the cause having been a part of the volunteer’s life in some manner. For example, someone may work with an organization that supports education because they grew up at an educational disadvantage, or perhaps the cause is relevant to the volunteer’s own values.
However, these are more personal reasons for wanting to participate in volunteerism. In a more general sense, answering why Americans volunteer is a cultural investigation, not an individual one.
Volunteerism has been ingrained in American values since the country was founded. It is also highly encouraged in the population from a young age, with many people participating in volunteer work through their schools, churches, and other organizations that work to condition what children see as a regular and worthwhile activity.
Because America was founded on ideas of community connection and civic duty, volunteerism became a significant part of the culture. Volunteering is all about helping others and communing with people who share similar values, and it contributes to community and relationships, which is essential in considering why Americans volunteer.
Although history and culture have worked to make volunteering a social norm in America, there are other reasons beyond broader conditioning for why Americans volunteer. As previously stated, it’s great to support a cause and collaborate with others who care about the same thing.
People also feel good about actively participating in something bigger than themselves, something that gives back to their communities. There are strong benefits to volunteerism for both the individual and these communities.
Benefits for Individuals
Volunteering can positively impact one’s health and contribute to an overall higher sense of satisfaction with one’s life. This is why helping others is truly fulfilling and not just a way to pass the time or something to do unthinkingly. Volunteering should be taken seriously in order to reap its full potential benefits.
- Improve mental and physical health: It is well-known that regular social interaction is one of the best cures for stress and depression, and volunteering is a great way to do this. Because the task serves a bigger purpose than just hanging out with friends casually, an individual is more likely to commit to the social interaction involved in volunteering and not bail.
There is also the fulfillment that comes with simply helping others, giving individuals a sense of shared purpose with other volunteers. Connecting with fellow volunteers helps build a good community of like-minded people who can support one another outside of volunteer work.
This strong sense of community can also increase a person’s confidence, especially when stepping out of their comfort zone with volunteer work. Depending on the nature of the volunteer work, it can help to keep one’s body regularly physically active, which has excellent overall mental and physical benefits, too.
- Grow social connections: Learning to be sociable is a skill in and of itself, and volunteering is a great way to cultivate it. It forces an individual to work with new people and cooperate with them efficiently. All of this involves practicing strong communication and social skills. Volunteerism might be an ideal way to meet others when one is new to a place.
Once someone has regularly participated in volunteering activities, they are also growing stronger connections with their community as a whole, not just with the people in the organization with whom they’re volunteering. Volunteers and their contributions are necessary and thus valued by their communities.
- Skills for professional advancement: In the current job market, experience is a requirement that’s getting harder and harder to come by, which is exactly why volunteering can be beneficial. Most jobs (yes, even the ‘entry-level’ ones) require the candidate to have some experience in their particular field, which can be difficult for some people to have if they are looking for their first job.
So, instead of seeking experience through a paid position, volunteering might be the way to go. After all, an NPO will never reject a volunteer because of a lack of experience. Many volunteer positions present the opportunity to practice skills that will be used in the workplace, like leadership, teamwork, communication, task management, and problem-solving.
Even more than these broad workplace skills, many volunteer opportunities provide specialized training to give volunteers the skills and knowledge needed to contribute effectively. This training can be transferable to one’s chosen profession. For example, someone who wants to work in hospitality would gain valuable skills from volunteering at a hotel or restaurant.
Benefits for Communities
Of course, volunteering is bigger than an individual. At its core, it is about the community that is being served. However, the provided service isn’t the only benefit the community enjoys. They mainly benefit from the atmosphere that active and regular volunteering fosters, which can lead to several positive attributes, such as:
- Met needs: Volunteers fill the gaps in essential services to actively help the vulnerable and the NPOs that are meant to connect with the community. Without the volunteers, some of these services might not even be done. In this way, volunteers meet needs to improve people’s quality of life.
- Empowered communities: Volunteerism provides many the assistance they need to overcome life’s hurdles. This promotes a sense of community empowerment and resilience because they know that volunteers are there to support them in the worst times.
- Engaged communities: Volunteerism also promotes civic engagement, which inspires people in the community to engage with one another and give back however they can. It can be very motivating to see others involved in active and beneficial volunteerism, and the more people that are motivated to get involved, the better for the community.
At this point, understanding why Americans volunteer should be straightforward, given all of the benefits for both individuals and communities. Volunteerism is a great way for everyone involved with the act to grow and connect with others. There are many different ways to get involved.
Join us in shaping a better tomorrow for Miami County. Your support is more than just a donation. It’s an investment in our community.
A Look at Current Volunteerism Trends
Technological and societal advancement means more diverse ways to get involved in volunteerism than ever before. This makes it more accessible so that people of all different abilities and from different walks of life have the potential to give back however they can. Below are some volunteerism trends to participate in:
1. Virtual Volunteering
In light of the recent pandemic, which saw a significant drop in volunteer numbers, presenting remote opportunities for volunteer work has been immensely important of late. People want to find unique ways to give back from within the safety of their homes. Technology simplifies volunteerism here, as all that is needed is a working internet and a reliable phone or laptop. The main drawback here is that the sense of personal connection that comes from regular, in-person volunteerism can be very reduced with virtual work. Still, it would be worth it just to be able to give back to the community.
2. Skill-Based Volunteering
Skill-based volunteering is one of the volunteerism trends that is great for gaining more experience in one’s field and developing specific skills. With skill-based volunteer work, instead of having an NPO randomly assign a person to tasks wherever they can help out, the person is recruited to help based on skills they have that the organization needs. In some ways, this is as if the NPO is hiring the volunteer as a contractor for a specific service.
For example, someone with copywriting skills might volunteer to write a newsletter for an NPO. Skill-based volunteerism is often remote, and it presents both the organization and the volunteer with a clear time frame for their relationship and how they will contribute to one another.
3. Flexibility in Volunteering
For people with busy schedules, flexible volunteer opportunities are among the most convenient trends. As flexibility in the workplace becomes a growing priority, it’s unsurprising that this value has extended to volunteer work, enabling Americans to give back despite their hectic routines.
People want to be able to do things in their own time, even community work. Skills-based volunteering is often flexible, which is why many people choose to go with it. Ultimately, as long as quality work is being done for the betterment of the community or the benefit of the NPO so that it can help the community more effectively, that’s all that matters.
These trends all point to volunteerism that might be more easily accessible for all, and they also provide a new approach for those seeking volunteer opportunities. Not only can they consider what causes they are passionate about, but they can also think of their skills and what organizations might need them.
How Volunteerism With MICOCF Can Make a Difference
The Miami County Community Foundation (MICOCF) is a nonprofit organization that contributes to the community in Kansas by improving the business climate, quality of life, and cultural and educational development, making it an ideal organization for meaningful volunteerism. Partnering with them has a real impact on the community because they value support and put all their resources to good use.
Everyone who works with them is sure to be surrounded by equally passionate individuals who all know and understand their roles and are fulfilled in their contribution to the overall mission of MICOCF. And there’s always room for more.
Are you interested in learning more or contributing to our cause? Reach out with any questions you may have. With just one click, you can transform lives. Your donation has the power to create a significant change.