Volunteerism

Volunteerism is the act of contributing free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization. It is the principle of donating time and energy towards a greater cause. Volunteers help change the lives of those in their community as a social responsibility rather than receiving a financial reward.Volunteering is important because it enables people to help and serve others in a selfless way. When individuals take the initiative to help people in the community and support philanthropic causes, it can improve the community as a whole by creating tighter bonds and forming lasting relationships. Plus, nonprofit organizations can utilize these groups of passionate volunteers to help achieve goals in making the world a better and safer place.

Types of volunteerism

There are many different types and forms of volunteerism, 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.
As a volunteer coordinator, it’s important to learn about the different types of volunteerism so you can learn more about your pool of prospective volunteers. For instance, if you help recruit volunteers for a school, you must understand what type of volunteers you need and how to connect with them.
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.

1. 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 or volunteer grants. Volunteer grants are a type of corporate philanthropy initiative that involve businesses contributing donations to nonprofit organizations after their employees have volunteered with those organizations for a certain amount of time.
2. Student
   Many students are required to volunteer for a certain number of hours to fulfill requirements for their classes or clubs. 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.
3. 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 other roles such as helping with after-school programs or chaperoning field trips.
4. Community
   These volunteers can be anyone looking to help out and contribute their time and efforts to improve their community. This can include those who volunteer at food banks, hospitals, animal shelters, nature centers, and any other community organizations.
5. Virtual
   With the rise of online volunteer opportunities, virtual volunteerism is growing in popularity. Virtual volunteerism offers a safer alternative to in-person activities during the pandemic, and it offers convenience to volunteers because they can work from home. Anyone with an internet connection can be a virtual volunteer.
6. Emergency relief
   Emergency or disaster relief volunteers come into play after a major, devastating event, such as an earthquake or hurricane. These volunteers offer healthcare services, clean up services, and other forms of support during an emergency, such as passing out food, water, and other supplies.
7. Event
   Many volunteers choose to help out with major events, such as concerts, festivals, conferences, and nonprofit fundraisers. You may need a larger team for these types of events.
   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.

     Volunteerism Encouragements 

     There are many types of rewards and incentives to your volunteerism: –

• • • Recognition
    • Appreciation
    • Feedback
    • Training
    • Networking
    • Career development
    • Social events
    • Gifts,
    • Coupons for events