Have you volunteered for a non-profit organization because you believe in the cause or want to impact the community in a positive way? Maybe you have supported an organization because it feels good to give back or you wanted to try something new. Individuals have a variety of reasons for wanting to volunteer and when they do, there are both benefits to the organization, and for the person volunteering.
Benefits to the Organization
Organizations benefit in several ways when individuals volunteer. A significant benefit is that volunteers save financial resources for the organization. Non-profit organizations may have only a few paid positions and work with lean budgets. They rely heavily on volunteers to carry out the mission of their work which saves financial resources to provide critical needs to the served population. A second substantial benefit volunteering has for organizations and on the community is providing services and support to the members of the community being served. Keeping the support local helps to foster and strengthen a healthy community. A third important benefit to organizations served by volunteers is their participation on the governing board which develops the vision and policies of the organization. Additional benefits organizations gain from volunteers include bringing together talents from a variety of backgrounds, having daily office tasks managed, building support for fundraising efforts, and marketing the organization to volunteers’ friends and beyond.
