There are many benefits to volunteering. For the recipient organization, volunteering increases the band width of the organization by adding more people resources, therefore empowering the organization to do more. It also raises brand awareness for the organization and builds good will in the communities they serve. For volunteers, a space is created to share their talents and skills while fulfilling their personal goal of being service, creating a win win for all.
Volunteering has great health benefits too.
Its good for the mind, body and soul. According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering offers the following health benefits
- Reduces depression
- Provides a sense of purpose
- Helps people stay mentally and physically active
- Adds to life expectancy
- Forms new bonds and relationships
As we navigate and adjust to our new normal with COVID 19 and the Delta variant as the backdrop, there comes a new normal for volunteering as well. Virtual volunteering provides a viable volunteer option for both the non-profit recipient organization and the volunteer. Defined as volunteer tasks that are performed off site, on behalf of a non-profit organization, virtual volunteering can be accomplished over the phone or over the internet. Last year’s lock downs showed us that technologies like zoom, google teams and whatsapp make it easy for volunteers to complete short and long term volunteer assignments, as well as communicate effectively in a virtual environment.
Volunteer from anywhere
Volunteer safely from your home, office or school. Make friends around the world and fulfill your need to be a global citizen by volunteering with an international organization. And for those with busy schedules virtual volunteering provides a time efficient way to give back. Select your volunteer activity and the time that will work best for you. Start where you are. Because the only thing you need really is an open mind and heart and a willingness to think outside the box.
Often people ask what can I do? How can I serve? Professional skills transfer easily when you volunteer virtually. For example, someone with a sales background, would be an excellent volunteer candidate for fundraising. Customer service expertise can also be used in a number of roles including phone bank volunteer.
How can you volunteer virtually?
Oher skill based virtual volunteer opportunities include
- Skill Based Volunteering
- Counselor
- Grant Writing
- Marketing
- Social Media Engagement
- Translator
- Website Development
Whether you are someone who volunteers occasionally or all the time, there are many tasks that can be performed “virtually”. As a result, we now include virtual volunteering or service learning projects into our Travel To Do Good Visa program.
Depending on your skill or expertise, there are organizations who need your support TODAY.
Check out these virtual volunteer opportunities
- Be My Eyes
- Bookshare
- Cards for a Cause
- Caring Calls
- Create The Good
- Crisis Text Line
- Career Village
- Catch a Fire
- Hands on at Home
- Hire a Hero
- IMentor
- Justice Defenders
- Project Gutenburg
- Smithsonian Digital Volunteers
- Tarjimly.org
- The Trevor Project
- Translators without Borders
- Travel To Do Good Visa
- United Nations Volunteers
- Volunteer Match
- United Nations Virtual Volunteers
- Writing Wonders
- Zooniverse
And dont forget about local organizations, like the Hands On Network, a Points of Light affiliate. They have virtual volunteer opportunities in major cities across the US including Chicago, Fort Lauderdale and Miami that offer a variety of virtual service programs including diy volunteer projects.
Volunteers bring their passion and heart to an organization, the community and the world. With virtual volunteering, the possibilities are unlimited.
