How To Find the Volunteer Opportunity That's Right for You

How to Find the Volunteer Opportunity
That’s Right for You

by Traci Becker

Life is full of choices. What should you wear today? What's for breakfast? Go out on the town or stay in with a good book? What’s the right volunteering opportunity for me? Okay… so some choices mean more than others. 

If you're retired or are nearing retirement, you might be considering an important decision: to make a difference in your life and the lives of others by volunteering.

While the load of your "official" working years might be getting lighter or even coming to an end, you know you still have valuable skills and experiences to share — resources that could be of immense value to nonprofit organizations, many of which simply could not exist without dedicated volunteers.

As someone who is embarking into this interesting and rewarding time of life, use this article to guide you through the process of selecting a volunteer opportunity. It's a "how to" on approaching volunteering and ensuring that your choice is right for you.

Your Answer is in the Questions

Choosing a volunteer opportunity starts with questions. Start by asking yourself: What am I passionate about? A huge part of being a great volunteer is loving what you’re doing. 

What skills can you offer? Consider what you’ve already mastered in your life… think about the special skills you can apply to a volunteering opportunity. 

You Have to Want to Do It

When looking into volunteering, a key question to ask is: Why do I want to do this? People volunteer for all kinds of reasons. Some are motivated by altruistic goals. Others are seeking social justice. Still others are looking to expand their horizons and connect with their community. 

Know why you want to volunteer and don’t be shy about the reason. If it's to end world hunger, great. If it's to impress your mother-in-law, also great. If it's to stay busy, still great. No matter what your motivation, you'll be doing good and doing it for the reason that is right for you.

Also, be sure to ask yourself, "What don’t I want to do?" Even if you have the skills to be successful in a volunteer opportunity, that’s not reason enough to do it. You have to want to do it. 

Are You a People Person?

Consider the type of contact you would like to have with others as you volunteer. If you rate high on the sociability scale or like meeting new people, a group setting might be ideal. But you don’t have to be a "people person" to volunteer. There are many opportunities that allow you to help others without working directly with them.  

Indeed, there are really lots of volunteer roles: direct service roles — like tutoring; administrative roles — like helping to plan an event or overseeing scheduling for transportation; advocacy roles — such as organizing a letter writing campaign; or leadership roles — like coordinating volunteer recruitment.

More Issues To Consider

Once you know why and how you want to volunteer, you should start looking at organizations. Here are some key issues to consider:

Time

Think realistically about when you can volunteer and how much time you can commit to a cause. That way, when you look into an organization, you’ll see right away if the amount of time and specific times of day that are required fit with your schedule. 

Good advice on this topic is offered by Camara Jordan, Agency Support Specialist for the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.  "Be honest about your time availability. If you're not, it can be more hurtful than helpful.  Remember that any time – if it's valuable time – is better than unrealistic time promises."

Skills

Volunteering can be a great way to use your existing skills or learn new ones. You might be particularly adept at making presentations, designing web sites, marketing ideas or motivating others. Tap into those skills and use them in your volunteering if you like.

The more you give of yourself, the more you'll get from the experience.

Location

Consider where you want to volunteer.  Be sure it's convenient for you to get there, whether that means somewhere close to home, near public transportation or even volunteering from your own home.  There are also "virtual" volunteer opportunities where you can work via computer from any location.

People

Who would you prefer to work with: people your age, younger, older? Or work alone. The choice is yours, but know before accepting a volunteering position what suits you best. Think about the type of contact you would like to have while volunteering. 

If you're a team player or want to meet new people, a group setting with like-minded individuals would be ideal.  If not, it's okay if you want to help people but not necessarily work directly with them.

Research

Before you commit to an organization, do your homework.  Learn as much as you can about the agency. If it seems like it might be right for you, contact the agency and ask about available volunteer opportunities. One should approach a volunteer position as one would a job. 

It's also a good idea to ask the organization or agency for a brochure and set up an interview. When you visit the agency, have a list of questions and look for smiling volunteer faces, happy staffers and an overall "good vibe" about the place. 

As Andrea Taylor, Coming of Age Training Director, puts it, "See if there is camaraderie.  Ask yourself 'do I want to hang out with the staff and the other volunteers?  Do we connect?' and if your answer yes… it's likely to be a good match."

Cooperation

Volunteering is a two-way street. You have to be happy with the organization and they have to be happy with you. 

A big part of this mutually satisfying relationship is your understanding of the agency’s requirements and adhering to them. The group, for example, may require a complete background check or your taking a medical test. There will be rules and regulations to follow.

Moving Forward… at Your Own Pace

People age 50+ who volunteer are a dynamic and resourceful group. The richness of their lives affords them the opportunity to bring extraordinary skills, experiences and insights to volunteering. 

At the same time, those at the older end of the spectrum have to be realistic about any limitations they may have as a result of health issues or declining abilities.  "It’s key to know who you are. Know your physical capabilities and limitations and, when considering the physical demands of the work, be honest about what you’re capable of," says Jordan.

Remember that, in the end, the decision of where you volunteer and what you do is all yours. "Don’t feel obligated to volunteer if you look into an organization and don’t feel it's a fit," says Taylor.   

But when it's a fit, be prepared for the possibility that it will be a great fit. The value of the volunteer to an organization can be enormous. Without volunteers, many nonprofit organizations simply could not exist. Volunteering can make the difference between a need being unsatisfied and going unmet, the difference between hopelessness and hope. 

Once you find the volunteering opportunity that is right for you, you’ll be on your way to making that difference.