why do you volunteer essay

Why do you want to be a volunteer? 5 Sample Answers

One of the most common interview questions for volunteer positions is “why do you want to be a volunteer?” This is an important question, as your answer will give the organization an idea of your motivations and whether you are a good fit for the position.

There are many possible answers to this question, but common themes include wanting to help others, make a difference in the world, or learn new skills. Whatever your reasons, be honest and sincere in your answer. The organization is looking for volunteers who are passionate about their work and will be committed to the role.

If you’re not sure why you want to volunteer or what kind of difference you could make, take some time to research the organization and the role before your interview. This will help you formulate a response that shows you are excited about the opportunity and have thought about how you can contribute.

Table of Contents

What is the interviewer looking for?

When an interviewer asks you why you want to be a volunteer, they are looking for a few key qualities.

• They want to see that you genuinely are interested in helping others.
• They want to see that you have the ability to commit to something for an extended period.
• They want to see that you have the passion and drive to make a difference in your community.

If you can show the interviewer that you have all these qualities, then the chances of you getting the volunteer position are very high.

How to answer the question

When interviewers ask you why you want to be a volunteer, they are looking for a few specific things. They want to know if you have the right motivation for volunteering, have realistic expectations, and are familiar with the organization and the role you are applying for.

Here are a few tips for answering this question:

1. Talk about your motivation for volunteering. Why do you want to help out? What interests you about the organization or cause?

2. Be realistic about what you expect to get out of the experience. Volunteering is also a great way to gain new skills and knowledge, meet new people, and make a difference in your community.

3. Show that you have done your research. If you can mention specific things about the organization that appeals to you or talks about how your skills would fit with the role you are applying for, it will show that you are serious about becoming a volunteer.

Answering this question well will show that you are genuinely interested in volunteering and have carefully thought about why you want to do it. This will give the interviewer confidence that you will be a dedicated and committed volunteer who will make a valuable contribution to the organization.

Other Resources

List of Common Interview Questions and Sample Answers

Similar Questions to “Why do you want to be a volunteer?”

• Why do you want to volunteer in NGO?
• Why do you want to volunteer in a school?
• Why do you want to volunteer in a charity shop?
• What interests you about volunteering?

Sample Answers to “Why do you want to be a volunteer?”

Sample Answer 1

There are many reasons why I want to become a volunteer. I strongly believe that volunteering is one of the most important things a person can do to improve their community and the world around them. Additionally, volunteering allows me to help those less fortunate than myself and make a difference in their lives. It also helps me develop new skills, meet new people, and learn more about different causes that are important to me. Finally, volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience that makes me feel good about myself and my ability to impact the world positively.

Sample Answer 2

I want to be a volunteer because I love helping people, and I want to make a difference in my community.

I am originally from [city], but I have lived in [city] for the past few years. I love volunteering and giving back to the community, and I think it would be a great opportunity to do that in [city]. Many great organizations need volunteers, and I am excited to find the right one for me.

Sample Answer 3

When I was a child, I loved going to the hospital to visit patients. I would always bring them cards and flowers, and I would always chat with them and try to make them feel better.

I think that being a volunteer is a way of giving back to the community. It’s a way of showing kindness and compassion, and it’s a way of making someone else’s day brighter. I’m looking forward to volunteering at the hospital this year!

Sample Answer 4

My parents always volunteered when I was younger. They often took me with them to help at local food banks or soup kitchens. They instilled in me a strong desire to give back to my community. I Volunteer because giving back has always been important to me.

I enjoy volunteering because I know that my work benefits someone in need and feels good. Volunteering also allows me to meet new people and learn new skills. Sometimes, life can be unpredictable and difficult. Volunteering helps me refocus my energy on something positive whenever I feel down.

Sample Answer 5

I want to volunteer at a hospital because I feel giving back to the community is important. Helping those who are in need and meeting new people. Most importantly, it’s a selfless act that can make a real difference in someone’s life. Learn from the experience and be a part of something larger than myself.

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and help those in need. We hope these sample answers have given you some ideas on answering the question, “Why do you want to become a volunteer?” Be sure to tailor your answer to the organization you are applying for and don’t forget to highlight the skills and qualities that would make you a great fit for the role!

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Importance of Volunteerism Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Need to write an essay about volunteering? Community service is a truly hot topic! This argumentative essay about the importance of volunteerism contains everything necessary to inspire you!

Introduction

Importance of volunteering.

It is so disappointing that many people within our societies do not know, understand or value the importance of services in the community by volunteering. Serving society is very important in helping to solve many problems, especially those that have been neglected by the government and other social programs.

Volunteering to serve the community is not only beneficial to the individuals involved, but it is necessary in creating better societies for all. For instance, community members may volunteer to clean up a town near them or feeder roads.

This way, all members benefit by living in a clean environment that is free from illnesses related to sanitation. By cleaning the compounds surrounding them, society members help promote the health of their young ones who are always playing, during which time they can eat anything on the ground which would have otherwise caused them serious infections.

Community work does not always revolve around environmental work, but it is equally important for the fortunate members of society to help those who are less fortunate. Community members may volunteer to offer gifts and other services to help the less fortunate ones.

For example, people may contribute goods such as clothes and food to help the street children who have no homes or take them to children’s homes from where they can be provided for. This way, the members of society will have helped others live a more and better comfortable life.

Especially young children will feel the love that they never got from their parents. This is essential in the growth and development of a child, and the assistance and love they receive from society will surely help them grow to be better adults in society (Landry 1).

Volunteer work in our societies basically involves sharing and friendship through which people can find out what others need so that they can work on assisting them in all ways possible. Through volunteer work, many people’s lives are changed, be it through words or material assistance.

For instance, a community may volunteer to help young people addicted to drugs where they organize meetings with them, and doctors or psychiatrists volunteer to talk to them about the effects of drugs as the community helps them avoid the vise by giving them jobs to keep them busy.

Being responsive to the needs of other people makes us realize and appreciate humanity and spiritual being, as well as feeling good for changing someone’s life. This can even help shy people gain self-esteem. Volunteering in society work helps in promoting and building our social obligations as human beings.

Through community volunteer work, people are able to respect each because they work together without any discrimination. Volunteerism can be thought of as a social capital where everyone is concerned for the well-being of others. It also helps create trust and confidence between society members and brings society together (McHenry 1).

A society where people volunteer and work together always faces fewer problems since all the members tend to get along well and support each when they are in need.

The security of society is also improved, especially through the rehabilitation of street children and drug addicts who are more likely to cause insecurity in society. By supporting each other, society members can live in harmony and be happier than those societies that do not work together.

Importance of Volunteering: FAQ

• What Is Volunteer Work? Volunteering is unpaid work done by a person to benefit the community. In other words, volunteering means that someone is giving their time to help an individual, a group of people, or a non-profit organization.
• Why Is Volunteerism Important? Volunteer work develops and improves the community. Besides, it is helpful for the one who deals with it. Volunteering can improve one’s mental health, reduce stress, and give meaning to their life.
• How Does Volunteerism Benefit the Community? Volunteering is related to the need for people to participate in their community and be important to others. Imbued with such values as reciprocity, solidarity, and mutual trust, it significantly improves the quality of life.

Works Cited

Landry, L. “The importance of volunteering.” 2002. Web.

McHenry, W. “ The Importance of Community Service . ” 2000. Web.

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Why do you want to volunteer? Sample interview answers & more

Volunteering is a fantastic opportunity. Not only can you make a positive difference in a community that matters to you, or give a helping hand where it is needed the most. Volunteering is also a great way to get your first “working experience”, something you can put on your resume, something that will make your life easier in job interviews later on. Last but not least, you can volunteer in nice places and meet interesting people from all around the world .

It sounds almost like a fairy tale, and sometimes it really is (not always though), but before you can embark on this adventure you also typically have to pass the selection process . And if we talk about the best volunteering opportunities, you can be sure to compete with many applicants for each open spot . Regardless of the opportunity you apply for, the people responsible for the selection of applicants will always wonder why . Why do you want to volunteer, and why with their organization. It isn’t the most difficult question in the world , but it isn’t an easy one either, especially if you try to stand out with your answer.

Before we look at 7 sample answers , let me give you two quick tips. First one: Try to be specific . It doesn’t sound too bad saying that you want to support a good cause (and that’s why you want to volunteer), but it sounds even better if you can name the cause, and why that particular cause matters to you . I also suggest you to say something about their organization. Second: Try to be realistic . While you may experience many nice things & meetings as a volunteer, it is still work , and often in tough conditions. They shouldn’t get an impression that you are in for nice holidays while volunteering for them. Let’s have a look at the answers.

7 sample answers to “Why do you want to volunteer?” interview question

• I want to volunteer because I am very concerned about this war in Ukraine . War is always bad, but the people affected should not be limited to mere numbers in the statistics of casualties or refugees. They are people with lives, just like the lives we have, each with their own story. I want to be there, on the borders, helping them to continue living with some dignity, and to get through this terrible period. It is a calling I feel, and though I know it isn’t going to be easy , and I may see terrible things, I want to volunteer with your organization and make good things happen.
• I dream of volunteering in your hostel , for a couple of reasons. First of all , I really love the city of Seville. Always wanted to spend some time in the city, and explore the cultural variety it has to offer. Volunteering for your hostel will allow me to live there for two months, and pay for accommodation and some food just with my work . For a student this is a fantastic opportunity. The second reason is your place, and the reviews it got from guests. I checked the reviews on all major platforms, and I must say that I would be proud to work for such a great hostel. No doubt I will learn a lot as well, and improve on my Spanish language skills along the way.
• I just feel it is right to give something back to the races that have given so much to me . Since I am injured, I cannot compete in the running competitions this year. But I have the first-hand experience , know what the runners need on such a long distance, and I also have free weekends and want to spend them in a meaningful way . Volunteering for you and helping at the races you organize seems to me like a perfect way to spend my weekends.
• To be completely honest with you, my main motivation is to get some experience for my resume . I believe that volunteering at the Zoo will help me a lot once I try to get a place at vet school . The application process gets more competitive each year, and unless you have amazing GPA (which I do not have), you need something special on your resume , to have a chance to get in. On the top of that, I love animals, and I do not mind dirty work . Spending a summer here volunteering seems like a great idea for me, and I really hope you will give me a chance to prove my motivation in the job.
• I want to volunteer to for your NGO to help to save the planet . As simple as that. In my opinion, only acts can change something , and stop the global warming. Talking about it isn’t sufficient. Of course, no individual can change the course of things in the world alone. But I also believe that organizations like yours do make a difference , that reforestation is important, and that volunteering for your is the best thing I can do with my free time.
• I want to get something out of this opportunity , but I also want to give something . Reading the reports about your camps from last summer, I know that many young people from different countries meet here . And I think it will be an invaluable experience to belong to such a team, to learn from them. That’s what I want to get. And what I want to give? I believe I am great with children . They enjoy my company, and I have the energy to play with them all day long. I feel that I can be the volunteer they will remember after their summer camp , and that’s why I picked this opportunity and not another one.
• I want to volunteer at this hospital because at the moment it is the most I can do for the patients. One day I hope to earn a degree, and perhaps work here as a nurse. Until it happens however, I have to satiate my desire to help in another way . Volunteering here, and doing whatever I can to make the stay of patients more pleasant, or at least tolerable, is an idea which fills me with joy, though I know no days will be easy here. But here I am, full of ideals, and motivated to make a positive difference in the lives of your patients.

Final thoughts

Don’t forget on enthusiasm in your voice , should you deal with this question in an interview. Also make sure that you understand the volunteering offer properly , and do not talk about some unrealistic wishes while explaining why you decided to apply. Researching about the organization will also help, not only with this question. As I said at the beginning of this post, the more specific you are in your answer, the better . And in order to be specific and to make sure your answer makes sense , it is important to know the details of the offer, and to do a good research.

I hope that by now you know what to write or say when they inquire about your motives. If you want to prepare also for other questions you may face, check our article on all volunteer interview questions . Thank you, and good luck!

May also interest you :

• Volunteer Coordinator interview questions .
• Hospital Volunteer interview questions .
• How to overcome interview nerves .
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How to Write a Great Community Service Essay

College Admissions , Extracurriculars

Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

• Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
• You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

• Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
• Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

• Length requirement
• Application deadline
• The main purpose or focus of the essay
• If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

• What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
• What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
• Why did you decide to begin community service?
• What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
• How has your community service changed you?
• How has your community service helped others?
• How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

• If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
• If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
• If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Vibrant Volunteer Work Essay

Table of Contents

Are you struggling to write an essay about volunteer work? This guide will provide you with essential tips and techniques to effectively showcase your experiences, motivations, and impact as a volunteer. Learn how to structure your essay, highlight your achievements, and convey the significance of your volunteer work. Start crafting a compelling essay that captures the essence of your volunteer journey.

Volunteer work is not only an opportunity for individuals to give back to their communities, but it also provides invaluable experiences and personal growth. When tasked with writing an essay about volunteer work, it is crucial to approach the topic with an organized and insightful mindset. By presenting a well-structured piece that effectively conveys your experiences and the impact it had on you, you can inspire others to get involved in their communities as well. In this article, we will explore the essential steps and key elements to consider when crafting an impactful essay about volunteer work.

Introduction

Writing an essay about volunteer work can be a meaningful and impactful way to showcase your experiences and highlight the importance of giving back to the community. Whether it is for a scholarship application, a college admissions essay, or simply to share your story, this guide will provide you with valuable insights on how to effectively write about your volunteer work.

Understanding the Purpose

Before diving into the writing process, it is crucial to understand the purpose of your essay. Reflect on why you are writing about volunteer work and what message you want to convey to your readers. Is it to inspire others to get involved, shed light on a particular issue, or demonstrate personal growth? Clarifying the purpose will guide your writing and ensure a coherent essay.

Selecting a Relevant Experience

Choose a volunteer experience that is significant to you and aligns with the message you want to convey. It could be a long-term commitment or a one-time event, as long as it resonates with your values and showcases your dedication. Selecting a relevant experience will make your essay more authentic and engaging.

Describing the Impact

Showcase the impact your volunteer work had on both the community and yourself. Describe the positive change you witnessed, whether it was improving the lives of individuals, addressing social issues, or contributing to a cause. Also, discuss how your involvement in volunteer work has shaped your character, values, and worldview.

Highlighting Personal Growth

Discuss how your volunteer work has contributed to your personal growth and development. Share any challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the valuable lessons you learned along the way. Emphasize how your experiences have helped you become a more compassionate, empathetic, and socially aware individual.

Connecting to Your Field of Study

If applicable, connect your volunteer work to your field of study or career aspirations. Explain how your experiences have influenced your academic or professional goals and how they have provided you with unique insights and skills. This will demonstrate your passion and dedication in making a difference within your chosen field.

Structuring Your Essay

A well-structured essay is essential for effectively conveying your message. Start with a compelling introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and clearly states your thesis statement. Then, organize your main points in separate paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of your volunteer work. Finally, conclude your essay by summarizing your key points and reinforcing the overall impact of your experiences.

Adding Supporting Evidence

Support your claims and statements with specific examples and evidence from your volunteer work. Whether it is through anecdotes, statistics, or testimonials, providing supporting evidence will strengthen your arguments and make your essay more persuasive. This will also help your readers understand the significance of your volunteer work.

Editing and Proofreading

After writing your essay, take the time to edit and proofread it carefully. Check for any grammatical or spelling errors, ensure a smooth and logical flow of ideas, and verify that your essay effectively conveys your intended message. It is also beneficial to have someone else read your essay and provide feedback to ensure clarity and coherence.

Inspiring and Motivating Others

Ultimately, the purpose of writing an essay about volunteer work is to inspire and motivate others to get involved and make a difference. Use your essay as a platform to share your passion and enthusiasm for volunteerism, and encourage others to explore their own opportunities for giving back to the community. By sharing your experiences, you can create a ripple effect of positive change.

Writing an essay about volunteer work is a powerful way to articulate your experiences, growth, and impact on the community. By following these guidelines, you can effectively convey your message, inspire others, and showcase the value of volunteerism. Remember, your essay has the potential to make a lasting impression and create awareness about the importance of giving back.

When writing an essay about volunteer work, it is vital to create an engaging introduction that captures the reader’s attention. Start by emphasizing the significance of volunteerism in society, discussing how it benefits individuals and communities alike. Provide a brief overview of the specific volunteering experience you will focus on in your essay.

Research and Reflect

Before diving into the essay, take time to research and reflect on your volunteer experience. Investigate the organization you volunteered with, the work they undertake, and the impact they have on the community. Reflect on your personal motivations for volunteering and any insights gained from the experience to enrich the content of your essay.

Define Your Thesis Statement

Craft a well-defined thesis statement that will guide your entire essay on volunteer work. It should clearly state the purpose of your essay and your stance on the topic. Whether you want to emphasize personal growth obtained from volunteering or the positive impact it has on the community, make sure your thesis statement is direct, concise, and arguable.

Structure Your Essay

Ensure your essay has a logical structure that is easy to follow. Begin with an introduction that provides background information and presents your thesis statement. Follow this with body paragraphs that discuss specific aspects of your volunteer work. Each paragraph should include a topic sentence, supporting evidence or examples, and a clear transition to the next paragraph. Conclude your essay with a strong summary of your main points and a restatement of your thesis.

Showcase Your Personal Involvement

To make your essay about volunteer work compelling, draw upon your personal experiences and emotions. Include specific anecdotes from your volunteer work to highlight the challenges you faced, the impact you made, and the skills you developed. Your personal involvement will help demonstrate your commitment to the cause and engage the reader on a deeper level.

Highlight the Benefits

While sharing your personal experiences, do not forget to emphasize the broader benefits of volunteer work. Discuss how volunteering helps address social issues or improve the lives of others. Highlight the positive changes witnessed within the community as a result of your volunteer efforts. Presenting these benefits will showcase the larger impact of volunteer work and support your argument.

Connect to Future Goals

In your essay, establish connections between your volunteer work and your future goals. Explain how your volunteer experiences have shaped your aspirations, whether you aim to pursue a career in a related field or simply want to continue making a difference. Demonstrating this connection will help validate the significance of your volunteer work and showcase its lasting impact on your life.

Edit and Revise

After completing your essay, thoroughly review it for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. Ensure your ideas flow cohesively and that your arguments are clear and concise. Read your essay aloud to identify any awkward phrasing or inconsistencies. Consider seeking feedback from peers, teachers, or writing tutors who can provide constructive criticism to further enhance the quality of your essay.

In writing an essay about volunteer work, it is crucial to adopt a professional voice and tone to effectively convey your thoughts and experiences. Below are some key points to consider:

Introduction:

Start with a captivating introduction that grabs the reader’s attention.

Briefly explain the importance of volunteer work and its impact on both individuals and communities.

Include a thesis statement that clearly states the purpose of your essay.

Body paragraphs:

Organize your essay into coherent paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of your volunteer work.

Support your claims and statements with relevant examples and evidence.

Use descriptive language to vividly portray your experiences and convey your emotions.

Highlight the skills and personal growth you have gained through your volunteer work.

Discuss the challenges you have faced and how you have overcome them.

Explain the positive impact your volunteer work has had on the community or the target group you have served.

Conclusion:

Summarize the main points discussed in your essay.

Reflect on the significance of your volunteer work and its lasting effects.

End with a powerful closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Tone and language:

Adopt a professional tone throughout your essay, maintaining a balance between formality and personal reflection.

Use clear and concise language to effectively communicate your ideas.

Avoid slang or informal expressions that may undermine the professionalism of your essay.

Proofread and edit your essay to ensure proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Engaging the reader:

Consider using storytelling techniques to captivate the reader’s interest.

Include relevant statistics or facts to provide context and support your arguments.

Pose thought-provoking questions or challenges to encourage the reader’s engagement.

Ensure a logical flow of ideas between paragraphs to maintain the reader’s attention.

By following these guidelines and adopting a professional voice and tone, your essay about volunteer work will effectively convey your experiences, showcase your growth, and inspire others to engage in meaningful community service.

Thank you for visiting our blog and taking the time to read our article on how to write an essay about volunteer work. We understand that writing an essay can be a challenging task, but with the right guidance and approach, it can become an opportunity to showcase your experiences and passion for volunteering.

When it comes to writing an essay about volunteer work, it is crucial to start with a strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention. Begin by providing a brief overview of your volunteering experience and why it is important to you. This can be followed by a clear thesis statement that highlights the main points you will discuss throughout the essay. Remember to use transition words such as firstly, in addition, or finally to create a smooth flow between your ideas.

In the body paragraphs of your essay, you should delve into the specific details of your volunteer work. It is essential to provide concrete examples and anecdotes that illustrate the impact you have made and the lessons you have learned. Whether you volunteered at a local shelter, participated in community service projects, or worked abroad, make sure to explain the significance of your actions and how they have shaped your perspective on the world.

Furthermore, it is crucial to emphasize the personal growth and development you have experienced through your volunteer work. This can include the skills you have acquired, the challenges you have overcome, and the relationships you have built. By highlighting these aspects, you will demonstrate not only your commitment to helping others but also your ability to learn and adapt in different situations.

In conclusion, writing an essay about volunteer work can be an enriching and rewarding experience. By following the tips provided in this article, we hope that you feel more confident in crafting an engaging and impactful essay. Remember to use a professional tone, incorporate transition words to enhance the flow of your ideas, and provide concrete examples to support your statements. Your essay has the potential to inspire others and showcase your dedication to making a difference in the world through volunteer work.

Thank you again for visiting our blog, and we wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors!

People also ask about How To Write An Essay About Volunteer Work:

What should I include in an essay about volunteer work?

In your essay about volunteer work, you should include the following:

• A brief introduction explaining the importance of volunteer work.
• Your personal motivations for getting involved in volunteer work.
• The specific organization or cause you volunteered for and why you chose it.
• The activities or projects you participated in as a volunteer.
• The impact your volunteer work had on the organization, individuals, and yourself.
• Any challenges or obstacles you encountered during your volunteering experience and how you overcame them.
• A conclusion summarizing the overall significance and lessons learned from your volunteer work.

How can I make my essay about volunteer work stand out?

To make your essay about volunteer work stand out, consider the following tips:

• Choose a unique angle or perspective to present your volunteer experience.
• Showcase specific examples and personal anecdotes that highlight your contributions and the difference you made.
• Highlight any special skills or qualifications you gained through your volunteer work.
• Emphasize the personal growth and positive impact your volunteer work had on you.
• Use vivid language and descriptive details to engage the reader and create a compelling narrative.
• Proofread and edit your essay to ensure clarity, coherence, and correct grammar.

Should I mention any challenges or difficulties faced during my volunteer work?

Yes, it is important to mention any challenges or difficulties you faced during your volunteer work. This demonstrates your resilience, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to the cause. However, make sure to focus on how you overcame these challenges and what you learned from them, rather than dwelling solely on the negative aspects.

Can I include volunteer work that I did in a different country?

Absolutely! Including volunteer work you did in a different country can add an extra layer of cultural awareness, global perspective, and diversity to your essay. It shows your willingness to step out of your comfort zone and engage with different communities and cultures.

Is it necessary to explain why I chose a specific organization for volunteering?

Yes, it is important to explain why you chose a specific organization for volunteering. By providing the reasons behind your choice, you demonstrate your thoughtfulness, alignment of values, and commitment to a particular cause. This helps the reader understand your motivations and the genuine interest you have in the organization and its mission.

Should I discuss the impact of my volunteer work on the community or individuals?

Yes, it is crucial to discuss the impact of your volunteer work on the community or individuals involved. This showcases the significance of your contributions and the positive change you helped bring about. Provide specific examples and anecdotes that illustrate the difference your volunteer work made, whether it be improving lives, raising awareness, or addressing a specific issue.

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August 1, 2022

How To Share Your Volunteer Experience With Colleges & Scholarship Officials

Written by: Paige Mast

Volunteering is an essential factor that helps you stand out on college and scholarship applications. 

Volunteering helps you learn so many different things like teamwork, leadership, and compassion. Plus, you’re not just “learning” these things when you’re volunteering — you’re BECOMING these things! Articulating your personal development through volunteering is a great way to stand out in a sea of applications.

It is important to remember that volunteering is not just about the hours; it is also the experience. When you use the Givefinity app, you can enter all your stories, experiences, and hours to easily create a compelling Volunteer Report! 

Why is volunteering important for college applications?

This Tik Tok from Collegewise discusses why volunteering is important for juniors and seniors in high school, as well as current college students. 

In this video, she says, “Colleges aren’t impressed by how many hours you’re volunteering.” At first, that was puzzling to hear! Sure, the amount of time spent volunteering is important… but what is most important is why you spent that time volunteering. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself when volunteering:

• What is the backstory? Why did you decide to volunteer in that specific area?
• How much did this experience impact you? Others?
• WHY was it so impactful?

Keep these questions in mind when you apply for colleges and scholarships. Remember, it is about what you experienced, not how many hours you worked. 

How to write about your volunteer experience for college

College applications are a crucial point in your college career — the beginning! 

When applying to your chosen college, you need to know a lot of information. More than the number of hours, you’ll need to know specific details about your volunteering activities. Whenever you are at a volunteer activity be sure to take pictures, journal, or even capture videos. The Givefinity app is helpful with this because you can log all of the information needed into the app! 

When colleges look at your documents, they do not want to read that you just volunteered and that was it. They want to know who, what, where, and how:

• Who did you volunteer with? Did you go with others? Who made you decide this was an experience you wanted? Who did you meet? Who impacted you the most?
• What did you do? What did you learn? What do you wish you could do more of? 
• Where did you go? Where else can you volunteer?
• How did you find this volunteering organization or opportunity? How did you feel before and after? How did this affect you in the short term and long term? 

It is important to remember to tell a story about how it was not a “me experience” but a “them experience” (this is why we love our Givefinity hashtag # BetterMeBetterWe ). Although your volunteer experiences have to do with YOU, it is mainly about what you did for OTHERS. 

Don’t forget: this is a mutual experience for both you and the people impacted by your efforts. Share how your volunteer work is helping others, as well as how you learned and developed personally. 

Tips for writing about volunteering

When you sit down to write your essays, look back at pictures, videos, and notes you captured over the years. It can be hard to remember details when you’ve been volunteering with several organizations over a long period of time. 

The Givefinity app will help ease that difficulty when writing! When using the app, you can put those pictures and notes right into your volunteer hour log.

As you walk down volunteer-memory-lane and look for essay inspiration, here are our top tips:

• Share what you felt at a specific moment. Sentimental details are crucial! It never hurts to write about a moment you felt was tender when volunteering. 
• All volunteer work is important, no matter how small! Any experience could be significant enough to mention, even if it seems like a blip on your volunteering report. However, if it is a shorter experience, be sure to emphasize why it is important. 
• Make a connection to your volunteer work and desired area of study. Tell a story that shows how your volunteer efforts have helped you hone in on something you love! Even if a volunteer opportunity does not align with your work, major, minor, etc., perhaps you still learned something that helped you on your journey. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help! When you write essays, it is important to ask for help. Submitting an essay to a scholarship or college application representative means you should be entering your best work. Always solicit feedback and criticism on your essay from peers, parents, teachers, and others.

What to emphasize when writing your essay

It is important to remember some of these important points when writing an essay, such as:

• The name of the organization
• How often or when did you volunteer with them? Was it per day, week, or month? How many hours did you volunteer?
• Why do you volunteer with them? What made you choose that organization? 
• Is this for school, work, etc.?
• Did you take any leadership roles?

If you already know your major and are volunteering before college, try to align the volunteer work with that major. It is also important to mention any learning opportunities and what you’ve already gained through that experience. 

How to share your volunteering experience with college or scholarship officials

In this day and age, it is easy to find any kind of scholarship. You can even get a scholarship or money by making a prom outfit out of duct tape! So, with volunteering, be sure to choose activities that help you stand out. 

When looking for scholarships, it is as simple as searching for “scholarships for volunteering”. Many common applications ask on the application about any activities done, like volunteering! Remember to put down experience that lines up with your potential degree first.

The Givefinity app is helpful when sharing volunteering experiences. When you use the app, you can share these volunteering hours with yourself or others of importance. So make your life a little easier — download the Givefinity app today and get ahead of the ball on tracking your volunteer hours!

Paige Mast is the author of the Some Random Gal blog and is currently a student at Middle Tennessee State University. Check out her blog to learn about college & life lessons through her eyes.

Read More Articles & Resources from Givefinity

Stand Out in the Common App: The Importance of Highlighting Your High School Volunteer Experiences

As summer winds down and August approaches, high school students are preparing for one of the most exciting times of their academic careers: college applications! The Common Application, or Common App, which goes live on August 1st, opens the door to a world of opportunities for your future. According to Forbes, for the 2023-2024 academic school year, 4 year institutions 1,244,476 distinct first-year applicants had applied to 841 colleges participating in the Common App. With thousands of students applying to colleges across the country, how can you make your application stand out? One key way to differentiate yourself is by showcasing your high school volunteer experiences. Here’s why highlighting your volunteer work is crucial and how Givefinity can help you do it effectively.

Transitioning from Summer to School Volunteering: How to Keep Stress at Bay and Embrace the New School Year with a Positive Attitude

As the golden days of summer draw to a close, the anticipation of a new school year begins to build. For students who have spent their summer break engaging in meaningful volunteer work, the transition back to school can feel overwhelming. Balancing academic responsibilities with ongoing volunteer commitments might seem daunting, but with the right approach, it’s entirely manageable. Here’s how to keep stress at bay and put forward a positive attitude as you transition from summer to school volunteering.

Make the Most of Your Summer: How to Get Involved in Meaningful Volunteer Work

Summer is the perfect time to step away from your daily routine and dive into new opportunities for growth and giving back. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone looking to make a difference, summer offers a wealth of chances to engage in volunteer work. Here’s how you can make the most of your summer with meaningful volunteer experiences!

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Volunteerism: My Experience by Nori

Noriof Syracuse's entry into Varsity Tutor's May 2018 scholarship contest

Volunteerism: My Experience by Nori - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

Community service has become a major aspect of my life that has shaped me into who I am today. Volunteering is a way that I can give back to the world that does so much for me. There is no one way to define community service, because everyone has their own definition. However, it is not the definition itself that matters; it is what community service means to you. Is it the laughter of the special needs children when I help them bounce on the trampoline at cheer practice? Is it the squeals of the recreational cheer team that I coached when they win a competition? Maybe it is the joy on the faces of the veterans when they win a round of bingo. To me, volunteering and community service are all of these things. Volunteerism is a donation of my time in order to enhance someone’s life, even if it is only slightly. I view volunteering as a window through which I have an opportunity to change the lives of people, as well as my own. However, volunteering is not only about aiding others. It offers so much more. Through volunteering, I learned valuable community and social skills, and well as gained valuable work experience. I learned how to work with children, the elderly, and those with special needs. In addition, I learned what it is like to have a job and responsibilities. Volunteering has played in a significant role in the shaping of who I am today. Community service has been a resource for me to express myself and gain control of my life. After my father passed and my mother suffered a major stroke, leaving her permanently impaired, I sought an outlet, or an escape. I desperately needed a positive activity to take my mind off of the hardships I was experiencing. That outlet was community service. After a visit to my mother in the hospital, I would go to the public library and volunteer with their children’s activities. Seeing the overwhelming smiles of children after reading them a story made me forget about my problems at home. Volunteering has always been a way to bring joy into my life and to make my day (as well as someone else’s) a little bit better! My first significant volunteer experience was coaching a special needs cheerleading team. As a special needs coach, I had to control a group of special needs children. They struggled to do many things on their own, and looked to me to lead them. It is from this experience that I learned to be a leader. I volunteered as their coach during my freshman year of high school, and that is when my leadership skills truly began to develop. I was responsible for instructing the team on cheerleading and ensuring that they did everything safely. When they would go out and compete, they would bring tears to my eyes. I have never met such an inspiring group of kids, and it is from them that I learned that no matter what comes in my way, anything is possible if you give it your best effort, and that all hardships can be overcome. Coaching Team FIRE was not always an easy job. There were many meltdowns and times when I would want to give up. However, the joy that lit up their faces when times were good motivated me to keep going. From them, I learned perseverance. They would be elated when they successfully completed a forward roll, or learned a new dance. Every day, with their joy, they would remind me to enjoy the small things in life, and I will forever appreciate the endless giggles we’ve shared. That team made me proud and made me recognize how lucky I am to be healthy and well. They taught me that someone is always in need of help, and with my help, that person can succeed. Community service made me realize that I wanted to participate in a profession that helped people. At first, I was unsure of what I aspired to be when I grew up, but I knew one thing: I wanted to make an impact in people’s lives. I developed a love of science, and asked myself how I could help people with science. I decided that my goal was to become a forensic chemist, so I could help solve crimes. That way, if a crime was inflicted upon someone or a loved one, those people would receive justice thanks to me. I truly feel as if volunteering has helped me recognize what it is I aspire to be in the future. In addition, I have goals of participating in more volunteer work throughout my life. Volunteering is a significant way to make the world a better place and to grow as a person. I have impacted numerous lives through volunteering, and that is something that I take great pride in. Whether it was reading to children at the library, helping veterans play bingo, giving Thanksgiving meals to the less fortunate, or anything else, I made someone’s day better, and that is an amazing feeling. In addition, I have developed numerous skills through volunteer work. I feel as if I have grown significantly through my community service. Community service has shaped me into a responsible leader. I am grateful for all that volunteering has done for me.

Why do people volunteer?

Volunteering is a selfless act that many undertake for a myriad of reasons: to give back to the community, support causes they're passionate about, gain new experiences, or build skills and networks.

The benefits of volunteering are multifaceted, including personal growth, fostering social connections, enhancing mental well-being, and even boosting one's career prospects. Engaging in such altruistic activities not only enriches the lives of recipients but also brings fulfilment and a sense of purpose to the volunteers themselves.

When individuals ask, "why do people volunteer?", the answer lies in the mutual benefits it offers to both the individual and the wider community.

The psychological rewards of volunteering

Altruism and the happiness quotient.

Central to the act of volunteering is the deep-rooted sense of altruism. This selfless concern for the well-being of others not only fosters community ties but also elevates one's happiness quotient. Numerous studies have affirmed the direct correlation between altruistic behaviours and increased levels of happiness, contentment, and overall life satisfaction.

Purpose and meaning

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, many seek a sense of purpose and meaning. Volunteering provides an avenue to fill this existential void. The direct impact of one's efforts, whether it's teaching a child to read, planting trees, or assisting in community development, imparts a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

The societal implications of volunteering

Strengthening community bonds.

Volunteers play a pivotal role in knitting the fabric of communities. Through their efforts, they foster unity, mutual respect, and cooperation. This sense of community not only promotes societal harmony but also aids in addressing communal challenges more efficiently.

Economic contributions

While volunteers don't seek financial gains, their contributions significantly boost the economy. Their unpaid work equates to thousands of hours that, if monetised, would add substantial value to the national economy.

Personal growth through volunteering

Skill development.

Volunteering offers a platform for individuals to hone existing skills and acquire new ones. Whether it's leadership, communication, problem-solving, or technical expertise, the realm of volunteering is ripe with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Networking and relationship building

Engaging in volunteer work exposes individuals to a diverse group of people, facilitating the forging of new relationships and expanding one's network. These connections often prove invaluable in both personal and professional spheres.

In essence, volunteering is more than a mere act of charity. It's a journey, one that enriches the volunteer, strengthens communities, and resonates with positive ripples throughout society. As the intricate web of motivations unravels, it becomes evident that the choice to volunteer stems from a blend of personal, societal, and psychological factors. As we celebrate and support this selfless endeavour, we also pave the way for a more cohesive, harmonious, and prosperous society.

Want to volunteer but don't know where to get started? Download our app for volunteering today and find a range of volunteering opportunities near you!

Book a demo with us to see how we are revolutionising volunteer management..

Why Volunteer? 7 Benefits of Volunteering that Will Inspire You to Take Action

by Alma Rominger

Why volunteer? The benefits of volunteering can last a lifetime—not only for those who you are helping, but for yourself as well. 

If you are on the fence about diving into a new volunteer experience or have doubts about whether or not volunteering is right for you, you might find yourself surprised at just how much you can gain from taking the plunge. 

Let’s learn more about the many benefits of volunteering and how to start getting involved!

Why Volunteer?

What is volunteering.

Volunteering means giving your time and abilities to aid others (usually a nonprofit organization) without the want of financial compensation. Put simply, volunteering is a service to your community.

Many nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers to accomplish day-to-day objectives and to reach long-term goals.  Miles4Migrants , for instance, relied solely on volunteer hours for their first few years of operation. Most nonprofits would not be able to do the important work they do without the power of volunteer work.

Nothing gets done by one person alone, which means we have to band together to make the changes we want to see in the world. Volunteerism has indeed been the fuel to the fires of change both on international and local fronts. Volunteering your time, skills, and resources is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference, to help others, and as it turns out, to enhance your own wellbeing.

7 Benefits of Volunteering

While you won’t get paid for your community service, volunteering comes with a lot of other benefits to boot. Donating your time, energy, and resources can be just as rewarding for you as for those you are helping. Here are some ways volunteering can affect you positively: 

1. Meet New People and Build Community

Everyone loves new friends! 

Being a part of a team with a common goal will help you form bonds that can be life-changing. Volunteering inherently means helping people, and that means you’ll be creating meaningful relationships with others and increasing your social interactions. 

Volunteering provides a unique opportunity: it connects people with very specific shared values. And the values may not be what you think. In addition to likely having shared concerns for children, sustainable living, healthy eating, or whatever project you’re working on, volunteers are also people who also share things like a willingness to step outside their comfort zone, an openness to spending time on a community effort, a proclivity for engaging in team-oriented activities, and a desire to contribute to the well-being of others.  

You’re sure to meet people and make new friends who share common interests, values, and outlooks. Building a community in which you are all working together towards common future goals will nurture your sense of belonging and purpose and expand your support system. This social benefit of volunteering grows into a bunch of other benefits that we’ll continue to explore in this list!

2. Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Ways of Life

Volunteering might take you to a new part of your community you have never been to before. Volunteer programs can give you the opportunity to bring people into your social network you otherwise wouldn’t get to meet and learn from those who come from different walks of life. This experience can expand your understanding of others who are different from you.

Learning about cultures and ways of life that are different from ones of your upbringing will increase your social flexibility and expand your world-view. It will also raise awareness of the issues that other people deal with and will increase important social skills like empathy and teamwork.

3. Gain a Sense of Purpose and Become Happier

What an amazing reason to do something! Who doesn’t want to become happier?! Volunteering  has been shown  to give you a sense of accomplishment and to increase feelings of happiness. 

“How?” you may ask. 

Throughout your life, you’ve developed social and professional skills that promote your personal achievement. Using those skills for a wider, communal impact can be even more fulfilling. Volunteering will enrich your life and give you a broader purpose, and can give you a boost of motivation.

Researchers also posit that it’s the social connections you make while volunteering (as we’ve mentioned) that help increase your feelings of happiness. 

Feeling like you are a purposeful role of your community will make you feel…da da dum…HAPPY! Volunteering is indeed a  known mechanism  to help fight all sorts of mental issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and anger.

Where do we sign up?!

4. Boost Your Self-Esteem

That’s right! Spending time as a volunteer has  been shown  to improve your self-esteem!

The more opportunities you take to learn new skills and gain knowledge, the more fully you will develop as a person. And what safer space to develop those skills than in a context of service?

Stepping out of your comfort zone and building new skills is the best way to develop your self-esteem. Volunteering will increase your sense of pride and, thus, your self-confidence! When you challenge yourself through volunteering and receive appreciation from others, it can make you feel better emotionally and mentally. 

Plus, who has time to think negative thoughts about yourself when you’re out saving the world?!

5. Advance Your Career by Improving Job Prospects

Volunteering will offer you skills that can be used throughout your career development. If you are wanting to change to a new career, especially a new environmental or  social impact job , volunteering in that new field can help you develop the skills and knowledge you will need. 

When you have a volunteering experience to add to your resume, you stand out over job candidates who don’t take the time to give back to society. Volunteering highlights your character, passion, and determination! 

Through your volunteer experiences, you have a chance to show that you’re interested in things bigger than yourself, and you are willing to take action to make the changes you want in the world—and that will always help you shine through the competition. 

Volunteering can also give you a better understanding of the issues you are working to solve, and so, you are more apt at discovering where there are gaps in the field. This knowledge can prepare you to enter a new field of work or, for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, volunteering may lead to developing your next business idea or inspire you to start a nonprofit yourself!

6. Accrue the Health Benefits of Volunteering

It’s true! There are many  physical benefits  that come from volunteering, including stress reduction! 

Spending meaningful time with others can reduce stress and the health effects it has on our bodies. Reduced stress translates into several physical health benefits. You’ll sleep better, get sick less often, and even prevent heart disease! In fact, some  studies  have even found lower mortality rates in volunteers vs non-volunteers in older adults.

This makes sense because as we give our attention to others, we take our attention off of our own problems and concerns. It can also put our stresses into perspective and feel more gratitude in our day-to-day lives.

Volunteer work can also be an outlet for the frustrations you feel about certain issues and will leave you with a sense of agency and empowerment. Worried about climate change? Do something about it!

7. Increase Your Brain Functioning

Every volunteer opportunity has its own set of tasks, and some of those might require you to learn new skill sets and challenge yourself. This means you’ll be keeping your brain busy and limber! 

Volunteering  has been shown  to increase your ability for problem solving, improve your long-term and short-term memory, and reduce your risk of developing age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. So time to get started!

The Good & Bad of Volunteering

• Meet new people and develop lasting relationships.
• Increase your happiness and better your mental health.
• Learn new skills and increase your brain function and self-esteem.
• Stand out on job applications and further your career. 
• Decrease your stress and accrue the health benefits.
• Do good in the world and help make a difference.
• Can be time-consuming.
• Some tasks can be repetitive depending on the volunteer role.
• Might take multiple attempts to find the right fit for you.

Getting Started on Your Volunteer Journey

So you have made up your mind to volunteer—what now? 

One of the many beauties of volunteering is that there are endless ways that you can get involved and make a difference. The thing is, you won’t know which is right for you until you get out into the community and start!

The key to accruing all the benefits of volunteering is to find something you really like in a community that you love. It is time to consider your options carefully so you can find an opportunity that will be realistic for you as well as fulfilling.

How to Start Your Research

There are tens of thousands of nonprofit organizations in the United States with volunteering opportunities ranging from health care and mental health, to sports, to politics, to childhood development. Here are some tips to start finding the right volunteer opportunity for you: 

• Search online for organizations in your interest areas and see if they have a volunteer page on their website. Make sure to check out the organization’s FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page and follow up with any additional questions or concerns before signing up to volunteer. Ask as many questions as you like of a nonprofit before you volunteer with them! 
• Visit websites like  VolunteerMatch  or  Idealist  and see if posted volunteer opportunities might be right for you.
• Contact your local community centers, nonprofit organizations, senior centers, or libraries to find out if they are in need of volunteers. They usually are!

What to Consider: Finding the Opportunity That is Right for You

It’s important to make sure you only volunteer in a capacity that you are comfortable with and that brings you joy. Here are some things to consider as you search for your next volunteer opportunity.

First and foremost, consider how much time you can give. There is no competition in volunteering (or at least, there shouldn’t be!). If you can only give an hour a month—great. That is an additional hour a month your community will benefit from that it otherwise wouldn’t! 

When volunteering as a part of a team, you should make sure you can commit the time you are promising. If you are volunteering to do things like the online marketing for the nonprofit that don’t require working directly with others, make sure you are upfront about your skill levels, abilities, and availability. These practices will ensure neither you nor your team feel stretched too thin, which can result in burnout or failure.

Making reasonable schedules for yourself will help you settle in for the long term. And being upfront about your time constraints will help you avoid disappointing anyone counting on you and your volunteer efforts.

Physical Limitations

Also, consider your physical capabilities. Do you have constraints that will make certain tasks difficult? Be honest with yourself about what you are comfortable with accomplishing. I have found that most nonprofit organizations are very happy to accommodate volunteers who have special requests and needs if you are upfront with them with them about your limitations.

Your Skillset

Another thing to mull over is what kind of skills you already possess. What skills or experiences could be helpful to the nonprofit you are working with? If you’re in marketing, consider helping an organization develop their nonprofit marketing plan. If you know accounting, help them get their books in order. Organizations will LOVE getting this kind of expertise (that they would usually have to pay top dollar for).

Your Interests

Next, think about where your interests lie and what kind of field you would want to explore. Do you like working with animals? Want to learn more about farming and agriculture or how to compost ?  Do you enjoy playing with children? Spending time with the elderly? Do you want to learn how to help refugees? 

Deciding what kind of organization you would like to work with first will help you bring enthusiasm and excitement to your volunteer experience. It is no good for anyone if you volunteer to do something you flat-out don’t like doing.

Volunteer Abroad or in Your Own Community

Are you interested in working outside of your home country? Do you have the time and finances to travel? Would you rather stay close to home where you might not have to spend money to volunteer? 

Consider, again, what might work best for you. Volunteering abroad tends to be expensive and time-consuming, which may or may not be something you are prepared to do. Plus, there are many opportunities right in our own communities!

But if you want to do work to save the oceans for instance, and you live in the mountains of Colorado, your local community may not have the right opportunity for you. In that case, you will definitely want to search outside of your hometown. 

If you are considering volunteering abroad, make sure that you work only with reputable organizations and that you can verify necessary information about what to expect before you leave home.

There are some amazing opportunities to combine your travel with volunteering. Companies like  Have Fun Do Good  provide the opportunity to do purposeful travel, arranging for your trip to be structured around a service project.

Learn more about how these travel experiences incorporate volunteer projects in our interview with the Founder of Have Fun Do Good, Adam Kunes!

Kind Traveler  and  Discover Corps  also allow you to take your impact beyond your hometown. Or join the “give-back-packers” at  Bamboo  and take your impact across the world. Or, maybe you prefer  saving sea turtles  on a visit to Costa Rica? The possibilities are endless!

The Power of Giving Back

The reasons people volunteer are many and will vary from person to person. What we do know is that when you find the right fit, you’ll enrich the lives of others, and your life will be made better by the experience!

We all contribute to the construction of the world we live in—don’t you want your contribution to be one that makes that world  better ? Working towards equality for everyone will make a better world for all of us! 

Whether you are a high school student volunteering at the food bank, a parent selling Girl Scout cookies, or a senior volunteering at an animal shelter, when your efforts go towards making society better for all of us, we all feel better. It’s a win-win situation. 

Good luck on your search for the right volunteer experience for you and let us know how your experience goes! Happy volunteering!

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The power of volunteerism

People the world over engage in volunteerism for a great variety of reasons: to help to eliminate poverty and to improve basic health and education, to tackle environmental issues, to reduce the risk of disasters or to combat social exclusion and violent conflict. In all of these fields, volunteerism makes a specific contribution by generating well-being for people and their communities.

Volunteers are motivated by values like those of justice, equality and freedom as expressed in the United Nations Charter. A society which supports and encourages different forms of volunteering is likely to be a society which also promotes the well-being of its citizens.

More than 1 billion people volunteer globally , the majority of them serving in their own countries. Many are in the forefront of efforts to improve the way they and their fellow citizens are governed and engaged. Moreover, volunteers are playing a vital role in making governments worldwide more accountable and responsive to their citizens.

They are working with governments and civil society to hold those in power to account and to represent the voices of those who are often left out of development decisions such as women, youth and marginalized groups. The end result is more inclusive –and ultimately more effective– development.

Volunteerism is a basic expression of human relationships. It is about people’s need to participate in their societies and to feel that they matter to others. We strongly believe that the social relationships intrinsic to volunteer work are critical to individual and community well-being. The ethos of volunteerism is infused with values such as solidarity, reciprocity, mutual trust, belonging and empowerment, all of which contribute significantly to quality of life.

Volunteerism and well-being

People the world over engage in volunteerism for a great variety of reasons: to help to eliminate poverty and to improve basic health and education, to provide safe water supply and adequate sanitation, to tackle environmental issues and climate change, to reduce the risk of disasters or to combat social exclusion and violent conflict. In all of these fields, volunteerism makes a specific contribution by generating well-being for people and their communities.

Volunteerism also forms the backbone of many national and international non-governmental organizations and other civil society organizations, as well as social and political movements. It is present in the public sector and is increasingly a feature of the private sector.

There is a widespread view today that gross domestic product (GDP) does not provide an adequate picture of a society because it does not account for the well-being of individuals and their communities. Nor does it include activities that have an economic value but that fall outside the market and therefore have not, traditionally, been reflected in national accounts.

Where mainstream economics fosters values of self-interest and competition to achieve maximum satisfaction, a focus on well-being finds greater reason to value compassion and cooperation, both core values of volunteerism. The discourse on quality of life and well-being, and its place in the evolving development paradigm, must recognize the solidarity and reciprocal values of volunteerism as part of the dynamics that enhance human wellbeing.

A healthy society is one in which importance is given to formal and informal relationships that facilitate interaction and engagement and thus engender a sense of belonging. It is also one in which there is broad participation by all sections of the population. Communities with these characteristics do better in moving forward to meet common aspirations.

Volunteers are more likely to develop civic skills, to attach more importance to serving the public interest as a personal life goal and to be more politically active. Thus, in going about their voluntary activities, individuals are also cultivating an outlook that contributes to a social environment that nurtures the well-being of all.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

The impact of community service – a deep dive into the power of giving back to society.

Community service essays serve as a powerful tool for individuals to reflect on their experiences, values, and impact on the world around them. Through the process of writing about their volunteer work, students are able to articulate the positive changes they have made in their communities and explore the lessons they have learned along the way.

Community service essays also play a crucial role in highlighting the importance of giving back to society and fostering a sense of empathy and compassion in individuals. By sharing personal stories of service, students can inspire others to get involved and make a difference in their own communities.

Moreover, community service essays can help students gain valuable skills such as critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving, as they reflect on the challenges and successes of their volunteer experiences. By documenting their service work, students can also showcase their commitment to social responsibility and community engagement to colleges, scholarship committees, and potential employers.

Why Community Service Essays Matter

In today’s society, the importance of community service essays cannot be overstated. These essays serve as a platform for individuals to showcase their dedication to helping others and making a positive impact on their communities. Through these essays, individuals can share their experiences, insights, and perspectives on the value of giving back to society.

Community service essays also play a crucial role in raising awareness about different social issues and encouraging others to get involved in volunteer work. By sharing personal stories and reflections, individuals can inspire and motivate others to take action and contribute to the betterment of society.

Furthermore, community service essays provide an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their own values, beliefs, and goals. Through the process of writing these essays, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world, leading to personal growth and development.

In conclusion, community service essays matter because they have the power to inspire change, raise awareness, and promote personal growth. By sharing their stories and insights, individuals can make a difference in their communities and create a more compassionate and giving society.

The Impact of Community Service Essays

Community service essays have a profound impact on both the individuals writing them and the communities they serve. These essays serve as a platform for students to reflect on their experiences and articulate the lessons they have learned through their service work.

One of the primary impacts of community service essays is the opportunity for self-reflection. Students are encouraged to critically analyze their experiences, challenges, and accomplishments during their community service activities. This reflection helps students develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their values, and their role in the community.

Another significant impact of community service essays is the awareness they raise about social issues and community needs. By sharing their stories and insights, students can shed light on important issues and inspire others to get involved in community service. These essays can also help community organizations and stakeholders better understand the needs of their communities and how they can address them effectively.

Overall, community service essays play a vital role in promoting social responsibility, empathy, and civic engagement. They empower students to make a positive impact in their communities and contribute to creating a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Guidelines for Writing Community Service Essays

When writing a community service essay, it is important to follow certain guidelines to ensure that your message is clear and impactful. Here are some tips to help you craft a powerful and compelling essay:

• Start by brainstorming ideas and reflecting on your community service experiences.
• Clearly define the purpose of your essay and what you hope to convey to your readers.
• Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
• Use specific examples and anecdotes to support your points and showcase your personal growth.
• Highlight the impact of your community service activities on both yourself and others.
• Showcase your passion and dedication to serving your community.
• Be authentic and honest in your writing, and avoid exaggerating or embellishing your experiences.
• Edit and proofread your essay carefully to ensure clarity, coherence, and proper grammar.

Examples of Effective Community Service Essays

Community service essays can have a powerful impact on the reader when they are well-written and thoughtful. Here are a few examples to inspire you:

1. A Well-Structured Essay:

This essay begins with a compelling introduction that clearly articulates the author’s motivation for engaging in community service. The body paragraphs provide specific examples of the author’s experiences and the impact they had on both the community and themselves. The conclusion ties everything together, reflecting on the lessons learned and the importance of giving back.

2. Personal Reflection:

This essay delves deep into the author’s personal experiences during their community service work. It explores the challenges they faced, the emotions they encountered, and the growth they underwent. By sharing vulnerable moments and candid reflections, the author creates a connection with the reader and demonstrates the transformational power of service.

3. Future Goals and Impact:

This essay not only discusses past community service experiences but also looks toward the future. The author shares their aspirations for continued service and outlines how they plan to make a difference in the world. By showcasing a sense of purpose and vision, this essay inspires the reader to consider their own potential for impact.

These examples illustrate how community service essays can be effective tools for conveying meaningful stories, inspiring others, and showcasing personal growth. By crafting a compelling narrative and reflecting on the significance of service, you can create an essay that leaves a lasting impression.

How Community Service Essays Empower Individuals

Community service essays provide individuals with a platform to express their thoughts, share their experiences, and make a meaningful impact on society. By writing about their volunteer work and the lessons they have learned, individuals can empower themselves to create positive change and inspire others to do the same.

• Through community service essays, individuals can reflect on the importance of giving back to their communities and the value of helping those in need.
• These essays can serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for individuals to continue their philanthropic efforts and make a difference in the world.
• By sharing their stories through community service essays, individuals can raise awareness about social issues and promote greater empathy and understanding among their peers.

Overall, community service essays empower individuals to take action, advocate for change, and contribute to building a more compassionate and equitable society.

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Why volunteer?

Benefit 1: volunteering connects you to others, benefit 2: volunteering is good for your mind and body, benefit 3: volunteering can advance your career, benefit 4: volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life, how to find the right volunteer opportunity, getting the most out of volunteering, volunteering and its surprising benefits.

Volunteering can help you make friends, learn new skills, advance your career, and even feel happier and healthier. Learn how to find the right volunteer opportunity for you.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.

Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Benefits of volunteering: 4 ways to feel healthier and happier

• Volunteering connects you to others.
• Volunteering is good for your mind and body.
• Volunteering can advance your career.
• Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life.

One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

Make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

Increase your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

Volunteering as a family

Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you’ll show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help other people and animals and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you to get to know organizations in the community and find resources and activities for your children and family.

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health.

Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being. Nothing relieves stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety.

Volunteering combats depression. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against depression.

Volunteering makes you happy . By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel.

[Read: Cultivating Happiness]

Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.

Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are less likely to develop high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Speak to a Licensed Therapist

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.

I have limited mobility—can I still volunteer?

People with disabilities or chronic health conditions can still benefit greatly from volunteering. In fact, research has shown that adults with disabilities or health conditions ranging from hearing and vision loss to heart disease, diabetes or digestive disorders all show improvement after volunteering.

Whether due to a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people choose to volunteer their time via phone or computer. In today’s digital age, many organizations need help with writing, graphic design, email, and other web-based tasks. Some organizations may require you to attend an initial training session or periodical meetings while others can be conducted completely remotely. In any volunteer situation, make sure that you are getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should you have questions.

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first.

Teaching you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. For example, you could become an experienced crisis counselor while volunteering for a women’s shelter or a knowledgeable art historian while donating your time as a museum docent.

[Read: Finding the Right Career]

Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you can raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

Gaining career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home.

Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could benefit your career.

When it comes to volunteering, passion and positivity are the only requirements

While learning new skills can be beneficial to many, it’s not a requirement for a fulfilling volunteer experience. Bear in mind that the most valuable assets you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to pitch in wherever needed, and a positive attitude.

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

[Read: Building Better Mental Health]

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, walk dogs for an animal shelter, or help out at a children’s camp.

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. The key is to find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. It’s also important to make sure that your commitment matches the organization’s needs. Ask yourself the following:

• Would you like to work with adults, children, animals, or remotely from home?
• Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?
• Are you better behind the scenes or do you prefer to take a more visible role?
• How much time are you willing to commit?
• What skills can you bring to a volunteer job?
• What causes are important to you?

Consider your interests

You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing? The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling.

What are your volunteering goals?

To find a volunteer position that’s right for you, look for something that matches your personality, skills, and interests. Ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do or achieve as a volunteer.

For example, you might want to:

• Improve your neighborhood.
• Meet new people with different outlooks or experiences.
• Try something new.
• Do something rewarding with your spare time.
• See new places or experience a different way of living.
• Try a new type of work that you might want to pursue as a full-time job.
• Expand on your interests and hobbies.

Consider several volunteer possibilities

Don’t limit yourself to just one organization or one specific type of job. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different. Try to visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click with other staff and volunteers.

Where to find volunteer opportunities

• Community theaters, museums, and monuments.
• Libraries or senior centers.
• Service organizations such as Lions Clubs or Rotary Clubs.
• Local animal shelters, rescue organizations, or wildlife centers.
• Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school programs.
• Historical restorations, national parks, and conservation organizations.
• Places of worship such as churches or synagogues.
• Online directories and other resources (see below).

How much time should you volunteer?

Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial. In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about 100 hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause. The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list.

You’re donating your valuable time, so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:

Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience.

Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.

Don’t be afraid to make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled to stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk to the organization about changing your focus or look for a different organization that’s a better fit.

If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers. Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations.

Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.

VolunteerMatch  – Find opportunities that match your volunteer interests, from location to type of work. (VolunteerMatch)

Idealist  – Find volunteer opportunities in your local area or internationally. (Idealist)

National and Community Service  – Federal organization offering volunteer positions across the U.S. (National Service)

Volunteer  – Directory of environmental volunteer opportunities. (Volunteer.gov)

U.S. Peace Corps  – Offers volunteer opportunities overseas and includes a  50 Plus  division. (Peace Corps)

American Red Cross  – Volunteer in any of the Red Cross’s key service areas. (Red Cross)

More Information

• Simple Changes, Big Rewards - A Practical, Easy Guide for Healthy, Happy Living. (Harvard Medical School Special Health Report)
• The Health Benefits of Volunteering: Recent Research (PDF) - Research on the benefits of volunteering, especially for seniors. (Corporation for National and Community Service)
• The many ways volunteering is good for your heart - Includes resources for finding volunteer positions. (Harvard Health Publications)
• 10 Tips on Volunteering Wisely - Tips to make the most of your volunteering experience. (Network for Good)
• Carr, D. C., Kail, B. L., & Rowe, J. W. (2018). The Relation of Volunteering and Subsequent Changes in Physical Disability in Older Adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B , 73(3), 511–521. Link
• Kim, E. S., Whillans, A. V., Lee, M. T., Chen, Y., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach. American Journal of Preventive Medicine , 59(2), 176–186. Link
• Lawton, R. N., Gramatki, I., Watt, W., & Fujiwara, D. (2021). Does Volunteering Make Us Happier, or Are Happier People More Likely to Volunteer? Addressing the Problem of Reverse Causality When Estimating the Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering. Journal of Happiness Studie , 22(2), 599–624. Link
• Okun, M. A., Yeung, E. W., & Brown, S. (2013). Volunteering by older adults and risk of mortality: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging , 28(2), 564–577. Link
• Salt, E., Crofford, L. J., & Segerstrom, S. (2017). The Mediating and Moderating Effect of Volunteering on Pain and Depression, Life Purpose, Well-Being, and Physical Activity. Pain Management Nursing , 18(4), 243–249. Link

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Why I changed my mind about volunteering

My generation was taught to change the system. That lesson came at a cost.

by Rachel M. Cohen

Last fall, a reader asked me what they could really do, as one person, to aid people living on the streets. “I often feel helpless to enact change,” they wrote. I’d been covering homelessness in America and knew that even the sprawling support organizations that have been working on outreach for decades had failed to end the crisis. My mind immediately went to systemic solutions, like voting for candidates who prioritize building more housing, or supporting efforts to loosen zoning codes.

But when I called experts, their answers surprised me. Some of our ideas overlapped, but many of their suggestions were ones I had admittedly not entertained: passing out socks or hand-warmers, donating items like sleeping bags to local shelters, or giving office supplies and bus passes to nonprofits serving unhoused people.

The reporting left me uneasy. Why did I think only about structural change and disregard more immediate help? And why don’t I do more of those day-to-day charitable things, or know many people who do, either?

I did growing up. I have clear memories of bagging meals at food pantries, of cleaning up parks, of Walking for the Cure. I sold lemonade for Darfur and baked brownies for victims of Katrina. In Hebrew school, I learned about giving tzedakah, a form of charity, and our obligation to “repair the world.”

But over time, those childhood activities started to look, well, childish. My coming of age in the 2010s coincided with critiques of individual action that were gaining prominence in media, politics, and academia — overlapping with a growing national focus on inequality and the climate crisis. It was the era of Occupy Wall Street and Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, and our whole country grew more fluent in rebukes of billionaires and plutocracy.

Different arguments began to emerge: Volunteering, donating, and modifying one’s personal behavior were, at best, unproductive; at worst, they were harmful distractions from the change we really need. Be wary of those tote-bag shoppers at Whole Foods, championing recycling and reducing one’s carbon footprint. Didn’t they know that BP coined the idea of the “carbon footprint” to shift blame off its own oil production? Didn’t they understand that “ lifestyle politics ” was not the answer? Volunteering or bake sales didn’t threaten the status quo. They were what people in power wanted you to be doing.

Real social change would come only from mass protest and collective pressure on governments and corporations. It didn’t hurt that such protests against poverty, police brutality, and rising global temperatures were also exciting, and seemed to offer young people better and more visible ways of making a difference.

As a left-leaning college student, I was persuaded by leaders who warned that personal consumer choices would never amount to real social change. I also grew familiar with arguments by activists and intellectuals that nonprofits were too often complacent and even disincentivized to solve real problems, since doing so could threaten their own funding streams. Contributing my time and money to this “ nonprofit industrial complex ” would be a mistake. Cutting checks wouldn’t change anything other than the balance in my savings account. For real social progress, we’d need systematic policy shifts, comprehensive legislation, and political power.

Since I received the reader’s note about homelessness last fall, I’ve been thinking more about the cost of all this cynicism. Were the arguments against individual action even helpful?

I also started to wonder if these beliefs contributed to the American “ friendship recession ” and loneliness crisis I kept hearing about. Back in 2000, in his book Bowling Alone , political scientist Robert Putnam highlighted declines in American church attendance, volunteering, civic associations, and team sports ; it seems our “social cohesion” had only gotten worse since then. Gen Z and millennials volunteer at lower rates than adults born in earlier generations, even though there is pretty overwhelming research that volunteering and donating makes people happier , and boosts their self-esteem , physical health , and lifespan.

It’s not considered socially acceptable to tout personal benefits derived from charitable acts. It’d be unusual to hear volunteers say they’re going to a soup kitchen to improve their self-esteem. Perhaps this is because those gains suggest that there are more selfish motivations for behaviors we want to think of primarily as selfless. But wealthy philanthropists don’t seem shy about citing their self-interest, and often say their humanitarian work leaves them with deep feelings of pleasure, optimism, and agency.

It struck me as rather sad that those of us who are not billionaires may have convinced ourselves that volunteering or fundraising was mostly a waste of time.

When did I become someone who placed such exhausting value on optimizing my time, anyway? It suddenly felt much more arrogant than altruistic. Convenient, and uncaring.

Perhaps most importantly, had distancing ourselves from charity and service made the world a better place? Has it made my own life better?

A few developments helped sour so many in my left-leaning generation on individual action.

The climate movement over the last 15 years played a leading role, rejecting solutions based on individual responsibility, and emphasizing the limits of forgoing meat or driving hybrid cars. Activists organized worldwide youth climate strikes and pipeline protests , focusing the public’s attention on governments, oil companies, and fossil fuel lobbyists.

In the 2016 presidential primary, where he captured over 70 percent of the Democratic youth vote , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took aim at “corporate polluters” driving the climate emergency. And perhaps no claim had more cultural influence than the widely shared, though misleading , statistic that just 100 companies were responsible for 70 percent of the world’s emissions .

There was also a largely successful effort to link curbing climate change with anti-capitalism. The 2011 Occupy protests got an even bigger boost following Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century , published in English in 2014. ( Vox called it “the most important economics book of the year, if not the decade.”) Naomi Klein’s influential book This Changes Everything , also published in 2014, made the case that capitalism itself was an existential threat, that saving the planet would not be possible without overhauling the economic order.

In many ways, the growing emphasis on collective action felt clarifying, righteous, and long overdue. Student debt activists who emerged from Occupy helped millions of people process their feelings of shame and guilt over falling victim to predatory loans. New and influential left-wing outlets, like Jacobin, helped shape my generation’s consciousness and inspire us to demand more from those in power.

At their best, these collectivist messages inspired hope, agency, and empathy — spelling out a concrete playbook for a more just planet. At their worst, though, they fueled despair, cynicism, and nihilism, promising a better world only if near-impossible political changes were made, and fast. Social and economic conditions were characterized as terribly as possible, to galvanize more people to upend them. Even those who weren’t necessarily looking to foment a revolution contributed to growing negative attitudes around individual action. The Effective Altruist movement , for example, argued that most charities were wasteful and ineffective, save for some rare exceptions.

A recent Harvard Institute of Politics poll found that young people are far more fearful than hopeful about the future: They worry about the moral direction of the country, don’t think their vote will make a real difference, and don’t volunteer for community service. It’s not that people today are choosing to protest instead of recycling; it’s that in our current environment, many people are doing neither. Despite all the attention on collective action and solidarity, many young adults are isolated and pessimistic about social change.

I set a New Year’s resolution to volunteer. Here I was, a self-motivated journalist with professional research skills; finding charitable work I could donate my time to shouldn’t have been too hard.

But it was more difficult than I expected. I’m not a member of a faith-based organization, neither my workplace nor my union organizes volunteer events, and my initial inquiries to nonprofits through volunteermatch.org went ignored. Lacking something I could easily plug into, I felt the poverty of my institutional connections in a new way. Robert Putnam would be nodding sagely, I thought.

Finally, I stumbled on something called a “giving circle,” where people donate money collectively, mostly to local nonprofits. It resembled a book club but for philanthropy, and I found one focused on women and children in the DC area. The full group, roughly 250 people, convenes annually to vote on donating their pooled membership funds, though those who want to be more involved can participate in subcommittees that review grant applications to help narrow down the list. Since I report on housing, I decided to join the housing subcommittee and our group of roughly 20 began meeting weekly on Tuesday nights. ​​It was unfamiliar work, but I appreciated it and all the women involved who took the reviews so seriously. I learned about extraordinary groups in the DC area, like Together We Bake , which has trained hundreds of women in food production, and SafeSpotDC , which helps victims of child abuse.

I also started reading books on volunteering, grasping for new ways to make sense of what I was feeling. I read in Arthur Brooks’s book, Who Really Cares , that secular liberals like myself are stingier givers — less likely to donate to charity or volunteer than the general population, and much less likely to donate or volunteer than religious conservatives. The larger decline in organized religion loomed over this research.

“For many Americans, political opinions are a substitute for personal checks,” Brooks writes. He even observed that proponents of income redistribution were less likely to give blood. “If everyone in the population gave at the same rate as government aid advocates, the supply would drop by about 30 percent,” he reported.

I squirmed when I read this. I’d never given blood. I found a study that said among first-time blood donors, the most frequently cited reason for giving was “influence from a friend.” I couldn’t think of anyone encouraging me to donate, but that felt like a weak excuse.

Around the same time, the Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage ; donors had dropped by 40 percent over the last two decades. With Brooks’ book fresh in my mind, I decided to sign up. In early February, I went downtown to a blood donation center; the whole thing was relatively quick, and I felt happy when I left.

I caught a charitable bug. None of this was hard, I realized. I just hadn’t prioritized any of it. I found a local homeless organization that had an Amazon wish list of needed items. I sent them tampons, pads, wipes, underwear, and hand-warmers, and chided myself for not having done such easy things sooner.

The US has long been defined by its culture of volunteerism. When French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville came to America in the 1830s he marveled at the many civic groups, later arguing that such volunteer organizations were integral to American democracy. Our bustling nonprofit sector would become a global symbol of entrepreneurialism and freedom.

It’s become common to say this vibrant civic fabric has since frayed. America is hanging out less. Our “social fitness” in shambles . But over the last year, I’ve found plenty of data that complicates this narrative.

Volunteer rates have not fluctuated very much over the last 75 years. There were declines in the 1980s, then surges following the 9/11 attacks and again during the Trump presidency. Researchers find mixed evidence that social capital is declining, though there’s more consensus that volunteering itself has become more episodic and time-limited than before. Nonprofit donations are down , but crowdfunding contributions keep soaring .

Some scholars say the Bowling Alone thesis was always missing the forest for the trees, that Putnam’s analysis privileged the kinds of activities white people of means were most likely to do.

“You had the largest immigration rights mobilization in 2006 ever, and then the white people were all reading Putnam,” Erica Kohl-Arenas, a professor of American Studies at the University of California, Davis, told me. “Numbers are not down in terms of people as part of associations, groups, or affiliated networks, but they might be down in terms of those who say, ‘I’m going to go look at the Yellow Pages to do five hours of service a week.’”

In contrast to the Yellow Pages form of service, so-called informal volunteering — meaning unpaid acts of service not coordinated through legal nonprofits — is harder to track, practiced more by communities of color, and almost never included in official counts of philanthropy.

“There’s lots of volunteering that doesn’t involve an organization,” said Mark Snyder, the director of the Center for the Study of the Individual and Society at the University of Minnesota. “When neighbors on a block shoot a message to your group text asking if someone can keep an eye on your kid, or bring over a meal, these things aren’t considered volunteering. But do you get paid for it? Do you get a sense of benefit by helping?”

Paul Schervish, a retired sociologist who directed the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, spent his career urging colleagues to take interpersonal and intra-family caregiving more seriously. He noted that while charitable giving is measured at roughly $500 billion annually in the US, remittances to relatives in poorer countries exceed $100 billion per year.

“None of those payments are included in what we talk about when we talk about philanthropy,” he told me. “Furthermore, Hispanics rank lower on charitable giving than other ethnic groups, but part of that is they are offering their homes up to family and living with extended family members so much more often, and carrying out these remittances. Care for each other, and even within your own family, is something that we don’t pay attention to.”

Schervish argues that a proper understanding of philanthropy has always been more vast than the way Putnam and conventional theorists have sliced and diced it. It should encompass both informal aid for friends and family, and acts of service for people more distant from you. Look no further than the Greek word philia , he says, referring to non-romantic love, that shares the same root as our modern word philanthropy.

“ Philia or friendship love, for Aristotle, extends out in concentric circles from the family to the entire species,” Schervish has written. “Friendship love is a relation of mutual nourishment that leads to the virtuous flourishing of both parties.”

Or put differently, rather than debate whether acts of philanthropy are motivated by selfishness or selflessness, or whether it “counts” if it’s service for your aunt versus your neighbor versus a child in Africa, Schervish encourages thinking about donors, volunteers, and all caregivers as people who take action in connection with others, who “view others in need as familial.”

I took the point that the popular view on social cohesion may have oversights. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that people today are feeling more despair, especially younger people.

I know firsthand that many Americans are overwhelmed by negative news stories, which compound in exhausting ways. It’s become far too hard to know what’s true, and all the contradictory information leads some to give up trying to make sense of the world altogether. The proportion of readers who say they avoid news is close to an all-time high.

Volunteering wouldn’t solve these problems, but given what we know about volunteering’s benefits, it seems it could certainly help. One University of Oxford researcher surveyed over 45,000 employees whose companies offered wellness benefits like massage classes, coaching sessions, and mindfulness workshops. The only option that seemed to actually have a positive effect on well-being, the study found, were those jobs that provided workers with opportunities for charity or volunteering.

A friend from my giving circle pointed out that the vast number of activities billed as self-care are pricey beauty treatments, boutique fitness classes, and other ways to “treat” ourselves. They all tend to advance the idea that feeling better, and even simply feeling good, is found in helping oneself rather than each other.

Still, it can be harder for young people today to volunteer, Snyder, from the University of Minnesota, told me. “Young people are scrambling more than cohorts before to make a living, making ends meet through multiple jobs,” he said. “There are fewer discretionary hours available in a day.”

I reached out to the Making Caring Common Project at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. In 2014, it found that a large majority of American teenagers value personal achievement and happiness over caring for others, priorities they felt their parents also shared. Richard Weissbourd, who directs the center, told me they’ve re-surveyed youths several times over the last decade and found similar results. Teens consistently rank happiness and personal achievement most highly, and caring for others and concern for the common good at the bottom.

“The irony of course is that by encouraging everyone to prioritize individual success and happiness, people are getting further from the kinds of activities and mental frameworks that drive satisfaction, fulfillment, community, and peace,” Weissbourd said.

While most news stories on mental health tend to focus on youth struggling in middle and high school, Weissbourd said his research has him worrying most about people ages 18 to 25, who he finds doing “twice as badly” as younger teens. “There’s a lot of apocalyptic thinking and not a lot of action there,” he said. “It’s like a deep tiredness, a feeling like people are in deep winter.”

Meanwhile, though the climate crisis drove people like me to be more distrusting of calls for individual action, some climate leaders have been calling for a different approach. More activists now stress that systemic and individual change should be understood as two sides of the same coin , and that individual action can be necessary for building sustainable, transparent political movements.

“A fixation on system change alone opens the door to a kind of cynical self-absolution that divorces personal commitment from political belief,” Jason Mark, the editor of Sierra magazine, wrote in 2019 . “This is its own kind of false consciousness, one that threatens to create a cheapened climate politics incommensurate with this urgent moment.”

In his book Giving Done Right , Phil Buchanan, the president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, refers to a longstanding debate over whether it’s useful for donors to spend money on alleviating effects of problems, rather than attacking the problems’ underlying causes. Philanthropy certainly has some great victories in funding “root” solutions, but Buchanan urges against the mentality that only permanently eradicating a problem is worth doing. “You shouldn’t assume that a focus on roots is necessarily superior,” he writes. “Trimming branches is also important.”

In a way, it can feel safe to distrust the value of individual action. Being wary of philanthropy and charitable groups that promise to better the world resonates with the skepticism I’ve been trained to have, professionally and culturally. It also allows me to avoid making sacrifices; there’s no real vulnerability or bets required.

But as time goes on, and as I think about the family I might one day raise , I’m coming to appreciate the value of letting go and taking gambles on hope, as long as they point generally in the moral direction I want to go.

With all these questions swirling in my head, I cold-emailed a local rabbi. She offered to meet and pointed me to a story in Exodus about Jews who agreed to accept the Torah from God before really knowing what was in it. “Naaseh v’nishma,” the Israelites said, which roughly translates to “we’ll do, and then we’ll understand.” The lesson, the rabbi told me, is about diving in with imperfect information, of learning through doing.

Schervish, the retired sociologist, thinks I should worry less about carving time outside of my regular routine to volunteer, and to count acts of service I take for my friends, partner, colleagues, and others just as much as philanthropy organized through 501c(3)s.

“Meeting the true needs of others is how you nourish somebody, but what that nourishment is, and what those true needs are — we’re always going to find people debating about that,” he told me. “And you’re going to have debates within yourself. But it’s always the right question.”

This was his gentle reminder that determining how to live morally requires wrestling that is messy, personal, and evolving. I haven’t figured it all out yet. But I don’t want imperfect information to stop me from diving in, now.

Naaseh v’nishma, I signed up to donate blood again.

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