Guest Contributor: Indiana Lee

When disaster strikes, communities often find themselves vulnerable and in need of support. This is where the compassionate efforts of volunteers come into play. Volunteering in disaster-affected areas can provide much-needed relief and support, offering hope and assistance to those facing unprecedented challenges.

Volunteerism provides nonprofits with a readily available and enthusiastic workforce to help execute projects, expand reach, and address community needs. With the help of volunteers, organizations can reallocate operational costs to other initiatives, provide extra hands for various projects, and tap into a variety of skills and expertise that can be used to further the organization’s mission. Not to mention, most volunteers (76%, according to Double the Donation’s fundraising statistics) also contribute to nonprofits as donors. 

Your school is fully committed to nurturing student learning and growth, but teachers and staff can’t do it all alone.

Imagine a volunteer community where every person feels valued and empowered to make a difference. Creating a vibrant and engaged community is easier than you might think! It starts with simple, fun activities that show your volunteers they matter to your nonprofit. 

Did you know that about one-third of the nonprofit workforce comprises unpaid volunteers? These supporters assist with everything from administrative tasks to fundraising events to essential everyday chores, freeing up time for your staff.

Volunteers are the backbone of your nonprofit—they’re critical to your success in fundraising and service delivery. Throughout their time supporting your organization, volunteers will learn a lot about your mission and inner workings, which will likely lead to them forming their own opinions about your image in the community.

Guest Contributor: Indiana Lee

According to Double the Donation's volunteer statistics report, more than 60 million people volunteer annually in the US alone. Why? For some, it’s the chance to forge meaningful connections, and for others, it’s the feeling of giving back to a community or cause that they hold dear. Some people even start volunteering because of their employer’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, such as volunteer time off or volunteer grants.

Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of talking to leaders of volunteers about their commitments to equity and access in volunteerism. This has been part of the Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion (ADEVI) project. ADEVI is a multi-faceted investigation of the diversity of volunteer administrators and the equity journey of organizations they work in. The project's guiding principle is that organizations that are attuned to inclusiveness will be able to engage a more diverse cross-section of their communities. The project is a partnership between Arizona State University (ASU) and the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA), funded by AmeriCorps, a federal agency in the United States.

Guest Contributor: Indiana Lee

The success of many nonprofits hinges on the time and dedication of its volunteers. Their skills, particularly, are directly connected to how effectively your projects and day-to-day operations run.