Volunteering is a great way to help your community and make a difference. From lending time once in a while to becoming involved on a regular basis, there are numerous benefits to volunteering. If you’ve never volunteered before, you may have questions. The following information is provided to help answer any and all questions you may have.

Why Volunteer?
There are many reasons why people volunteer. Here are some of them:

• Help others
• Make a difference
• Find purpose
• Connect with your community
• Contribute to a cause that you care about
• Use your skills in a productive way
• Develop new skills
• Meet new people
• Expand your horizons
• Strengthen your resume

What Should You Consider Before Volunteering?

• What type of time commitment would you like to make? Some volunteer programs, especially those involving mentoring a child, require an ongoing commitment. Others are one-time activities. Determine how often you want to volunteer. One time? Two or three times a year? Monthly? Weekly?
• When can you volunteer? What are your existing work and family commitments? Are you available during the day? In the evenings? On weekends?
• What types of causes do you want to support? Think about an issue you care about. Perhaps you want to volunteer because of something that has affected you personally. Do you want to work directly with children, seniors, or individuals with disabilities? Or would you rather work "behind the scenes" helping to stock a food pantry? Do you want to volunteer outside helping an environmental organization?
• Do you want to share an existing talent or develop a new one? Perhaps you can play an instrument or sing and would like to perform in a nursing home or hospital. Maybe you are an accountant and want to share your talents as a board member of a local non-profit organization. Maybe you have a flair for planning special events? Do you enjoy reading and want to listen to a young child learn how to read?
• Would you like to volunteer on your own or with a group, including your family? Decide whether you would like to volunteer on your own, with your family, or as part of another group such as work or church. If your time is limited and you have children, you may want to consider a volunteer activity where you can all help out.
• How far are you willing to travel? Would you rather stay in your own community? Or are you willing to travel further if you feel passionate about an organization’s programs?
• Try it out! Don’t feel as if you need to make a commitment right away. Call the organization’s volunteer coordinator, learn more about the program, and give it a try!

Ten Tips for Wise Volunteering
The Independent Sector has compiled a list of strategies to guide your volunteer efforts.

Volunteer Resources
The Foundation Center has a list of resources that address topics such as recruiting, management, risk management, evaluation, diversity, young volunteers, senior volunteers, women volunteers, family volunteering, international volunteerism, and E-volunteerism.

The Value of Volunteer Time
The national estimated dollar value of volunteer time was $21.36 per hour for 2010.

Statistics on Volunteering in the United States
In 2010, about 62.8 million Americans volunteered. Statistics including characteristics of volunteers, annual hours of volunteer activities, and number of organizations for which volunteer activities were performed are on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Send Us Your Reason for Volunteering
Tell us why you volunteer or share a special story about your volunteer activity through our Connect page.