Ten Years of Volunteering: Lessons Learned
“All-volunteer organizations (AVOs) are a major social and economic force, but are seldom given credit for their work. Through all-volunteer organizations, people conquer alcoholism, clean up beaches, care for the dying, coach basketball teams, advocate for gun control, rescue abused animals, raise their voices in song, publish literary journals, raise scholarship funds, preserve local history, serve as volunteer fire departments, organize protest marches, exchange heirloom seeds, host visitors from foreign countries, change public perception about the disabled, help adoptees and birth parents find each other, and in thousands of ways make our communities work better.”
Over the past ten years I have volunteered with several nonprofit organizations, in various roles.
I have served on the boards of organizations such as Trellis for Tomorrow, and Bench Mark Program, mentored youth in programs run by Philly Futures (now part of Heights Philadelphia), and Blue Heron Foundation, hosted US State Department Mandela Fellows for Citizens Diplomacy International (now part of World Affairs Council), and picked up hundreds of pounds of litter in local communities and parks, advocating for Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
I have learned a lot of important lessons over the years. In this article I am sharing my insights, hoping they will inspire a younger generation of professionals looking to volunteer part time while maintaining and growing their career in the business world.
Immediate Positive Impact
The most obvious benefit is that doing volunteer work, whether in a program managed by a nonprofit organization, or directly in your community, brings personal and societal benefit right away. This is where you know from the outset you can help, and the results typically deliver on that expectation.
Whether it is working indirectly with other program beneficiaries, such as in a soup kitchen or community garden, or applying more advanced skills like grant writing, fundraising, or recruiting the executive director for an organization, the satisfaction of knowing that through your contribution, time, and/ or effort you have helped someone or a cause is extremely rewarding.
Networking and Connections
Another benefit that comes through volunteering is that of making new connections and meeting likeminded people who also value serving their community. And you may not always know exactly who you will meet, which team you will be part of, and what new connection you will have the chance to make. That makes it even more appealing.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to learn from inspiring mentors. I met amazing professionals and leaders I would not have otherwise had a chance to meet, had it not been for our mutual desire to make a positive difference. The nonprofit community is filled with folks who are leaders in their field, and who have or had very successful careers.
During COVID I became a member of the NACD, the National Association of Corporate Directors, an organization whose members serve on the boards of nonprofit organizations, and private and public companies.
The NACD provides not just excellent networking opportunities, but emphasizes advancing one’s skills and knowledge of fundamental corporate governance topics.
Personal Growth and Development
Beyond the immediate, observable benefits, and connecting with dedicated and capable people you meet along the way, regularly volunteering for causes you believe in is a journey in learning and self-discovery.
Lessons abound not just about the domain and specific segment you’re serving in, but about what work or cause resonates most deeply with you, and what is the change you truly wish to see in the world. It is enriching and almost like finding your calling or vocation, to come across the work you would to and keep on doing, without ever being paid a penny for it. For example, I have learned that I enjoy helping with environmental cleanups, and contributing to efforts that restore our planet. I also enjoy learning, research and writing.
That is why I started www.OneBeautifulPlanet.org, an online platform for educating and inspiring others to act toward a cleaner, healthier world. I plan to share the knowledge that I have accumulated, share my goals for reducing our collective adverse impact on our environment and hopefully encourage participation.
Overall, actively volunteering in your community offers personal growth, social impact, and networking benefits, all of which can enrich your life and advance your professional journey.
So go volunteer, contribute, learn and have fun! The world, and you as well will be better for it.
