Thinking about retirement often means thinking about volunteering. With more available time, it’s a way to give back. It’s a chance to identify our interests, harness our skills and put them to good use for the benefit of others. All on our own schedule, without having to punch a time clock. Simple and easy, right?
Not always, as I’ve learned more than once.
I’m someone who believes in volunteering. It gives me purpose and provides help to organizations and individuals who can use it. I’ve served in a variety of different roles—including a literacy tutor for ESL adult learners, an organizer for a food pantry, an assistant to horticulturists at a botanical garden and as a board member more than once—and had both good and awful experiences.
And I’ve learned a number of lessons as a result.
One volunteer experience from hell
I had high hopes for this opportunity. I’d recently moved to a new town and learned that there was an organization whose mission was to advance children’s literacy. Being a strong supporter of literacy initiatives, I thought this might have potential. I met with the volunteer coordinator and learned that they were looking for a photographer to shoot their first annual 5K walk and run fundraiser. Perfect! I could put my photography skills to good use for a good cause.
On the day of the race, I arrived early and scoped out the course and the best places to get my shots. It was a glorious day—perfect weather. I was totally absorbed in my task, and I managed to get a photo of each participant as they crossed the finish line. The next week I showed the prints to the volunteer coordinator and she was thrilled. She decided they would put some on their website right away, use them to create the promo poster for the following year’s event and send each participant their finish-line shot. My photos would be put to good use.
One week later, the coordinator called me with bad news. The executive director had also been taking photos at the event. He decided that his photos would be put on the website, used for the promo poster and sent to participants. He had asked her to relay the message to me that if I wanted to print and give them my finish-line photos, they would “put them in the envelopes along with his.” She told me—in confidence—that my photos were far superior (she was right) but that he had overridden her decision.
I gave them my photos, but I was pissed off and hurt. I can’t think of a better example of a way to turn off a potential volunteer. Clearly this organization had communication problems, a leader with an ego issue and an organizational inability to welcome and appreciate their volunteers.
At first, I vowed not to have anything further to do with them. But there were few other opportunities in this small town, I liked the volunteer coordinator, and the group’s literacy mission spoke to me. I found other roles to take on that had little contact with the executive director. Unfortunately, their inability to appreciate volunteers never changed, so I moved on after two years and found another opportunity with another organization.
One volunteer experience from heaven
My father spent the last eleven days of his life in hospice care. The caring support that the volunteers provided to him and our family was so selfless and profound that I vowed that someday I would become a hospice volunteer.
That day came two years ago. I went through pre-training interviews, an intense and intensive training program and a post-training interview, then began serving dying individuals and their families. Throughout, I’ve experienced constant and tangible support and thanks from this hospice organization.
I know that hospice volunteering is not for everyone. And I’ve learned that bringing it up at a social get-together can quickly silence the conversation. Yes, it forces you to face your ideas, fears and misconceptions about death. That was part of the motivation for me.
Unexpectedly, it has become so much more. I’m a naturally curious person and a great listener. I can sit in silence with someone and be comfortable in the face of tears and grief. I can put myself aside. Listening to another person’s life story and learning about who they’ve loved and who has loved them is an honor and a gift. We laugh, observe the simple joys of life, talk about anything and everything or nothing. The individuals and families are grateful, but I often feel that I’m the one who is getting more.
This volunteer role fills me up like no other has. The role, the organization and their mission harmonize perfectly with my skills and interests.
What I’ve learned about volunteering
There is a wide universe of volunteer opportunities; just about anything exists. With a lot of self-awareness and some persistence, you can find a good match. Here’s some of what I’ve learned that has helped me find worthwhile volunteer roles:
- Identify your interests first. Then do some research and find organizations whose missions align with yours. Just because an organization does good work doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you. Do your homework.
- Honestly assess your strengths (and weaknesses) and know what you bring to the opportunity. It will help you evaluate the volunteer roles they are offering.
- Know why you are volunteering. It ought to be for a better reason than just filling time.
- Volunteering somewhere simply because a friend suggests it, or wants you to volunteer with her, will often be a mistake. An organization’s mission may align with her interests and skills but maybe not with yours.
- Interview the organization. Have a list of questions about what’s important to you and ask them of the volunteer coordinator and/or the executive director. Meet and talk with some of the other volunteers and ask more questions.
- Understand that it takes time and commitment to find the right volunteer gig. You have to be persistent and patient.
- Pay attention to how you’re treated. It should be with respect and gratitude.
- Expect that some volunteer roles you take on will turn out to not be right for you. It might not have been right from the beginning or the situation may change over time.
- It’s ok to stop volunteering when it isn’t a good fit. Your time is valuable and a gift to others, so give it where it feels right and where it’s wanted and valued.
- Take it slowly. Resist the urge to simply fill your time in retirement. Adjust to one volunteer role before considering taking on an additional one.
It took time, and a lot of trial-and-error, for me to learn how to assess myself as a potential volunteer and how to evaluate opportunities as a potential good fit. I know my approach is different—I’ve had volunteer coordinators tell me that they feel as if they and their organizations are being interviewed when they meet with me. Well, of course they are! My time and skills are valuable, and I won’t waste them in an inappropriate role or with an organization that doesn’t respect my contribution.
Whether you are already volunteering or considering it for the first time, kudos to you for taking it on. Hopefully, what I’ve learned can help you in your process of finding a fulfilling and rewarding volunteer gig.
What’s been your experience with volunteering? What lessons has volunteering taught you? Please share in the comments below!
This is so timely as I have just retired and have today just been looking at the various Volunteering sites. A colleague also told me to take time to find something suitable, he jumped at the first thing to come along and ended up feeling useless and demotivated as it did not suit his skillset. After another 6 months of looking he found something he loved!
Congrats on your retirement, Pauline! So glad this post is timely for you. Best of luck in your search for a volunteer gig that fits you well and that you will love too.
I have thought about doing some volunteering but haven’t quite gotten over the idea that I should be paid for my time and services. Perhaps I need to have a paid gig and then supplement with a volunteer gig.
That sounds like a good possibility, Patricia. You have to do what makes sense for you (and you alone, right?). And if you’re feeling that you may resent unpaid work, that probably doesn’t bode well for your happiness in a volunteer role.
We are working with a lot of unretired people – they are trying to find new ways to use their skills. Volunteering/helping charities is a minefield and Leslie highlights many of the issues. However, one of the biggest is that people volunteer cold to an organisation – and then never get a reply. One of the things we try and get people to do is use their networks and find ways to get introductions. Get it right and as Leslie says it can be hugely rewarding
Using one’s network to find organizations looking for volunteers and get introductions is a great suggestion, Victoria. Thanks for sharing your insight.
This is great advice. I think that knowing when to leave a volunteer role is critical. I previously volunteered for two amazing organizations, both of which were very rewarding and which met my interests and goals for the work I was doing. When one changed leadership I realized that they did not respect the time and hard work I had dedicated to the organization, and I decided to step away. The other was a new organization, going through a normal growth cycle. As they grew, however, I realized that my role wasn’t as relevant for the future goals they had put in place. There were no hard feelings, and we’ve stayed in touch. I was glad to have been able to add value at the beginning of their journey. Now I am searching for new opportunities near my new home, keeping in mind the lessons from prior experience.
Great point, Kathy. Not all volunteer roles work out forever, and you share two good examples. Knowing when to leave is important – and since we are giving our time and skills gratis, we should occasionally double check to see if everything still matches up as intended. Thanks for commenting.
There is Politics in Volunteer work as in Paid work! I volunteered for a nonprofit after being recruited as an expert for their charity. Not only was there infighting among board members but among the founders who were siblings! Unfortunately in my enthusiasm I gave them a 2 year commitment. In hindsight I should have left sooner commitment or not.
Ah, yes, the dreaded politics. It seems that no matter where people congregate together, politics plays a role. And I, like you Haralee, have been affected by it in some of my volunteer service. It certainly can sour the experience, and I think it absolutely can be a good reason for quitting. Thanks, Haralee, for your insight.
I wonder what would happen to communities if all the volunteers withdrew? Are we getting a hint of that during this pandemic response? I think we have to evaluate the resources we have to offer – time, skills, money. There are so many ways to volunteer whether in an administrative role or hands on/boots on the ground role. I also think we need to examine our values and the fit with an organization. Sometimes ad hoc volunteering works better than a formal commitment.
Great observations, Mona. Thanks for sharing them.