5 Reasons You Should Give Back

By: Kelly Trace

I don't really ever need a reason to volunteer. I'm such a sucker, and by that I mean that I usually cave after the first ask... but I do it because it makes me feel good (and with this head cold, I'm thinking a volunteer sesh is in order as soon as I'm a little better!). And over the years of volunteering, I've started to realized that I do it for more than just "feeling good." and I thought these might be helpful to other people looking for reasons to volunteer. Below you'll find five reasons why you should volunteer other than "It's good for you" and "You get a chance to give back to the community." 


1. You can gain professional career experience.
We're in the middle of a huge learning economy. Gen-Yers are learning constantly and have become very competitive in the job market. By volunteering your time to an organization, you can sharpen your skillz (yup, with a z) and help out a non-profit at the same time.

2. It saves resources. 
The value just ONE HOUR of volunteering saves an organization is $22.14 as stated by the IRS in 2012. There are some employees, upper management even, at non-profits I work with that don't even make that much. That tells you how valuable you can be as a volunteer to an organization.

3. It brings people together.
When you volunteer, you meet people from all kinds of different backgrounds. Who knows, maybe you can even learn a few words in a new language or find out something about a particular culture you never knew. 

4. It shows you go beyond what is required.
By volunteering with organizations, it shows potential or current employers that you're willing to do more than is required of you. 

5. It fights stress.
Group volunteer work can help reduce stress and gives you a greater sense of meaning. Anytime you get the opportunity to change your perspective even the slightest bit, you're giving your body the chance to reduce stressors and give you back control. Research also shows that donating money to organizations has similar effects. Companies could take note of this and have a volunteer day where employees get an afternoon off early to volunteer with their favorite organization. This invites them to come back the next day renewed and ready for work.


What is your reason?

Kelly