If you’ve been feeling lonely or isolated during this time, consider becoming an online volunteer. 96 percent reported that volunteering enriched their sense of purpose in life.78 percent of them said that volunteering lowered their stress levels.94 percent of people who volunteered in the last twelve months said that volunteering improved their mood.76 percent of people who volunteered in the last twelve months said that volunteering has made them feel healthier.Look at these results from a 2013 study by UnitedHealth Group: And it appears that it’s good for us! This is just as true for digital volunteers as it is for traditional volunteers. But there’s something else that drives people. Helping others is the prime motivator for volunteering. Other reasons to consider engaging in a virtual volunteering opportunity, according to balance small business: you can work for multiple causes and organizations, you can spend more time volunteering, you can find opportunities that match your unique skills and passions, and you can fulfill education goals or hit career path milestones. Your time commitment can be as much or as little as you are able to give, and often with no set hours per week. If you’re disabled or a person living in a remote location that makes volunteering difficult, offering your services online may be the perfect solution. With most virtual opportunities or tasks, you can work after hours or on weekends. Don’t have time during the day? No problem. Plus, you can help on your schedule rather than having to adhere to the limited schedule an organization may offer. Because you’re not limited by a specific location or hours, you can use your extra time taking part in a virtual opportunity to help organizations on the other side of the country or even on the other side of the world! Compared to doing traditional volunteer work, virtual volunteers engaging in remote opportunities or tasks have much more flexibility in offering their time and resources. Why Should I Engage In Virtual Volunteer Opportunities?īesides the fact that you are helping others, there are several great reasons to consider engaging in a virtual volunteer opportunity. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection and you, too, can join the global army of online volunteers making a difference in one organization, or more, from the comfort and safety of their homes. Turning to a virtual opportunity for volunteering became a safe way to help people and nonprofit organizations during this time.īecoming an online volunteer is easy. In fact, as the pandemic spread and the needs grew, so did the desire of many to help their communities get through this unprecedented time. But that hasn’t stopped people from wanting to help their neighbors. With the pandemic forcing widespread quarantines, many of these volunteer opportunities have been put on hold. Before the Coronavirus pandemic turned our lives upside down, most people considered volunteering in the traditional sense – giving of their time at a specific charity or location like a school, food pantry, soup kitchen, crisis center, youth service, a library, or a retirement care home. Also called ‘digital volunteering’, ‘online volunteering’ or ‘cyber volunteering’, volunteering this way is a virtual opportunity that’s been around since the rise of the Internet in the 1990s but hasn’t really taken hold until recently. " Tips for Nonprofits on Using Volunteers." Accessed April 9, 2020.The idea of ‘virtual volunteering’ has become more popular with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. " What equipment do you need to Zoom?" Accessed April 8, 2020. "' Top Ten Tips for 'Serving Sensibly'." Accessed April 8, 2020. " Nonprofit Considerations For Starting a Virtual Volunteering Program." Accessed April 9, 2020. " The Last Virtual Volunteering Guidebook: Fully Integrating Online Service into Volunteer Involvement," -77. " Microvolunteering." Accessed April 9, 2020. Accessed April 8, 2020.Ĭentrepreneurs' Foundation of SVCF. " The Remote Option: Smart Technology for Creating Virtual Teams,". " Remote Workers and Telecommuting Practices for Nonprofits." Accessed April 8, 2020. " Virtual Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer From Anywhere." Accessed April 8, 2020. " The Last Virtual Volunteering Guidebook: Fully Integrating Online Service into Volunteer Involvement,".