Volunteers Down & Out?

According to the Indianapolis Star and a survey of local nonprofits conducted by United Way of Central Indiana, volunteerism is down. This at a time when nonprofits need them most!

More than half of the 71 nonprofits surveyed said they were relying more on volunteers than last year. At the same time, more than a third reported that their volunteer pool is shrinking.

It’s no suprise that giving is down as the recession has taken hold of the state, but volunteerism? Hoosiers are home taking care of their own. Multiple jobs, entreprenurial pursuits, or no job at all … these are all high stress situations and a lot is on the line. Simply put, everyone is resetting their priorities.

According to MetLife’s 2009 Study of the American Dream, 40% of Americans say they are donating to charity less often and an average of 23% are spending less time in their communities. It also points out that Gen X and Gen Y trend highest – 24% and 35% respectively in their communities “less often.” The study summarizes:

Unlike years past, when religion, community and charity factored into the achievement of the dream, the current dream is focused squarely on self/family.

So how do we re-engage Hoosiers into volunteer roles? There is a national call by our President and First Lady, and we are reminded lately of Kennedy’s call – to ask not what your country can do for you… but what are other strategies for civic engagement? for volunteerism? for getting help to assist those who need it most?

Here are a few tips for engaging a younger volunteer contingent:

* Get them involved online first.
* Make it personal – Use causal language and talk to them directly.
* Give them something very specific to do – Don’t say you need general office help. nobody wants to file in their spare time…
* Illustrate to them how their assistance will make an impact in numbers. Volunteer hours are worth real $’s and time that supplement and sometimes replace staff.
* Retain them with constant communication – thank them, and thank them again.
* Ask for their feedback – and thank them for it.

Hoosiers are out of work and tied to home. And this fact is primarily to blame for the lack of volunteers. But what better an activity to lift our spirits and add to our resume than volunteering for a local nonprofit? Many unemployed have skills that charities need and there are only so many hours in a day to send out resumes. Plus, nonprofits are community centers that are great places to network (with other volunteers, with board members, staff…).

If you’re not already a volunteer, consider it. If you work for an organization looking for volunteers, reevaluate your strategy to fit current events. In short:

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility: a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world. – President Barack Obama

You can find this post and other stories that illustrate Hoosiers' giving spirit on my blog: Celebrate Philanthropy Indiana