What are some strategies for balancing non-profit volunteering and your career?

Setting up clear expectations upfront plays an important role which can further increase the impact multifold. Also, many a times, volunteers can also feel burnout as they may over commit, so setting clear expectations helps both the non profit and the volunteer in all right ways.

Often there is a big gap between intent and action. While a lot of organizations encourage employee volunteering as a necessary tool for employee engagement, it is also subjugated to business priorities which prop up regularly. So setting clear expectations with both your organization and the Non-Profit on your availability schedules are extremely important. Start with putting up your hand for event based volunteering activities. eg.. a day of tree plantations, school wall painting exercise, plogging etc. This would help you get your feet wet and get a sense of satisfaction first before signing up for long term engagements with Non-profits

Be mindful of your personal expectations while volunteering and establish your own boundaries in terms of time commitment and objectives. Volunteering can be very rewarding, often from a deep personal connection to a particular project or charity. However, when your passion for the cause runs deep, there's a risk of becoming truly captivated in it and potentially prioritising your volunteer work over your regular job, family, or even self-care.

Before getting into the how's of balancing a professional career and contributions into non-profit volunteering work (technically, the strategies), it is important to consider the why? The why is a strong reason one would, in the first place, choose to volunteer. Not everybody chooses to do so. Millions of people are existing a satisfied life with just a career. So, the WHY behind wanting to volunteer has to be a strong call from within to contribute. It comes from the feeling that I have enough and now I can give. It also comes from the feeling that I am empowered enough or blessed enough to be able to give. When the call is so strong, a volunteering project that aligns with your call becomes your life purpose.

I've done volunteer work for years in many non-profit settings; some very personal to me. As with any role, volunteer or otherwise, it's good to understand leadership as well as the tasks/goals you will be working toward. In some regards, it's not much different from an employer/employee relationship as to be successful you have to have clear communication, check ins and goals you can track with leadership.

I've been taking care of the community animals since I was a kid. Changing schools didn't matter, changing localities didn't matter, going off to colleges didn't matter, changing jobs didn't matter. None of it mattered because I don't think of it as "volunteer WORK", I volunteer to do this whereever I am, to the best of my abilities, because this is a cause that's close to my heart. If you'll think of it as more work, of course every kind of issue will follow. Start with accepting it as part of your life - like sleeping, eating, exercising. And if really matters to you, doing something for others will become your outlet from everything else in your own life and you'll actually start drawing energy from it.

Alignment and Assignment When volunteering for any organization make sure you aligned with the mission. When this mission, Values, and experience are aligned people are more likely to fulfill the task they are assigned. Thats why assignment usually proceeds alignment.

Purely as an alternate point of view, choose non-profits which are totally different from your current role and skillsets. These experiences help you grow out of your comfort zone and help you learn new skillsets. eg. Volunteer for wildlife causes - be a part of a wildlife census etc. It would open you up to a totally new set of experiences which would then enhance your need to contribute. Your resume would also be richer by adding breath of experiences rather than depth.

In my experience, volunteering is driven by passion, often leading to a significant investment of one's "free" time. It's crucial to strategically plan and allocate the number of hours one can dedicate to volunteer activities, whether it's a daily commitment or a weekly engagement. Clearly defining your time commitment and identifying the specific contributions you can make not only enhances your impact but also safeguards against burnout. By proactively managing your involvement, you ensure a sustainable and fulfilling experience in the world of volunteering

This is extremely important to do volunteering long term. I have had projects that I was indifferent about and it made me think that volunteering was not for me. Once the area of the non-profit aligns with your values it doesn’t feel like you volunteer just for the sake of it.

Don't let guilt drive how you work. You can only give your best when you're at your best, and being your best requires a balance. When you feel overwhelmed know that you have a team standing with you and ask for help.

When you're stretched thin, you can't be everything to everyone no matter how much you want to. When I transitioned from college into my career, I took stock of which organizations I could feasibly continue to be involved in at a high level. Scaling back my involvement and being selective in taking on new positions was crucial, as it allowed me to focus my energy where I felt I could be the most helpful.

Use paid time off or vacation days for volunteering, that way you will never feel over burdened. Also, only commit to timelines which are feasible as per your work calendar alignment.

Before you sign up, it is called Volunteering. After you do, you need to consider it as a 'Must do' rather than a 'will probably do'. There are people who would depend on your presence and your availability to chart out certain expected outcomes and your absence would indeed be a problem. Once you sign up, put it on your calendar. Dont make it an alternative to something else which COULD come up.

It’s important to volunteer in a space that is your passion. But also understand that setting expectations for your volunteering, work, and self-care is just as crucial as being present in all those facets. When priorities start to be competitive, it is imperative to place perspective on the ask and leverage the team around you to collaborate on the request to provide adequate support.

Always wise when offering a volunteer program whether be it for vocation skills (industry skill enhancement) or purely as an alternative experience-only type program to differentiate the two. Any volunteer program designed as a hybrid of both must take serious consideration with clearly set parameters on the delivery mechanism and how to manage the expectations of the candidates as well as a comprehensive measurement of the success of such a program.

Look at opportunities to bring the component of your volunteering to your office too. Bring in others from your team to your volunteering activities, get students you mentor into the office and give them an office environment for a day. Make use of opportunities to talk about how your personal experiences have helped you change your perspectives. These will help in communicating the impact while also giving you the leeway to negotiate a tough choice since your organization has already seen the impact you are making.

To balance with employment & volunteering, one needs to understand compound/multiplication effect. In order to gain more impact of volunteering, we need to find ways to influence others to volunteer and/or create an impact in more people. For example, if I am trying for cleanliness of a place, I could choose to clean the place myself which may take more time OR it will pile up again. However, if I can involve residents/students/youth of that area to keep it clean, the impact will be very high with less effort. This applies to any area of volunteering.

My Goals SET YOUR GOALS. UNDERSTAND THE OBSTACLES. CLEAR YOUR MIND OF DOUBT. CREATE A POSITIVE MENTAL PICTURE. EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE. STAY ON TRACK. SHOW THE WORLD YOU CAN DO IT. THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS. RALPH RAMSEY

Navigating the delicate balance between volunteering and work can be challenging, but effective communication and negotiation are key. Openly discussing your volunteer commitments with your employer can help them understand the value it brings to your personal and professional growth. Seek opportunities for flexible work arrangements that accommodate both your job responsibilities and volunteer work. Similarly, have open and honest conversations with your non-profit to establish realistic expectations and explore potential accommodations. Remember, finding common ground through communication and negotiation can lead to a harmonious balance between your work and volunteer commitments.

I think what would be wonderful is if volunteers could reflect on the impact that the activity had on them. Did it get them to think about personal transformation, a changed attitude, a changed behaviour possibility ...all of which will determine greater stickiness and awareness of better well being which is self perpetuating

Showcasing volunteer work helps shine a spotlight on the causes you support. This is a very critical method to rally even more volunteers to a cause and counts towards transparency and accountability especially where fundraising is done to raise resources for projects. It counts towards documentation of the project process.

Volunteering is an important avenue to learn and showcase your skills that will be reading in the future. It gives volunteers an avenue to experience work-class skills and shape them for future work while giving them relevant connections for future reference.

Volunteering is important as it helps those in need, builds community, and provides personal growth opportunities. It allows individuals to support causes they are passionate about and make a positive impact on society. Volunteering also brings people together, fostering a sense of belonging and unity. It offers opportunities for skill development, self-discovery, and personal fulfillment. Moreover, volunteering has positive effects on mental and physical well-being, promoting happiness and reducing stress. Lastly, by raising awareness and advocating for change, volunteering contributes to creating a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Embrace Constructive Feedback: Actively solicit feedback from supervisors and peers within the non-profit, using it to sharpen your skills and enhance your volunteer contributions. Showcase Your Achievements: Elegantly weave your volunteer experiences, accomplishments, and honed skills into your professional narratives like your resume, portfolio and LinkedIn profile. Celebrate Your Impact: Don’t shy away from sharing your volunteering milestones and stories across your social networks, highlighting your personal growth and bringing attention to the causes you support. Leverage Recognition: Utilize the accolades and recognition received to boost your personal and professional credibility, and inspire others.

Make sure to document and share your experiences on social media. Though it may look shallow at first, your experience may end up inspiring many others to try their hand at volunteering. One more additional life touched or transformed is indeed more powerful.

Be clear with roles you can and cannot do. Don’t take every assignment and don’t feel guilty about declining assignments you are not able to do. Remember to document your voluntary work, it will come handy in future when you need to present evidence of your work (for example, during scholarship applications). Create a timesheet on Notion and log every activity/meeting you participate in

One thing that sticks to me about volunteering is the people you meet along that journey who have the same or similar goals and values as you, but you may never get to meet and network with them in your full-time day job. It’s a great way to expand your network - as well as build out that supporting group of friends in your corner!

I LOVE connecting with the staff and volunteer teams of the organisations I volunteer for - it helps me build connections, make friends and can be super helpful when you're looking for your next professional move too!