REALISTIC VOLUNTEERISM - IDEALIST.ORG

Americans today are overworked, overstressed, over committed, and overwhelmed. We squeeze more into our schedules than seems humanly possible and, as a direct result, our family and personal time are often put on the back burner. Many volunteer organizations are unrealistic in their demands for our time and money and simply ask for more than we're able or willing to give. In a society that values time as money, why and how do we give back to the communities we live in, and, of course, "what's in it for me?"

The "Why"

We first need to look at volunteering from a business perspective. The National volunteer hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is equivalent to $19.51. Imagine that any time someone volunteers for an hour in your community, business, or school you're saving 20 bucks. Multiply that by the thousands of hours people volunteer each year, and you begin to see the financial implications of a community or nation of volunteers. With far less than half of the nation volunteering, it's amazing to think of the possibilities, in these hard economic times, if everyone – or even 10% more of the population – donated their time.

The "How"

Realistically, few people have time to scour the internet looking for ways to volunteer. Once someone has decided to dedicate their time, the process needs to be as simple and painless as possible to help that person give back. Idealist.org is arguably the best website to find volunteer opportunities that fit their interests, geography, and schedule. Users log on and search by zip code and interest as well as connect with each other in forums and groups. I use Idealist.org as a vehicle to facilitate the community service process when recruiting potential volunteers and encouraging them to give back to their communities. My efforts came to fruition when I helped rally 200+ Chicagoans to co-create the "Chicago Idealist Network" and have my voice heard in an international podcast teaching other cities and communities how to do the same. 

"What's in it for Me?"

We typically think that the only benefit to volunteering is that good feeling inside of us when we've helped another. In actuality, there are numerous self-serving benefits to community service that we needn't be ashamed of! Volunteering is a great way to network and get face time with a manager or CEO we may not otherwise have the time with. We can learn a new skill or brush up on an old one to make ourselves more marketable in the changing global landscape. Children and teens who volunteer are likely to have higher grades, be happier, and can form life-long habits that even increase life expectancy! Working parents and seniors can turn service into a social opportunity or use it to spend time with their children and grandchildren in an environment that models good citizenship.