As a society, we are busy -- we run from one place to the next, from personal commitments to work and back again and we find ourselves stretched so thin that it seems impossible to fit anything else into our jam packed days. In the past, having enough time to fulfill our daily obligations was challenge enough, without adding in a volunteer commitment on top of it.
Luckily for nonprofit organizations and eager volunteers, things have changed. A lot. Thanks to virtual volunteer opportunities, volunteers are no longer restricted by their schedules, location and transportation when inspiration to give back strikes.
What does it mean to volunteer "virtually"? It is the act of completing tasks off-site from the organization you are volunteering for, using the Internet to stay connected. In other words, you choose an organization you want to support and fulfill that commitment from anywhere with an Internet connection.
When my organization, icouldbe.org, an online mentoring program, started over 10 years ago, virtual volunteerism was a conversation starter, especially in the mentoring world. "How can online mentoring be as effective as face-to-face mentoring?," people asked. And over the last decade, online mentoring has answered this question by pairing at-risk students with mentors all around the country and providing busy professionals with a sustainable form of volunteerism.
Yes, face-to-face mentoring is beneficial, I'm not debating that, but it is limited -- no one can benefit when a recently paired mentor has to quit because they can't keep up with the time commitment. Online mentoring allows us as an organization to make the best possible mentoring match, it provides at-risk students with the best possible role model for their specific needs and it allows busy professionals an impactful and sustainable way to give back to the community, as well as foster future workers of their industry.
The trend towards virtual opportunities expands beyond that of the individual volunteer and into the workplace. icouldbe, like many nonprofit organizations, works with corporate partners to gain financial support and employee volunteers. Something we hear over and over again is how giving back is good for the whole office. Employee volunteers are happy to find a way to give back in a manageable way, and employers are glad to see their employees take the time to give back to the community in a way that doesn't disrupt the workday.
Sites like VolunteerMatch.org, an online resource that helps volunteers find opportunities in their area, has also seen an increase in virtual volunteerism. Just this past year alone, the number of virtual volunteer opportunities posted on VolunteerMatch's site went up 20 percent. While many of VolunteerMatch's users come to the site to find in-person opportunities as well, it's clear that volunteers are taking to the web to find the openings that best fit how they can give back.
We will without a doubt see an increase in virtual volunteerism and the online resources that connect volunteers with both in-person and virtual opportunities. A picture (or a map, in this case) is worth 1,000 words -- VolunteerMatch.org hosts an interactive map that shows how many volunteers are matched in real time with opportunities all around the US. It truly is an impressive sight to see. We no longer have the time to sift through bulletin boards full of flyers looking for support -- but if you've felt tight on time and resources, there are thousands of ways to give back literally at our fingertips: it's time to find out which one needs your help.