Latest Trends in Volunteering

During the COVID-19 pandemic, massive evacuations of volunteers across the globe occurred. Many feared the future of volunteering. Fortunately, the internet proved to be invaluable. Innovative ways to volunteer emerged. Organizations – and the people who make them succeed – got creative and achieved their goals.

Volunteerism is evolving. It will continue to do so in a post-pandemic era. Here are some top trends.

RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS

The days of paper applications and onboarding procedures are antiquated. Moving forward, we’re going to see many organizations using online recruiting tools. This is a positive move because it’ll continue to make the process easy for volunteers. It’ll also enable organizations to broaden their reach. This means they’ll attract a diversified group of volunteers with a variety of skillsets.

PUTTING DIVERSIFIED SKILLSETS TO WORK

Speaking of skillsets. Historically, people in the medical and construction industries were the primary groups putting their skills to work in areas of need. Today, the skillsets of volunteers have broadened. You’ll see accountants, photographs, social media influencers, marketers, and others. All donating their skillsets. Many organizations will enjoy the growing assortment of professional skills contributing to their causes.

INCREASING FLEXIBILITY FOR VOLUNTEERS

In the past, many people who wanted to volunteer couldn’t. This was due to location or constraints in their personal lives. With virtual volunteer options growing, people who always wanted to volunteer now can! Online opportunities offer a ton of flexibility for volunteers.

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Orientation and training are necessary aspects of volunteering. But it can be hard for volunteers to balance their personal and professional lives. Organizations struggle to find ways to support their volunteers so they could easily train. Enter virtual training. This is a trend that’s only going to continue to grow.

MANAGEMENT DIFFICULTIES WITH VOLUNTEERING

While many of the trends in volunteering are positive, there are some negatives. Particularly in areas of volunteer and organizational management. Between budgets, retaining volunteers, and finding team leads certified to do the job, to name a few troubling trends, many organizations struggle. For instance, only one-third of volunteer leads hold a certification. Fortunately, the internet provides a solution to these issues too. Going forward, volunteer coordinators will find ways to get credentials and strengthen their abilities to lead volunteer teams.

VOLUNTEERING IN A POST-PANDEMIC ERA

Integrating online solutions is a trend that will continue. Even when things resume to normal after the pandemic is over, organizations are likely to pursue online initiatives. Virtual processes save money for organizations and give volunteers flexibility and convenience.

Our online disaster relief training can reduce the challenges associated with volunteering. Contact us today to learn more about our virtual training program. Developed exclusively for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, our training is now available for your DR organization. We encourage you to schedule a demo.

When disaster strikes, your teams will be ready to respond.