Volunteers becoming a force to be reckoned with

Importance of volunteers

Today (Dec. 5) is International Volunteer Day.

The U.N. estimates the world-wide number of volunteers at more than 862 million per month. That’s at least double the population of every country in the world, with the exception of India and China. It’s more than 21 times the population of Canada. And every month. (Volunteers) should be a force to be reckoned with

So, why aren’t we? Why, even in the organizations that depend the most on volunteers, are we often a bit of an afterthought? How many organizations include the volunteer program in their strategic plans or have volunteer professionals on their boards of directors and trustees? How many actually consistently and thoughtfully invest in their (volunteer) programs?

Too often, the leader of volunteers has that portfolio added to an already over-flowing schedule, or the role is assigned to someone with little or no experience or training. As I’ve often said, the leader of volunteers is a leadership role.

The person in that role leads more people than almost anyone else in the organization. Yet it’s often relegated to being dealt with off the side of someone’s desk.

That’s the perception in organizations that depend on volunteers. How, then, does the greater community perceive volunteers and leaders of volunteers?

It’s important to have a day acknowledged in the international arena but, really, how many people outside the sector have ever heard of it? Is it any more known than, say, Feb. 10 – International Day of the Arabian Leopard? Or Aug. 11 – World Steelpan Day? Raising awareness of the importance of volunteers (and other issues) is critical, but in trying to raise that awareness, we often talk, post and blog to people who are already aware. Basically, we’re shouting into an echo chamber.

For volunteers to become a force to be reckoned with, we need to get our voices heard outside the sector.

How? I have a few ideas:

• See if you can publish blogs or articles in online news magazines or in other general interest publications. I reached out to our local online news site, Castanet and it now publishes this weekly column.

• Rather than just speaking on podcasts aimed at the sector, reach out to ones that have a broader audience.

• Talk about your volunteering or your volunteer program to everyone, not just those you want to recruit. I need to get better at that myself.

• Join an advocacy group that is petitioning your government to prioritize volunteerism or talk with your government representative about ways to promote volunteerism.

• Hold recruitment drives in places like malls or libraries where you can be seen by, and help educate, the general public.

• If nothing else, put a sticker in the window of your vehicle bragging about being a volunteer.

These are ideas just off the top of my head. There are bound to be far more ideas that I haven’t thought of yet. The point is to think about where and how we can be seen by people who don’t already see us.

In what other ways can we make volunteers and volunteerism a force to be reckoned with?

• Educate our own organizations.

• Give presentations to the board about the benefits of investing in the program.

• Sit down with the executive and discuss the importance of having a volunteer engagement professional leading the volunteers.

• Hold workshops for other staff who interact with volunteers so they learn the value that volunteers bring to the organization.

We know volunteers are a force to be reckoned with in this world. How do we get other people to give us that recognition?

So, on this International Volunteer Day, what are you doing to get the word out?

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

The keys to a successful volunteer information session

Recruiting volunteers

Volunteers and the U.N.'s sustainable development goals

Sustainable volunteering

The past two years, I’ve written columns about upcoming trends in volunteering.

When I reviewed the one from last year, I realized most of the trends I mentioned are still moving through, with only one significant addition that I see coming—awareness and recognition of volunteers and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

2026 is the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.

The fact the U.N. General Council specified “for sustainable development” in it’s declaration was, according to U.N. development program administrator, Achim Steiner, “a call for U.N. member states to make volunteerism an integral cog in their development pathways to drive forward the global goal.”

The 17 goals, in case you haven’t seen them recently, are:

1. No poverty

2. Zero hunger

3. Good health and well-being

4. Quality education

5. Gender equality

6. Clean water and sanitation

7. Affordable and clean energy

8. Decent work and economic growth

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

10. Reduced inequalities

11. Sustainable cities and communities

12. Responsible consumption and production

13. Climate action

14. Life below water

15. Life on land

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

17. Partnerships for the goals

Can you name one of the goals that isn’t supported by volunteers? I can’t.

Therefore, governments that are focused on achieving those goals need to start paying significantly more attention to the work volunteers provide to the process. With the high cost of living in many countries, many people no longer have the time to spend volunteering. They are now having to work multiple jobs, or care for family members at home rather than have them in daycares or care homes. That leaves the organizations that work toward the Sustainable Development goals scrambling for help.

Governments need to do more than pay lip service to the value of volunteers. Concrete action needs to be taken to make it easier for people to volunteer. Schemes such as “mandatory volunteering” are heavy-handed and generally ineffective. We need to find and implement more creative solutions.

Back in January, I suggested governments provide tax receipts for time donated, in much the same way they do for money donated. I’m not sure how well such an idea would work but it would certainly be better than what is being done now, which, in Canada, is little more than patting us on the head and telling us what a nice job we’re doing.

But what I really want to focus on is what we, as leaders of volunteers, can do to initiate action at the government level.

Get together with some of your colleagues and brainstorm creative ways government can support volunteering in a specific, actionable way. There are a lot of us, and we are smart people.

I’ve suggested one solution. What ideas can you come up with? Consider being part of the International Association for Volunteer Effort’s series of global dialogues to plan for 2026. It is hosting a number of online conversations to discuss questions like:

1. What action is required—and by whom—to increase recognition of the value of volunteering made by all types of volunteers?

2. What needs to be done to ensure that governments in all parts of the globe provide not only the rhetoric of support, but the financial investment that enables volunteering to flourish?

3. What must change to address power dynamics and ensure that a diversity of voices of volunteers (women, young people and other marginalized groups, formally or informally organized) play a key role in shaping an enabling environment for volunteering?

4. What needs to be done to generate the necessary investments to enable volunteers to fulfil their potential?

Here’s the link to the IAVE website for more information or to sign up if you’re interested: https://www.iave.org/iyv26-global-dialogues/

Talk to your federal government representative directly about what ideas they have for supporting you and don’t let them brush you off. Find out from them what exactly you need to do to make the ideas a reality. Gather petitions? Bring on larger organizations like Volunteer Canada or the Royal Voluntary Service? Try to get them to commit to taking specific action themselves, like speaking with other representatives about the ideas.

Lastly, thank you. I know I’m asking you to do more, but thank you for all the work you currently do to support one or many of the U.N’.s sustainable development goals.

Without your dedication and leadership, we would be moving a lot slower toward the better world we all want.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

When leaders volunteer it helps them be better leaders

Leading by example

I was on a call yesterday with members of the Volunteer Manager Professionals of Canada.

Something that one of the participants said got me thinking. Her organization just finished an event to supply winter clothing to new immigrants to Canada. She said the volunteers got such satisfaction and joy from seeing the gratitude of the clients, she thought she would do a shift herself next time.

I hope she does. When leaders volunteer, good things happen.

Here are a few reasons why I believe leaders of volunteers should volunteer themselves.

Builds understanding of the volunteer experience

One of the biggest benefits of us volunteering is the chance to better understand the experiences of those we lead. By volunteering, we see the world from their perspective, including the challenges and rewards they face.

I volunteer with my local therapeutic riding association. To see the strength and confidence grow in children, and adults living with disabilities when they interact with the horses gives me a joy and a satisfaction that I don’t get anywhere else.

Gain new ideas for your own program

When leaders volunteer for a different organization than the one they work for, the fresh ideas they pick up can be eye-opening. It’s easy to think that the way you do things in your organization is the only way, or the only good way. When we volunteer in different organizations, though, we gain first-hand experience in how other processes can work–or don’t work. We can even learn from bad experiences.

A number of years ago, I volunteered at a local art gallery. I applied, went through the online training and then showed up for my first shift. To be met with a blank stare. The person I was to report to had no idea I was coming and had nothing for me to do. No problem, I thought. It’s the first shift; next shift it will be sorted out. Only it wasn’t. And when I showed up for my third shift, I saw a look of annoyance cross over the person’s face. I spun on my heel and never went back.

In the organizations I work with now, I always emphasize the importance of ensuring that they are ready to appropriately welcome and onboard new volunteers.

Strengthen your community connections

I’ve always been a big fan of collaboration. Volunteering is one way to build the relationships that allow us to strengthen our networks and, over time, may lead to opportunities to share ideas and resources.

I volunteered to attend a networking event for the riding association. During it, I met the executive director of a women’s shelter. After a bit of chatting, a few introductions, some planning and now our two organizations work together for the benefit of both.

Avoid burnout

Most of us are passionate about what we do, so we pour ourselves into our work. It’s easy, though, to get bogged down by the day to day routine and lose the spark that keeps us going. Volunteering is a wonderful reminder of why we got into this line of work in the first place, because it connects us closer to the causes that we care about. It brings back our passion, and that passion gives us the strength to power through the parts of our work that are hard.

When leaders volunteer it has a ripple effect

By being visible and active as a volunteer, even with a different organization, we send a message to our volunteers that we’re in this with them, not just managing from behind a desk.

I’ve shared a few of my stories. Imagine sharing your volunteering stories with your team. It bridges the gap between you. They’ll see you as more than just a staff member. You’ll be someone who really gets what they do and values their efforts, beyond just saying thank you.

Volunteering also serves as a reminder that the work we do extends beyond our specific organizations. It’s about building stronger, more compassionate communities. When we actively participate in other causes, we help build a culture of mutual support across all of our organizations.

If you’re a leader of volunteers and aren’t volunteering yourself, I encourage you to consider it. Volunteering puts you back in touch with the core of why we do this work. It enhances your empathy, brings in fresh ideas, expands your network, and, perhaps most importantly, rekindles your passion.

Let’s face it, volunteering isn’t just for those we lead—it’s for us, too.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.