Volunteerism

The volunteer experience can be a meaningful opportunity to learn new skills, gain experience, support change, and help out one’s community.

The scope and value of volunteerism in Canada is impressive. It is estimated that one in three Canadians volunteer. The value of these contributions is well in excess of one billion hours a year – an estimated 500,000 full-time jobs. Saskatchewan has been recognized as the province with the highest per capita rate of volunteerism for several years in a row – higher than the national average. Our volunteers are the backbone of the cultural sector and help many non-profits accomplish some of the most innovative, not to mention cost-effective, community programming in the country.

VOLUNTEER ROLES

Volunteers typically fill certain roles in non-profit organizations such as:

• Determining policy as part of a governance group with legal responsibility for an organization, such as a Board of Directors;
• Developing policy options as part of a working group, or committee, which works in key areas to develop options for a Board of Directors; and
• Providing labour – including time, talent and expertise, as part of a group working for a cause, event, program or activity.

BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERISM

Non-profit organizations usually depend on the generous contributions of volunteers – particularly when they are starting up – when they lack financial resources to pay staff. The volunteer experience can be a meaningful opportunity to learn new skills, gain experience, support change, and help out one’s community.

WHY DO PEOPLE VOLUNTEER?

People volunteer because of a desire to make positive differences in the world and more close to home, in the communities they live. Most hope that their contributions matter and benefit others in some way.

Volunteers often explain their interest and/or motivation for volunteering as:

• Helping others;
• Advancing their careers;
• Getting away from the troubles of their everyday lives;
• Interacting with other people;
• Being recognized for their efforts;
• Fitting cultural norms; and
• Helping the community.

KEEPING VOLUNTEERS

Besides the intrinsic rewards of volunteering, certain factors keep volunteers coming back time and again. According to the report, What determines a Volunteer’s Effort?, by Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, organizations that want to achieve high levels of effort from their volunteers must ensure that volunteers accept their roles. This means ensuring that volunteers:

• Have clearly defined roles;
• Understand these roles;
• Feel a sense of confidence in their ability to fulfill these roles;
• Are satisfied with the extent to which they perceive themselves as helping their community and others; and
• Are satisfied with the organization’s overall performance.