The Value of Volunteer Work to Nonprofits

Joshua “Josh” William Shuman is a former psychologist with the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ohio. Last year, Joshua W. Shuman served as a volunteer with the Life Learning Center teaching life skills to participants, helping them learn valuable workplace etiquette and further their personal development.

According to data collected by the Internal Revenue Service, over 80 percent of charitable organizations in the United States depend entirely on volunteer labor in order to operate, rather than paid employees. Volunteers are an essential component of an effective nonprofit, and perform much of the work that charitable organizations simply could not complete with the limited budgets they commonly work within.

Volunteers may participate in the governing aspects of nonprofits, assist directly in the work of programs, or undertake fundraising efforts to raise the money that allows charitable missions to move forward. While many individuals are motivated to volunteer out of a desire to contribute to social causes, the effort can have significant personal benefits for those who participate. Studies show that volunteering can substantially increase the levels of happiness that individuals feel by allowing them the opportunity to socialize with like-minded groups of people, thereby reducing anxiety and stress, increasing self confidence levels, and instilling a sense of purpose - these benefits showing even more among older volunteers.