Digital Volunteerism: Working in the Online Environment

By Dr. Kandis Y. Wyatt, PMP
Faculty Member, Transportation and Logistics

Many organizations rely on their volunteers to maintain normal functions. However, the volunteer-driven business model has been tested and pushed to the limit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without volunteers, some organizations’ impact on their communities would be greatly diminished. The paid staff can only do so much for an organization, so a lack of volunteers would almost certainly mean that key services to a community would be discontinued.

Many volunteers, fearful of contracting COVID-19, have opted to reduce their hours and have turned to digital volunteerism, thanks to technology. In the online environment, serving as a volunteer can be just as exciting and enjoyable as an in-person environment. Now, there is a renewed focus on incentivizing volunteers to contribute to their respective communities through online methods.

Using Technology to Volunteer at Conferences and Other Events

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve used technology to volunteer my time in multiple ways. As a presenter at online conferences, I’ve reached more virtual attendees in one year than I did in person for the past five years.

I’ve provided recorded seminars that have been broadcast internationally to attendees and have volunteered my time at online student events. Technology has also allowed me to volunteer at events that I would previously not have been able to attend due to the constraints imposed by time or geography.

Online Technology Makes It Easier to Support Organizations

Also, there are a multitude of online ways to provide a financial contribution to worthy causes, due to technology. With a few clicks, any patron can provide a monetary donation and receive a tax-deductible donation receipt, which benefits that person and the organization receiving the donation.

Online technology also provides a method for passive giving. For example, a portion of one’s business profits can be electronically transferred to an organization.

Technology has also made it easier to set up collection times for donations. In the past, donating non-perishable foods used to mean you had to show up at a location at a certain time and physically provide the donation.

However, one organization that I volunteered with switched their donation model during the pandemic. Now, they pick up your donated items, provided you leave them on a porch or outside bench.

Similarly, by partnering with local grocery stores, volunteers can buy one product and donate one product simultaneously. For businesses, this method of donation from their customers is a win-win situation; they can increase the number of customers and the extra revenue helps the business. The volunteer organization also benefits by receiving the donation.

Technology can connect volunteers and organizations more easily. For example, technology can be used to create automated reminders to notify volunteers when there is an opportunity to contribute their time, talents and donations. Technology also makes it possible to expand volunteer opportunities beyond one’s community, so the pool of volunteers can involve other towns, states and even countries.

Technology can be used to schedule volunteers and ensure that social distancing requirements are upheld. In addition, cell phone apps can be used to provide information that previously needed to be recorded in person by a volunteer.

Reimagining Volunteerism in the Online Environment

There have been several webinars, seminars and conferences designed to improve digital volunteerism in the online environment. For example, Michigan held its first-ever state conference on volunteerism in November 2021 to help organizations reimagine possibilities for service. This conference also addressed how organizations that rely heavily on volunteers can bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and build resilient business models to address fluctuations in volunteerism.

The Michigan conference highlighted the benefits of volunteering from both organizational and individual perspectives. Among the topics discussed at the conference were the strengthening of mentoring programs, building a community’s disaster response, and the recruitment of both young and elderly volunteers. This conference was a model for all communities because it shared timely resources and ideas related to volunteer engagement.

Volunteerism Is Essential, Especially for Low-Income and Rural Communities

Volunteering is particularly essential for communities with limited resources, such as low-income or rural areas. Communities have long depended on individuals in the community for guidance, strength and support in difficult times.

The Benefits of Digital Volunteerism

Volunteerism in the online environment can be extremely valuable, because it saves money for organizations and permits the influx of new ideas.

At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge and award volunteers for their time. Recognition can take many forms.

With the online environment, there is often a decrease in the social opportunities associated with volunteering. Providing events and opportunities to network can be a way to incentivize volunteers.

Volunteerism means that you show up as you are, do the things that you are good at and enrich the lives of those around you. Some volunteer roles require specialized training, but many volunteer jobs simply require you to be reliable and have the desire to accomplish an organization’s goals. 

Volunteers reap significant social and health benefits. There are opportunities to learn new skills, make new connections and feel good about giving back to your community through service at a local nonprofit.

Finding Volunteers during COVID-19 Has Become More Difficult

Many companies are structured on utilizing the talents of volunteers at all levels of the organization. However, finding willing candidates to step up to fill leadership positions is one of the biggest problems facing organizations.

Organizations have uniformly felt the impact of the pandemic on volunteering. According to the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, some of the most common complaints about volunteers include:

• “Volunteer enrollment is our largest barrier, especially male volunteers.”
• “COVID-19 has made recruiting volunteers and staff challenging.”
• “[We are experiencing] difficulty finding volunteers who will serve as mentors.”

Volunteerism Has Taken New Forms

In response to the challenges created by COVID-19, volunteerism has taken new forms. Here are some ways you can safely volunteer, based on my past experiences contributing my time to worthy causes:

1. Share your knowledge. Write for a local newspaper or record a video to provide free information.
2. Foster a displaced animal.
3. Deliver goods for an organization.
4. Donate slightly used clothes and household items.
5. Provide free counseling based on your area of expertise.
6. Develop ways to volunteer outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
7. Create socially distanced opportunities to volunteer.
8. Use virtual technologies to tutor and/or visit quarantined patients.
9. Mentor and teach life skills through Zoom, YouTube or Skype.

Now, volunteers are needed more than ever before, despite the pandemic. During the holiday season, volunteers are essential for ensuring that charitable activities are performed with excellence. Technology can combat the steady decrease in the number of volunteers for various community activities by providing innovative alternatives to traditional ways of volunteering.