From Guest Blogger Dr. Rick Jacobs: In an earlier blog my dear friend Paula gave a very good account of why volunteering is good for the volunteer. I completely agree but after years of being a volunteer for a host of organizations I have to say that while I personally get a lot out of the time I spend, I am always amazed at how much the organizations benefit from the combined efforts of the volunteers. Let’s deal with reality first, organizations that rely on volunteers do so because they are overworked and underfunded and volunteers are the one best hope at meeting their objectives. It doesn’t matter if it is your place of worship, the local animal shelter, or an organization trying to eradicate a disease. They all have big needs and usually a budget that is far too small. By gaining the attention and effort of volunteers the organization gathers resources that can be exceptional and unattainable through normal employment channels. I am in awe when I look around the table at a typical meeting of staff and volunteers in terms of the diversity of experience and expertise. The organization is transformed and can now solve problems and implement programs, actions made possible because of the unique combination of personnel and volunteers.

In addition to simply moving toward organizational solutions to problems as disparate as finding dollars for programs to developing operating guidelines and steering through complicated regulations, volunteers can be seen as resources to individuals within the organization. In one of the organizations where I volunteer we have an executive director, a development officer and a program director. These three individuals work with various volunteers to tackle specific issues tied to their responsibilities. While we all help the organization meet its overall mandates, volunteers become critical as mentors to each staff member. In this way volunteers help organizations develop enhance the skills of individual staff members so they can better meet future demands.

Volunteers also facilitate networks that can bring other volunteers into play to benefit the organization. These networks not only add people support to the organization’s mission, they can connect organizations with other resources previously unknown. While we as volunteers get a lot out of our time as volunteers it is nice to note that organizations benefit and actually rely on us for a variety of outcomes. As Paula said, be a volunteer,”.…you feel good with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Psychologists call this feeling the helper’s high.” To that I add it is also good for the organization in so many important ways. So if the beta-endorphins are not enough for you try and remember how important you can be in making the organization and its individual members better at what they do and more capable in how they do their work in the future. One more set of bonus outcomes, as a volunteer the experiences you gain will give you great stories and clear accomplishments to discuss in an interview along with new career skills and a knowledge base outside of your regular work activities. Happy volunteering.

Dr. Rick Jacobs is a world-renowned industrial and organizational psychologist with expertise in the intersection between human talent and organizational success. He is professor of psychology at Penn State University and CEO of EB Jacobs a consulting firm specializing in assessment.