A volunteer is an individual who employs his talents, physical abilities, experience, understanding, awareness, and time to perform formal and informal volunteering activities aimed to bring advantage to the environment, communities, and surrounding people. Most of these activities are accepted through voluntary, individual, non-profit, and public organizations. The volunteering work is usually prominent among the non-profit firms where the members work towards the benefit of the human society. Though there is no intention of earning a financial gain, this job has proved to be significant in creating a sense of worthiness and self-respect for its doers.
The volunteers aid the organizations to accomplish complex tasks and actions by supplying additional helping hands and unique subject matter expertise. The sense of ownership that these professionals develop assists the organizations to enhance their leadership and staff performance. Besides, they also act as backup resources who can be utilized to complete multiple projects and emergency tasks.
Most of them are found functioning in non-profit organizations which divert all their revenue towards the cause they are looking to accomplish. Although, there is no fixed compensation decided, these associations sometimes pay a nominal amount to their volunteering workers. This is usually common in large non-profit firms where sufficient financial aid is received from patrons and the local government.
The organizations always ensure that there is a constant contact with their volunteers. Their suggestions and advice are respectfully taken into consideration and channelized to appropriate divisions of the organizations to improve the operational processes and acquire the determined objectives. During critical situations such as outburst of epidemic diseases, warfares, riots, military conflicts, and chemical outbreaks, the need for these professionals is generally on the rise. Along with emergency aid, they provide support in organizing work, rescuing people, rehabilitation and disaster relief services, humanitarian aid services, preparing shelter camps, and delivering medical services.
Fundraising is another important task where large campaigns and projects such as charity crusades, food fairs, cancer aid campaigns, educational programs, youth development camps, etc., are held to improve and develop the society. Donations are collected on behalf of the associations by keeping in view the predetermined policies and principles. The donors receive approved receipts for their donations and are exempted from tax as per the legal laws of the local government.
This profile does not require any formal education; however, it demands willingness to help and a desire to contribute towards the betterment of the society. Volunteering associations can be national or international; depending on the need, the workers may require to travel oversees from time to time.
Responsibilities
Advancing Opportunities
Professionals assigned for part time work can operate full time based on the performance level and policies of the association. With experience and knowledge, they can be promoted as coordinators, supervisors, directors or managers. Besides, some can advance to administrative positions within the organization.