Trends in Volunteering

Looking at the future of volunteering, these are some of the trends.

With people being so busy, they are looking for opportunities to volunteer as families. Another trend is youth and adults are partnering to volunteer.

Episodic volunteering is becoming popular. An episodic volunteer will volunteer for a specific task for a specified amount of time. For example rather than volunteering to be on a board which might turn into a lifetime commitment, many people are looking for short term or one time volunteering opportunities.

Grandparents are a looking for opportunities to volunteer for activities in which they'd have interaction with youth who are the same age as their grandchildren. Because people are so much more mobile today, grandchildren might be living far away and so grandparents don't have a chance to be around youth.

Finally virtual volunteering is becoming popular. Some examples of volunteering web sites are:

• ABC Quilts http://www.jbu.edu/abcquilts/
• Quotes for Volunteers http://www.energizeinc.com/reflect/quote1.html
• Family Volunteering http://www.volunteerinfo.org/famvol.htm
• Teen volunteering http://independentsector.org/programs/research/teen_volunteering.html
• Points of Light http://www.pointsoflight.org

What are some volunteering trends in your community?

The Master Internet Volunteer Program was developed by the University of Minnesota Extension Service and was adapted for use in North Dakota with permission. Copyright  © 2001  North Dakota State University. All rights reserved.

North Dakota State University Extension Service