volunteering during covid

Maintaining a Culture of Volunteerism during COVID-19

The way we volunteer has drastically changed over the last few months. Nonprofits, volunteers, and employers have all made adjustments to continue volunteering. At Bright Funds, we recognize the importance and crucial services that volunteers provide and are dedicated to supporting a robust culture of volunteering. As we continue to learn and adapt, we are curating and sharing resources regarding the changing volunteering landscape.

Refer to the frequently updated Bright Funds blog post – COVID-19: How to volunteer for virtual event recommendations.

How do you start to build a culture of volunteerism?

Check out a few of our team’s favorite tips to maintain a culture of volunteerism at work:

  1. Organize company-sponsored volunteering events multiple times a year (even just quarterly or bi-annually)
  2. Get help from colleagues who are already dedicated volunteers to help organize events amongst teams and offices (these are your champions)
  3. Encourage and incentivize employees to volunteer personally by sharing their skills with nonprofits and individuals
  4. Occasionally replace a happy hour with a virtual volunteering event!

Did you know that volunteerism has positive health benefits?

Read about a new health study — Volunteerism: Doing good does you good

“Humans are social creatures by nature. Perhaps this is why our minds and bodies are rewarded when we give to others. Our results show that volunteerism among older adults doesn’t just strengthen communities, but enriches our own lives by strengthening our bonds to others, helping us feel a sense of purpose and well-being, and protecting us from feelings of loneliness, depression, and hopelessness…”

Check out this blog post8 Ways Volunteering Helps You Learn and Grow at Any Age

How is the way we volunteer changing?

Download an eBook from VolunteerMatch — The Impact of COVID-19 on Volunteering: A Two-Month Comparison

Get valuable data on the state of volunteering during COVID-19 to help you determine how we can best come together to support our communities and combat the growing challenges we are facing.

Check out VolunteerMatch’s COVID-19 Resource Hub for helpful tools and best practices.

Foster a year-round culture of volunteering and learn more about this key best practice in volunteering — Annual Month of Giving: Is it a good idea or a bad idea?

Rachel Nersesian

Rachel Nersesian

Rachel partners with program leaders to deliver community impact through Bright Funds. Rachel worked with several US-based and international nonprofits before joining Bright Funds and currently serves as an executive committee member on the San Francisco chapter of the Armenian International Women’s Association. She played Division I softball at Georgetown University and graduated with a B.S. in Foreign Service with a major in Culture and Politics.