September 09, 2008
Older Americans Seek New Volunteer Incentives, Report Finds
By Cassie J. Moore
Seventy-three percent of adults between the ages of 44 and 79 volunteered for an organization in the past year, but significant barriers remain to tapping the full potential of these “experienced Americans,” according to a report commissioned by the AARP.
Civic Entreprises, a public-policy consulting firm in Washington, surveyed more than 1,000 Americans in this age group for the “More to Give: Tapping the Talents of the Baby Boomer, Silent, and Greatest Generations” report.
Although 41 percent of the survey respondents, representing 45 million people, said they were very or somewhat likely to increase the amount of time they spend volunteering in the next few years, organizing this age group may prove difficult, as more than 70 percent of respondents said they preferred to volunteer without a regular schedule.
The same percentage said that a lack of time was a significant barrier to their volunteering, and more than half said another significant barrier was their need to make money.
Almost half of the respondents said there was a lack of available information about volunteering opportunities, and 68 percent of people in this age group who did not volunteer in the past year said they had not been invited to do so.
Lesser barriers to volunteering included not being able to find a group that fit with their interests or skills, restrictions due to health problems, and a lack of transportation.
‘Civic Highway’
The report makes many recommendations based on the findings.
Although Web sites such as VolunteerMatch and Idealist.org exist to provide information about volunteering opportunities, the report reccomends that the Corporation for National and Community Service also should offer a “significant grant to the best consortium of organizations that will develop volunteer-matching and social-networking technologies” to overcome the perceived lack of information.
Not only would this “Civic Highway” connect older Americans to volunteer opportunities online, it would also get information out to people by telephone, at churches and other religious institutions, and at local town-hall meetings on public issues and other civic activities.
To overcome financial restraints to volunteering, the report said offers of an education award that volunteers could use for themselves or give away to a young person would be a large or moderate incentive.
About 42 percent of those surveyed said that access to group health insurance also would be a large or moderate incentive, and 21 percent said a monthly stipend or voucher would be an incentive.
The report also recommended that volunteers who drive their cars for volunteer activities get reimbursed for their mileage at 58.5 cents per mile, which is the business rate of reimbursement, instead of 14 cents per mile, which is the current nonprofit rate. (Several bills are pending in Congress that would raise the mileage rate for charitable activities.)
Survey respondents expressed the most interest in volunteering as mentors or tutors to young people and by helping the elderly live independently. The report says “signature initiatives” should be developed around these two interests to motivate the largest number of older volunteers possible.
Among the other findings:
- Fifty-five percent of Americans in the 44 to 79 age group believe they will leave the world in worse condition than they inherited it, while only 20 percent believe they are leaving the world in better condition. Those most actively engaged in volunteering feel less pessimistic.
- Fifty-two percent of older Americans said their desire to “help people in need” was a very important motivational factor in their volunteering. Forty-eight percent said the desire to “stay healthy and active” was a primary motivator.
- The rate of volunteering is highest among those who attend religious services regularly (86 percent); college graduates (85 percent); professionals (84 percent); those with annual incomes over $75,000 (83 percent); and evangelical Christians (80 percent).
- Eighty-three percent of Republicans said they volunteered for an organization in the last year, while only 67 percent of Democrats said the same. Sixty-nine of those who identified as independents said they volunteered in the past year.
- Baby Boomers, those born from 1946 to 1964, were most likely to increase their volunteer hours, according to the survey.
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I am a 61-year old professional woman who would like to re-enter the work force after a seven year hiatus. My goal is to find work that combines personal meaning and social impact with a nominal salary. However, due to age and my time out of the work force, I find most doors closed. Volunteering could be a way to get my foot in the door while at the same time do work worth doing. However, I have found few useful web sites for finding meaningful volunteer opportunities.
— Sarah Drake Sep 9, 02:08 PM #
Hi Sarah,
It all depends on what you find meaningful. Many non profits, the one I work for included, has very few volunteer opportunities that have client interaction due to the nature of our services (we provide mental health, addictions and domestic violence services). However, we are always in need of administrative help (filing, answering phones, etc). Many volunteers do not find this as appealing because you don’t have that “hands on” experience; however, it is something that is very useful to the organization and allows us to continue providing the services we provide. I hope that helps.
Also, volunteermatch.org is a great website for finding opportunities or contact your local Chamber of Commerce for non profits in your area.
— Amy Sep 9, 02:17 PM #
Dear Amy and Sarah — Unfortunately, both of your postings highlight the problems discussed in this article! Without going into a dissertation, please consider these points:
1. Why should it be “easy” to find a volunteer position if what you want is more meaningful than a quick fix activity? It takes time to find a paid job and it also takes time to find the right volunteer role.
2. VolunteerMatch and other online registries are wonderful, but I recommend you think about what YOU really want to do and then find out which agencies in your community are working on those causes. Call the agencies and see if they have a volunteer office. Go interview. If you have a Volunteer Center or Hands On affiliate, contact them, too.
3. Amy’s response is, unfortunately, typical of the mental health field, which is the most resistant to volunteer participation. If MH is your cause, contact Compeer — which has been matching volunteers with people with mental illness for decades. But there are LOTS and LOTS of organizations that will give you meaningful work to do. You didn’t share your qualifications, but start either with those or with what you WANT to learn.
Volunteering is not new and millions do it with success. But we are still fighting an uphill battle with uncreative organizations that can’t or won’t welcome community help. It’s worth hunting to find the many that DO.
Best wishes!
Susan J. Ellis
President, Energize, Inc.
www.energizeinc.com
— Susan J. Ellis Sep 10, 12:14 PM #
As a providor of health care services to poor populations, one of the challenges of providing “hands on” volunteer tasks are HIPAA privacy rules and a highly regulated industry (health care) with many protocols that must be followed. A volunteer cannot be held accountable in the same manner an employee can. Patients deserve fully accountable quality of care so we have to be careful who and how we put volunteers in contact with patients. It’s a challenge when you are NOT a soup kitchen. We’re trying but our volunteers must be dependable and accountable. Many volunteers today want to drop in and drop out of tasks – short term committments. THAT’s why they end up with boring tasks like filing.
Also volunteers have an enormous oppotunity to help with fundraising by introducing the organization to their friends. Yet many are unwilling to step out of their comfort zone even when you promise to train them. Any ideas on how to overcome that obstacle?
— Theresa Browning Sep 16, 09:26 AM #
Anyone wanting to volunteer for an organization that provides opportunities to work directly with the client in a meaningful way should contact their local hospice programs.
— Patty Cline Sep 17, 01:48 PM #
Dear Sarah
There is a volunteer opportunity that may be just what your looking for. It’s called the Senior Companion program.
Senior Companions make meaningful impacts on the lives of their clients, other seniors who they help to continue to live independently.
Senior Companions receive a tax-free stipend and travel allowance that won’t affect any other benefits they are getting.
For more information and to find a Senior Companion program in your area go to: http://seniorcorps.org/about/programs/sc.asp
— Bill Meunier Sep 25, 04:56 PM #
ElderFriends programs are in Richmond, Virginia and Seattle, WA. These are volunteer programs that deliver socialization to isolated, home-bound elders. The flexible schedule and matching of volunteer and elder in close proximity make for a great opportunity!Check us out: www.elderfriendsva.org
— Kiersten Ware Sep 30, 03:40 PM #