Before you embark on a new volunteer opportunity, you’ll want to make sure the mission is something you’ll feel strongly about. More specifically, you’ll want to be sure your skillset will enable you to fit in and help in a meaningful way. Simply showing up and being of service to someone might not afford you an immersive experience that can be mutually beneficial to you and the organization. You’ll want to identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and how they can impact the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission.
Here are five types of volunteers and the organizations that line up with those skillsets:
- Local Thinker You’re the type of person who feels like the problems you see in your community are solvable with a little elbow grease. You love the idea of civic engagement, like to vote in local elections, and listen to your neighbors when they come to you with problems they see in the community. You’ll do great at an organization whose sole mission is to impact the place where you live. International or national organizations may have goals that are too lofty for your to wrap your head around, and you should look for opportunities with local youth groups, animal shelters, environmental groups, or even joining a local politician’s election campaign.
- Global Actor You watch the news and feel a deep sense of connection with someone who lives thousands of miles away, but you still feel a drive to help them. You feel that technology has created a more level playing field for people to interact from across the globe and that it’s a beautiful thing. You’ll feel a sense of purpose at a multinational nonprofit like those through the United Nations, the Peace Corps, well digging charities, or a religious international missionary group.
- Organizer You put action into your own hands: you’re independent and have the spirit of a social entrepreneur. No problem is too big or too small and you’re great at delegating and managing the big picture. You should start an initiative of your own under the umbrella of another nonprofit, or even think about establishing one of your own, given your financial and time constraints. Often, large organizations are looking to open new chapters in cities, or local organizations need self-starters to manage smaller programs. Find a cause you feel passionately about and get started.
- Creative You live outside the box. You’ve taken a non-traditional approach to life and think of innovative ways to solve issues. You’re optimistic and artistic and are able to be compassionate in the way you teach a craft to others. You should look for ways to give back through art therapy, directing a choir, teaching underprivileged youth an instrument, or even doing nature tours with meditation. The world is your oyster!
- Technical Problem Solver You like numbers and data and are timid about interacting with a population you’re unfamiliar with, but nonetheless would like to help. Your profession is all about being behind the scenes and you can come up with creative solutions that your coworkers hadn’t thought of before. You should look for volunteer opportunities as office help or tech support. You can help prep for an event like chopping vegetables at a soup kitchen or creating a social media campaign for an organization.
Whatever type of volunteer you are, you can be a catalyst for change in your community. Explore https://www.volunteermatch.org/ to find an opportunity that is right for you.
Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton is an internist with a passion for volunteering and living your healthiest life.