A shift to a hybrid model of volunteering

It would be easy to assume that a locked down world due to the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for the seismic shift towards increased virtual volunteering, when in fact, volunteering has been slowly moving in this direction for some time.

Vollie, an Australian based online business, providing a platform for virtual volunteering started back in 2015 when co- founders Matthew and Tanya identified an unmet need. Matthew describes Vollie as volunteering for an online generation.

The impacts of COVID-19 combined with a declining trend in formal volunteering, Volunteering Australia hypothesise that the 19 percent decrease in formal volunteering since 2016 reveals that new types of volunteering are developing to meet the needs of the community (Volunteering Australia ). At Vollie, they believe that digistisation and the next generation is fuelling this change and that online volunteering for an online generation makes perfect sense

While COVID-19 forced organisations to think creatively and re-design their volunteer roles, it also revealed to the volunteer sector what others before them, like Vollie, had already discovered, and that is, the untapped potential of virtual volunteering. 

The new word on the street is ‘work life integration’, similar but different to the better-known term, work life balance. Rather than viewing work and personal time as separate entities, work life integration is the blending of both personal and professional responsibilities. Stewart Friedman, a professor at the Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania, revealed that when you integrate the different parts of your life, you perform better in all of them.

Many organisations with volunteers who have witnessed the benefits to virtual volunteering are now offering a hybrid model of volunteering,  giving more volunteers the opportunity to volunteer in their own time, from their own home.

Simbi Foundation, a Canadian organisation, says that these new opportunities foster increased inclusion for those limited by geography, physical ability or work arrangements which allows organisations an opportunity to tap into a whole new cohort of untapped potential. 

Work-life integration and the flexible aspect of virtual volunteering allows for a seamless integration into our everyday lives, which means that volunteers can fulfill their commitments at a time that works best for them (Simbi Foundation, March 2022).

The hybrid model of volunteering no longer requires that team members be in the same place at the same time to communicate. More and more people are contributing to the work of online teams, and not for profits can also tap into the power of remote, flexible work arrangements to engage with increasing numbers of virtual volunteers.  It also creates new opportunities even for organisations that have traditionally run working bees or in person activities to look at the types of tasks they have on their plate outside of the unperson activities and decide what might be able to be outsourced to a remote volunteer. This means that tasks that were once completed by board or committee members, might be carved off to virtual volunteers to lighten the load on overworked committee members,. 

Tobi Johnson & Associates, an internationally sought-after master trainer in volunteer engagement in the US has plenty to say about the positive contribution of virtual volunteers. Particularly, when your not for profit can reap the rewards of employing remote volunteers from anywhere in the world, making the world your oyster when it comes to recruiting and finding the right volunteer talent for your organization.

It’s natural that organisations are a little nervous about employing virtual volunteers. During the pandemic not for profits and private businesses shared similar concerns regarding engagement and productivity (Tobi Johnson & Associates). It’s important to ask, ‘how do you ensure volunteers feel supported?  Or how do you maintain a culture of volunteer accountability?’ but there is a simple answer. Build a strong sense of community.

Consider developing an online community so that your volunteers will have access to a wider network of supportive peers. A well-designed online resource portal and learning hub can help volunteers access learning and resources as needed and importantly learn from one another. And the rich conversations will allow volunteer leaders the opportunity to read the community’s mood, issues and current level of engagement. When your volunteers feel connected and their partnership mutually beneficial, your volunteers won’t want to let others in the team down and better team work means betters outcomes. 

While the urgent pivot required due to Covid-19 may have led some of us to think of hybrid volunteering as a less-than-ideal necessity, my research suggests you reconsider that view and begin to imagine a new workforce, one that is inclusive, adaptable and hybrid.

Written by Jacinda Erich

Did you know The Forever Agenda can support your cause with developing and hosting of bespoke training portals. We have built training and induction packages for The Victorian State Government, Fernlea Community Care and more. Reach out today, to discuss your particular needs.