Finding meaningful ways to serve your community

BY DAVE MCGOWAN

The not-for-profit industry often refers to an organization’s reliance on people’s time, talent, and treasure to enact its mission.

At this time last year, I wrote an article about “treasure” in conjunction with year-end giving. This year, let’s take a look at a potential New Year’s resolution: volunteering, where people can employ their time and talent.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, nearly 30% of Americans volunteer in a formal capacity, and slightly more than half of Americans do so informally by helping neighbors and friends.

Here is a guide to some organizations that can help you find something that best fits your interests and matches your talent with an organization’s needs.

“At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished…it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” — Denzel Washington

First, explore your options with the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, which works with several area volunteer groups (dupagecounty.gov). If you want to broaden your options beyond DuPage, Hands on Suburban Chicago (handsonsuburbanchicago.org) and Idealist (idealist.org) can also help you find an opportunity that aligns with your interests and an organization’s needs.

Don’t forget: most communities have a robust infrastructure of service clubs like Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, and Women’s Clubs.  Visit the websites of these international organizations to find a club near you. You can also use your local community foundation (cof.org) or United Way (unitedway.org) to volunteer for them, or they can refer you to organizations in their service area.

Before diving in, ask yourself a few key questions:

• How much time can I offer?
• Can the organization rely on me?
• Can I make a long-term commitment?
• Do I want to work directly with the organization’s clients, or would I be better placed supporting the organization’s staff?

Ultimately, select an organization whose mission aligns with your values.  Then, identify the skills, knowledge, and time you have to offer.  Suppose you are interested in feeding people in need but find it too difficult to staff a front-line food distribution event. In that case, you can consider being a driver who participates in “food rescue” from local grocery stores.  If you don’t wish to fundraise, a board position may not be for you.

Volunteering is even more rewarding when shared. Bring a friend, involve your family, or simply let your kids see you in action — those experiences will shape their own commitment to community as adults.

About the Author
Dave McGowan has been a Chicago-area not-for-profit executive since November 1981. He is a certified fundraising executive who retired from DuPage Foundation after 25 years in December 2022, before starting a consulting practice serving donors, their advisors, and the not-for-profits they support. Dave can be reached at dave@davemcgowanconsulting.com.