Volunteering is often a large part of many retirement plans. It’s assumed you now have time to donate! But, I’ve struggled with this concept as I was never engaged pre-retirement with any volunteering and therefore had no relationship with any organization. I didn’t have any deep desire – to teach ESL, to read to children, to staff the reception desk, or to make cold calls for anything. For years, I viewed my “volunteering” as philanthropic check writing.
A few things recently made me stop and pause on this concept.
- I have read in multiple sources about many researches showing that the act of volunteering your time pays off in happiness, mental health, and longevity.
- I did not receive acknowledgement for two of my five (large) philanthropic donations I made this past November!
- I saw this Ted Talk (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKhMUZnLuw) which talks about the importance of making a connection for the “positive glow” of volunteering to be felt. Giving to charity does increase happiness, but being connected to the source of giving is actually just as important.
So, if I’m not even being acknowledged for my charitable donation, where is the connection? I realized I definitely need some type of emotional return on my philanthropic investment to help give me the positivity glow. Two of the donations I made came with both the form letter plus a nice personal note thanking me. Both of those gave me that glow.
Given my history of donating money versus time, I wondered, “Is it better to donate time or money?” Google to the rescue! While there is an attitude that those putting in the time are “better” than those writing a check, charitable organizations rely on BOTH financial gifts and time volunteers. In some instances, monetary donations can have a bigger impact for an organization than time. Although most sites I looked at did agree that time investment more often gives higher personal satisfaction. However, people should be honored for whatever they gift, whether it’s time, talent, or treasures.
As I reviewed my current activities, I realized I do volunteer my time these days! I am a willing worker at multiple fundraising events, I put in hours maintaining my Garden Club’s gardens, and I am on two small non-profit boards, which involve donating my time doing tasks needed for those groups. I still view check writing as my primary contribution however.
Do you donate with time or money (or both!)? Do you feel that connection and get the positive glow?
Picture: From a Jeep Mural Run – I went solo!
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Hello. Volunteering is a fine thing to do. We help others and we get out in the world. My volunteer work makes me feel pretty useful. Neil S.
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Do you donate with time or money (or both!)? I have donated both, but eventually stopped donating time. I was on a couple of non-profit boards and the experiences soured me on volunteering time.
Do you feel that connection and get the positive glow? No positive glow anymore, just a hopeful feeling that the money I give might be doing something good for someone somewhere.
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Ally, I can understand the non-profit board experience being negative! I continue to work on the one board that has been a struggle…more because a few of the board members have thanked me for trying to make a difference there and dealing with the personalities fighting back. So while it’s not a positive glow, I do feel I might be doing something good.
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It sounds like you do actually donate quite a bit of time, Pat, as well as money. I have donated primarily money in the past, but I have volunteered for two organizations. Years ago, I served as a Court-appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for a child. While that was rewarding, it was also emotionally challenging and required more time than I was able to comfortably give at that point in my life, so when the case I had accepted closed, I did not continue. More recently, I volunteered several times as a running buddy for Girls on the Run. That suited me better. The activity is limited to a shorter timeframe, and I still felt like I was contributing without the emotional turmoil. I haven’t volunteered much time since retirement, but have considered whether I should look into some opportunities. I did find it comforting to hear that often the financial contribution is as helpful, if not more so, than the service.
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Christie – I felt the should big time since I retired! I should be donating my time…but all I did was donate money. I felt like I wasn’t meeting expectations – and you know how bad that makes me feel (even if I need to ignore perceived expectations!) It wasn’t until I was writing this blog that I realized I have organically found places to donate my time. It wasn’t a conscious looking and choosing. Making the choice on an opportunity that presents itself is fine, choosing to searching out something is fine, but it’s also OK to let the Universe make it happen!
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> I did not receive acknowledgement for two of my five (large) philanthropic donations I made this past November!
Yes, this is annoying. I made a big donation to a charity that helps prevent teenage suicide, and never heard anything back. I had hoped for some kind of engagement – next steps – I wanted to help more, just never heard back from them. Tumbleweed.
I then found another charity that helps children in Tondo in Manila and made two sizeable donations within a short pace of time. Again, not even a thank you email! Very weird.
I also donated a lot of very nice furniture that didn’t really fit our new house layout / style, and the guy who came from that charity to collect it was actually quite rude – and again, not even a word of thanks!
I then realized that a lot of charities are actually very corporate, and have those same old corporate failings. It seems to be all about the profit. I get it, but somehow thought charities would be different…
At that point I sort of gave up donating! 🙂
Now, I just do litter picking in my neighbourhood (you would not believe what people chuck out of car windows) – I give my time, and enjoy doing it, because it’s just me – no one to report to, and my money stays in my pocket…
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I hear you – I changed the location of my drop-off donations because the people were rude at one and so pleasant at the other. Yes, it’s a 15 minute further drive, but it’s not that often. I will be dropping the non-responders, whether I believe in the charity or not. Not responding to donations is a signal to me of a poorly run organization and I worry then how the money is being used. Loved the term “tumbleweed” – not the visual you want of an organization you want a connection with!
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During my working years, my volunteering was limited to heading up an annual drive during the holiday season for a local women’s shelter. Other than that my efforts were all financial also. It was during lockdown that I decided I was going to change my behavior, and I now volunteer once a month serving hot meals to those who need it. I find it rewarding. I guess I can thank the Coronavirus for knocking some sense into me! – Marty
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Marty, It wasn’t until I wrote this blog that I realized I have been donating my time. Maybe because the time is not specific like your once a month, but more random. Or that the things needing time seemed to just organically happen, versus a specific choice made to start donating time. I guess whether organic or knocked into it, we are both getting the benefits!
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When I started reading this blog my first thought was, “wait a minute, you donate a ton of your time!” You seem to give the garden club a lot of time including the crafts you make for their fundraiser. But you did come up with that one later in your blog and 2 boards that I didn’t even know about. So certainly don’t beat yourself up on this one! I do believe there is a lot true about the joy one finds in volunteering for non-profits but I think it has to be one that speaks to your heart and one where you feel appreciated and worthwhile.
I have volunteered in a few different non-profits and have actually started stepping back a bit because I just don’t feel like I have the energy for it as much and I want to be available for my grandson.
Monetarily, I have donated to those same non-profits and have also backed that off as well. I mean I am on a “fixed” income now.
Lastly, I definitely like to volunteer or donate to those that are in my heart and that has changed a bit over the years. I was rather big in the American Cancer for several years right after my breast cancer and feel that I did my fair share for them. Due to my love for kids (and how much kids contributed to my career) I donated time and money to the NKYCAC for several years and am still quite involved with that one. My next non-profit adventure may be with Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital after our recent relationship with them. I’m hoping to find time to work in their gift shop – all proceeds go straight back to the hospital and I think it would be fun to work in there.
Anyway, I think you have to find something that speaks to your heart. Your Garden Club for example. And if they don’t speak to you then there is no need.
Second lastly (LOL), we have given enough of ourselves. I don’t feel bad when I let a particular charity go.
I certainly do believe that when volunteering for the right charity it is extremely good for the soul.
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Candyse, I can completely understand your interest in Children’s Hospital now! I think I always envisioned my donating time more like you did in the past (helping to run a major fundraiser or two or three) or are thinking now (time in the gift shop). Very clear roles. Mine feel looser, but you are right… I do give a lot of my time to the various groups I’ve joined. It just took this blog writing to realize it! My focus has also shifted to things I’m interested in right now – gardening and theater and my local community. Not saving the world (nor curing cancer), but making things just a bit better.
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It’s not the big things that will save the world, it’s all the little things added up. You bring joy and beauty and we need that as much as a cure for cancer.
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Hi Pat – I’ve never put the two actions together – I see financial donations as a completely different thing to volunteering (but now I see the connection from what you’ve written). I’ve volunteered in multiple areas since my teens – mostly to do with church activities and my admin skills (every organization needs a secretary!) We’ve also donated or supported many charities over the years – and still continue with our overseas child sponsorship.
My dilemma atm is finding somewhere local to volunteer that engages my interest. I’m not wanting to spend time with children anymore (my patience is declining!) and thrift shops seem to be the only other option – they’re still on the “maybe” list. I feel like something will appear when the time’s right and taking a break after all those decades of hands on is a nice change – I’d like to find something like you’re doing where you don’t realize it’s volunteering because it’s just something you enjoy participating in.
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Leanne, It wasn’t until I started writing this blog that I realized how much time I am “donating”. Of course, I felt I was failing on the “should” as part of retirement – the expectation that you should donate time in retirement because you now have time. You said it yourself … when the time is right, something will appear that fits you!
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We donate a modest amount every year. I donate buckets of time. I grew up in a small town with parents who were very involved. Once we settled here I got involved with many things. Still at it. Occasionally resent the one group as it’s been a long haul but I keep at it.
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Bernie – How wonderful you had parents who role-modeled this behavior. My parents were not involved in community until much later in life, so I didn’t have the role model growing up. It has taken me awhile to engage with my time, although I’ve always donated money to various groups.
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Mostly I have donated money rather than time. Now that I’m nearing “retirement” – more like stepping back a little – I am interested in areas that I can volunteer. I am in a library group supporting racial justice but I haven’t been very involved so far. Meetings are only every other month and everyone seems so much more “educated” than I am! I’ll get there!
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Nancy, You might have time now to delve more into the area and not feel “less educated.” There’s always also asking questions of them to learn. I think I’ve discovered in some of my dabblings, there is always someone who knows more, but there is always someone who knows less, too! The fact you are there means you know enough! Also, it took me awhile in retirement to find the places I wanted to devote my time. And I didn’t even realize until I wrote this post how much time I am now devoting to things!
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Thank you for your insight! I’ll keep trying!
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