<p>I grew up in a home where my dear mom was a big advocate for volunteerism. She worked in the schools and community so for me it has been a natural fit.</p>
<p>Both in my career choices and personal time I have largely served the community at a low wage or gratis.</p>
<p>Recently for a data collection for an organization I serve- I had to account for the days worked and out of pocket expenses. In the fiscal year, and for this one organization I gave 40 days… and am “in the red” by more than $5k.</p>
<p>Many organizations depend largely on volunteers. I get that, and always have understood it.</p>
<p>DH and I recently met with a financial advisor who looked at me like I had 3 heads when I recounted the work for this one organization, the long hours (some 12-14 hr days) and the travel etc. </p>
<p>So I was speaking with another member of this organization and she herself has decided to cut back because it it taking away from her time in her office/ability to save for retirement etc</p>
<p>Here’s my question/thought I am asking: </p>
<p>When is volunteering our time “too much” ? </p>
<p>How many hours a week/month do you serve your community or a special cause?</p>
<p>When has an organization really taken advantage of it’s volunteers?</p>
<p>If an organization licenses its volunteers and has a strict code of behavior and statification–hasn’t it really just created “employees” that work for free?</p>
<p>Well, volunteering is a choice. If you don’t need the money you’d get by working a paying job, then what you’re doing is noble. Presumably the money you’re not taking in salary is being used for the mission of the volunteer organization.</p>
<p>I worked as a volunteer for about 7 years at one specific job. Worked about 8 hours plus about 3 hours commute every other week. amounted to about 200+ hours a year. I enjoyed the work and the people I worked with. When management changed and the new folks did not appreciate the volunteers and started treating them poorly, I said “goodbye”. It just wasn’t worth it anymore. (And yes, this job required a very specific certification before you could be “hired as a volunteer”, you had to pay for your own medical every couple of years, and you had to pay for some of your own equipment that was necessary for the job). Definitely should have been paid positions, but it was fun and they had lots of people willing to volunteer and the organization could not have stayed open if they had to pay all these volunteers. </p>
<p>I also volunteer for a variety of school and activities that my kids participate in as well as church. Both my sons have done a significant amount of volunteer work also. I think it’s important for the community. </p>
<p>I think it’s too much when you find you don’t have time for family or personal needs or when you are no longer enjoying the volunteering or the costs become too high.</p>
<p>At times I have become overly involved in volunteer projects, to the exclusion of personal need, family need. Yet, those times are part of what have made me, in growing beyond my boundaries in terms of skills that later have been of use, and made me proud. Yes, my floors and closets would have been cleaner, and I’d have exercised more. But in the scope of my human life, giving up a little personal time for the sake of something larger has been far more satisfying. </p>
<p>One of the questions as well, is how YOU value your time. Is your life enlarged and made more meaningful with this work? Are you resentful of time away from family, the exercise or lunches with friends, or prettier yard you might have had rather than this experience? </p>
<p>I think each person needs to find the answers to these questions within themselves. </p>
<p>When I was very involved with my disabled friends’ life (since passed away) our mutual friends thought I was nuts to take on so much. I looked at the moral choice, knew I was needed and valued, and did what I felt was essential. It was very emotionally satisfying, I use the skills gained in other parts of my life, and made my friend happy during a horrible time. Yes, it was a draining PITA, but I’d not be able to live with making other choice. </p>
<p>Back when the kids were in preschool, I did an incredible amount of volunteer work one year, as an organizer. I was less than happy to put in the time with my offspring so young, yet there were many fun and bonding moments with folks I still am close to, and I found a love for organizing events that has served me well in many other capacities. </p>
<p>The USA is exemplary in terms how much volunteer work is done, and how many of us feel a calling to ‘give back.’ Other cultures either ignore some of these needs or support these human and cultural needs economically with higher taxes.</p>
<p>I volunteer whenever I can. I get great satisfaction from it. I do agree that a balance has to be found though. If I needed the money for my family, or the time I was spending meant denying other important parts of my life, then cutting back would be necessary. </p>
<p>I once heard someone say that volunteers are just unpaid laborers and they didn’t feel they were being appreciated unless they were paid. Those people should not volunteer, but I certainly felt appreciated.</p>
<p>I’ve always volunteered in our community, with a few different organizations. When my Ds were young, I volunteered, on average, about twenty hours per week in their schools. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I loved it and always felt appreciated. Some of those teachers are still my close friends today. For years, I volunteered with our soccer club, which was a huge commitment for the six month season, and a shorter commitment for the remaining months of the year. At that time, the club was run entirely by volunteers. The only paid employee was the secretary who answered the phones. The club was the largest, and probably still is, soccer club in North America, with more than 10,000 kids playing. If it wasn’t for the volunteers, the club wouldn’t have existed. Today they have a few more paid employees but it’s still largely kept operational by hundreds of volunteers.</p>
<p>As my kids got older, my volunteer work expanded to a few new, and additional, ventures. I got very involved with a theatre company in the city and that was great fun, and much appreciated. I was there from the beginning and in the ensuing years, it has become one of the most respected companies in town and its shows have won awards every season. This was a bit different in that being a member of the Board, we all were volunteers who were also patrons, so making a charitable contribution each year, although certainly not required, was something we were all happy to do. After eight years, I’ve stepped back from the Bd. membership but continue to be a patron and to do some occasional things to assist. The success of the company has been such that there are now paid employees.</p>
<p>Currently, I volunteer on a regular basis at a hospital, at a foodbank and at a bereavement group for children. I am able to arrange these so that they can function when I’m out of town for any length of time. This is necessary even more so now that my H is retired and we spend a lot of time at our second home. I’ve never felt that my volunteer work was overwhelming other areas of my life, and I didn’t have the financial worries about it taking away from the ability to earn a living. I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed all of the groups I’ve worked with in a volunteer capacity, with no regrets.</p>
<p>My H has increased his volunteer positions since he retired and is able to share his business experience and acumen in the organizations he’s joined. It’s something we’ve always instilled in our Ds, similarly with donating to charitable organizations. Giving back and sharing have always been a normal part of our lives.</p>
<p>I volunteer a lot and often pay some bills on my own … given we have a donation budget anyways these bill payments are just moving what money is being donated.</p>
<p>I don’t give two seconds thought to anyone who questions the time I give or the money I give … I’m comfortable with my choices … and my commitment to building community.</p>
<p>At times I feel like an outlier given how much I donate/volunteer … but then if I think about. Every youth sports team, dance group, scout group, church group, etc has a bunch of volunteers. In addition does of advocacy and support groups rely on volunteers to deliver their services. Punch line … tons of folks volunteer.</p>
<p>For me … as long as I still have time for my family and I can pay my portion of the bills for my family … then if I want to donate my spare time and money than that’s my business … and for me, it’s my small part of trying to make the world a better place.</p>
<p>PS - Frankly the bigger issue I have is picking which of 100 potential places to volunteer!</p>
<p>I did a lot of volunteering on various activities related to my kid’s schools and activities. GS leader for 12 years, Robotics mentor and lab monitor for a couple. D2 and I have done about 30 hours/year of volunteering for a large food bank in our area, monitored a community bluebird trail for 10 years, and I also do a lot of volunteer work for political campaigns. I also help out with some duties for an inner-city middle school college prep summer program. With D2 leaving for college, I am stepping up my work at the food bank. No more Girl scouts or bluebird trail. Although I may volunteer for Robotics this year. Am thinking longer term (when retired/semi-retired) of volunteering for a relief organization that sometimes needs people to travel to disaster areas to help out.</p>
<p>But I will say that I have always put my career first. As I became a single parent several years ago with minimal help from my ex, I am VERY glad I did. My financial advisor (if I had one) would say I did the right thing for my retirement fund, college funds, and asset acquisition/preservation. I still put in quite a few hours, but think you have to balance that with taking care of your own finances. Sometimes I have said no when people have asked me to take on big, time consuming jobs within these organizations. I give what I can and don’t feel guilty if they would like more – it is more important for me to NOT become a burden in the future than to give them some additional hours now.</p>
<p>When my daughter was in school I volunteered a lot for her activities: school, scouts, and the library. During that time, I often had part-time jobs. With an empty nest and a part-time job, I continue to help out at the library. Volunteering, although fulfilling, can sometimes be frustrating. Every few years, I have an incident where I feel unappreciated by whomever I am helping. These volunteer organizations whether it is the PTO or the Friends of Library will have in-fighting and politics and sometimes you just have to ignore it and move on.</p>
<p>i agree with katliasmom. If you are asking the question, you are probably volunteering too much. Everyone has limits. I think many of us have difficulty setting limits. </p>
<p>I personally have never seen an organization or group that will say, “You are spending too much time helping us”. They will take as much as you give, but the organization will survive without you. You have to be happy with the time you are giving. If you aren’t happy, or if your family or personal finances are suffering then you need to look at your priorities.</p>
<p>I will volunteer for organizations whose goals I care about and who want me. I will not schmooze my way in or fight for the right to volunteer–something that seems to be required in PTO’s and organizations related to kid’s activities. I stop volunteering if and when the power-hungry or “I’m a bigger do-gooder than you” people start jockeying hard for position and start conniving in order to get to do the most pleasant or most visible and honor-bringing jobs–often because they want to impress the teacher or coach and thereby gain advantage for their kid. I just hate that stuff and feel my time would be better used helping the truly needy rather than organizations for the privileged.</p>
<p>I use volunteers in my program. Whenever I “interview” someone about volunteering for our program I tell them a couple of things:
Not only do I need to see if you are the “right” volunteer for our program, you as a volunteer need to decide if we are the “right” program for you to volunteer at.
Volunteering should be rewarding and you should only do it to the point that it is enjoyable - as a volunteer you should make an initial commitment (whether a month or a year) but you earn the right to leave when you are interested/enticed to try something else. Volunteering at a position does not have to be a forever thing!</p>
<p>If your financial planner is looking at you as if you have three heads because you are not financially secure or likely to be on your current path, then you may very well be volunteering too much. There are always ways to help that are free and don’t preclude full time paid employment. How old are you and how close are you and your spouse to your savings goals?</p>
<p>^ roshke I think you hit the nail on the head.</p>
<p>I have been a SAHM by choice and have been an heavily ACTIVE volunteer (with travel) for years. </p>
<p>The Fin Adv is helping us focus on wealth building/retirement planning etc.</p>
<p>I have also wondered what the “sniff” test is on a volunteer with an organization verses an organization avoiding employment issues…
Sort of like unpaid intern issues…</p>