Is Volunteering In Retirement A Good Idea?

Volunteering in retirement can open the door to a new chapter of life filled with purpose, vitality, and meaningful connections. It can be an excellent opportunity to apply a lifetime of skills and experiences toward causes that benefit both the community and you.

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Before leaping into this rewarding endeavor, you should carefully consider several key aspects of volunteering.

Find a cause you’re passionate about  Reflect on whether any cause you’re considering deeply resonates with your personal values. Will the mission of the organization or program you’ll be volunteering for keep you motivated and eager to contribute? Finding a cause that aligns with your values will ensure that your volunteer work is not just an activity, but a passion that fulfills you.

Assess the Organization   Have a close look at the nonprofit organizations or volunteer programs you’re considering. Are they well-managed, and do they value your time and talents? It’s important to feel that your contributions are respected and that you’re part of a team that appreciates your efforts.

Align your volunteer activities with your retirement lifestyle and goals   Consider how the volunteer roles, time commitment, and structure of the work fit with your retirement plans and aspirations. Does the volunteer position offer the flexibility or level of commitment you’re looking for? Ensuring that your volunteer activities complement your lifestyle will make your experience more enjoyable and sustainable.

In essence, a truly enriching post-retirement volunteering experience harmonizes with your heart’s passion, your mind’s commitment, and the reality of your lifestyle. By aligning these elements, your volunteer journey will not only enrich your life but the lives of those you help.

This article will take a closer look at each of these areas to help you decide whether volunteering in retirement is right for you. 

Find Your Passion

Choosing to volunteer in retirement isn’t just about filling time; it’s about engaging your heart in something that resonates deeply with your core values. This is one of the many benefits of volunteering.

The mission and purpose of the volunteer opportunity should align with what you hold dear. This alignment will motivate you to stay committed, even on days when your enthusiasm wanes.

Even the most passionate volunteers face days of low energy or motivation. On such days, the thought of the cause you’re supporting should be a powerful motivator. Consider what motivates you on challenging days. Is it:

• the anticipation of seeing a dog’s joy during a walk at the animal shelter?
• the smile of a child in the hospital when you bring your therapy dog for a visit?
• the moment a disengaged teenager looks up from her phone, ready to connect, thanks to your mentorship?
• the gratitude in the eyes of an elderly individual receiving a meal from a food pantry?

These scenarios highlight the emotional rewards of volunteering and illustrate how different experiences can light up your heart and motivate you to keep going, regardless of the weather, your mood, or any other circumstance that may challenge your will to get out and volunteer.

Additionally, since retirement can sometimes lead to social isolation, volunteering for an organization you truly care about can help you stay connected with others.

The right volunteer opportunity should feel like a call to action that resonates with your heart to motivate you to contribute your time and energy to something truly significant. It’s this emotional connection that transforms volunteering from a mere activity into a source of joy and fulfillment in retirement.

Assess the Organization

When considering volunteering in retirement, your decision should be guided not only by your passion but also by a thoughtful evaluation of the organization’s structure and how it values its volunteers.

As a volunteer, your ability to influence organizational decisions may be limited, especially compared to the influence you may have had in your professional life. This adjustment can be significant and, for some, challenging. 

To ensure a fulfilling volunteer experience, seek out organizations that demonstrate effective management and a genuine appreciation for their volunteers. A well-run organization will provide a more rewarding environment for you to contribute your time and skills.

If you feel an organization is only interested in your financial contribution, it might not be the right fit. Volunteering should be about mutual respect and contribution, where your time, skills, life experiences, and personal engagement are valued as much as, if not more than, your financial support.

Conduct Thorough Research on Volunteer Organizations

Before committing your time, conduct thorough research to ensure the organization aligns with your expectations and values. Consider the following to gauge an organization’s fit:

• References  Request contact information for current or past volunteers. Speaking with them can provide insights into the organization’s operations and volunteer satisfaction.

• Fundraising efforts   Inquire about the organization’s fundraising programs, particularly those involving volunteers. Knowing expectations upfront will help you decide if their approach aligns with your willingness to participate.

• Volunteer roles  A variety of volunteer roles suggests that the organization values diverse skill sets and is likely to appreciate your unique contributions.

• Like-minded individuals  If possible, meet with someone within the organization who shares your professional background or interests. This connection can offer a deeper understanding of how your skills and experience might be utilized.

Trust Your Instincts

After gathering information, trust your instincts—often referred to as the “tummy test”—to guide your final decision. This intuitive judgment can be a reliable indicator of whether an organization is the right place for you to dedicate your time and talents. A positive gut feeling, combined with thorough research, can lead you to a volunteer opportunity that is both meaningful and aligned with your skills and values.

While your heart may guide you to a cause, use your head to evaluate the practical aspects of volunteering with a particular organization. This balanced approach ensures that your volunteering experiences are both emotionally fulfilling and logically sound, contributing to a rewarding retirement phase.

Aligning with Your Retirement Lifestyle and Goals 

As you consider volunteering in retirement, think about how volunteer opportunities align with your lifestyle, physical activity limitations (if any), and retirement plans. In short, how will any volunteer role you’re considering fit into your day-to-day life?

Here are a few things to consider before you sign up to volunteer:

• Time commitment  Assess the required time investment. Can you comfortably integrate this commitment into your current lifestyle without overextending yourself?

• Scheduling and planning Consider whether the volunteer work is planned, allowing you to organize your calendar and schedule accordingly. Having this foresight will allow you to balance volunteering with personal commitments and leisure activities.

• Flexibility  Life in retirement can bring unforeseen responsibilities, such as caring for aging parents or other family members, alongside the joys, such as travel. Evaluate the flexibility of the volunteer role to accommodate these unpredictable elements of your life.

Thinking through these points can help ensure that you have room in your life for volunteering. Finding a volunteer role that harmonizes with your retirement lifestyle will not only enhance your quality of life but will allow you to make a sustained and meaningful contribution to the cause you care about. 

My Personal Experience with Volunteering: iMentor

A few years ago I connected with an organization called iMentor. iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students from low-income communities to graduate from high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions.

I love this organization and truly believe in their mission. Their amazing staff demonstrate that they value my input but more importantly, have taught me so much. They are well-organized and understand that volunteers need structure, schedules, and infrastructure to fulfill their commitments.

I am happy to donate time and money to iMentor. There will be more about iMentor in a future post. But for now, I wanted to share this example of an organization that aligns with both my heart and head.

Volunteering in Retirement: Thinking Outside of The Box

When considering volunteer opportunities, people often think of the standard organizations—Meals on Wheels, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, etc. There are so many wonderful organizations to choose from. But if none of these are really working with your heart, your head, and your feet, consider some other unique ideas. Here are a few to tickle your brain and get you started thinking:

• Seasonal programs  A local restaurant in our area sponsored a school supply drive in late summer. This is a very worthwhile program bringing much-needed items to under-served areas in the community. Seasonal volunteer opportunities are perfect for someone looking for limited-duration volunteering.

• Online activities  I saw a notice on my local Facebook page that someone was organizing a pen pal program for a local senior citizens home. She worked with the home and set up all the logistics. All the work was done on the phone or online, but she still had the opportunity to connect with people, making it a satisfying experience all around.

• Fundraisers  Online fundraising programs make volunteering to raise money for charitable causes so much easier. During the height of the COVID pandemic, for example, communities organized to raise funds to provide food and supplies to essential workers.

Any of these types of activities might match up perfectly with your prior work or organizational skills.

Armed With Your Research and Ready to Go!

Volunteering in retirement is a terrific overall activity. It’s great for your mental health, physical health, and social interaction. Once you’ve done your research to find those types of volunteer opportunities that align with your heart, your head, and your lifestyle, you’ll be ready to go.

Get out there and make a difference in someone’s life. It will make a difference in yours! 

If you’re ready to volunteer and could use some help with scheduling volunteer time into your day, check out my free Guide to Block Planning. In it, I’ll show you how to make the most of each day by investing just 15 minutes a week in block planning. You’ll feel confident that you aren’t wasting any of your precious time and can start living your life with intention and purpose.