The Profound Benefits of Pro Bono Volunteering for Professionals
In a world driven by constant innovation and progress, getting caught up in the whirlwind of professional responsibilities and personal goals is easy. However, amidst the daily grind, there lies a gratifying opportunity that benefits communities and enriches the lives of professionals – pro bono volunteering. Pro bono, derived from the Latin phrase "pro bono publico" meaning "for the public good," refers to offering one's skills and expertise free of charge to support individuals, organizations, or causes in need. While it may seem like an additional commitment, the benefits of pro bono volunteering for professionals are far-reaching and transformative.
Skill Enhancement and Diversification:
Through HandsOn Twin Cities’ Pro Bono Advisory Program, pro bono volunteers use their professional skills to support nonprofit organizations or small businesses, which often operate with smaller budgets and fewer staff. In our Connected for Change (CFC) Days, volunteers work with small teams of professionals, meeting and collaborating with new people in different corporations and industries. This cross-pollination of ideas between sectors can spark innovation and creative problem-solving. In our custom engagements with corporations, volunteers work in small teams with other co-workers from the same company whom they often don't get the opportunity to work with on a daily basis. Professionals often report leaving engagements feeling reenergized in their work and skillset, having applied their skills in a new context and worked with and learned from new professionals and the nonprofit they're partnering with.
“It was fun to apply our technical skills in a totally different manner. Equally satisfying was the gratitude expressed by our client.”
Pro bono volunteers apply their expertise to the nonprofit/small business context and constraints and collaborate with them to develop an impactful and effective outcome (deliverable) that is implementable and effective in their setting. This may look like developing effective marketing techniques that work within the nonprofit's budget and resources and that appeals to the diverse audiences of clients, volunteers, and donors that nonprofits speak to, or developing effective processes within the technology stack available to the nonprofit, such as developing software integrations, building out Customer Relationships Management technology, or even developing an effective excel tool. In pro bono volunteering, volunteers practice aspects of their work and share the process with nonprofits and small businesses who are new to the given tool, resource, or process (Shantz & Dempsey-Brench, 2021). Volunteers may also see improvements in their interpersonal skills, including leadership, management, and team-building skills, as well as in their communication and active listening (Bostjancic et al., 2018; Shantz & Dempsey-Brench, 2021).
Building a Meaningful Network:
Pro bono work introduces professionals to various individuals, including fellow volunteers, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders. This expanded network can foster valuable connections that have yet to be possible within their usual professional circles. After our CFC Days, in a handful of instances, we’ve seen pro bono volunteers opt to continue volunteering with the nonprofit, forging longer-term relationships with them because they see value in what the nonprofit is doing, understand the constraints the nonprofit is operating under, and see the value they as a volunteer can provide.
Collaborating with like-minded individuals passionate about creating positive change can lead to lasting relationships and potential collaborations. Pro bono volunteering among corporate employees also has positive effects on workplace attitudes and behaviors (Im et al., 2018). That is because employee volunteering fosters happiness and cohesion and, as a result, encourages individuals to engage in their role and help other employees.
“I loved meeting the team of people from all over the country. We all worked at different companies and, otherwise, wouldn’t have met if not for this. It was also great to talk to others in this area and be able to bounce ideas off one another.”
Contributing to the Greater Good:
Ultimately, the most significant benefit of pro bono volunteering is the ability to contribute to the greater good. Professionals have the power to use their expertise to effect real change. By contributing as pro bono volunteers, volunteers help strengthen the nonprofit's core functioning, helping ensure the nonprofit's mission, be that in sustainability, essential services, education, etc., can be enacted for years to come.
It is estimated that nonprofits spend about two percent of their overall budget on core business functions, compared to businesses’ utilization of about 35 percent of their budget (Holly, 2019). Given this, it is important to commit to social responsibility and community engagement to use skills to uplift these organizations doing important work in the community. Volunteers often find the work they do with a nonprofit or small business partner meaningful, especially when they can see a tangible impact of their work for their community (Holly, 2019; Patterson et al., 2021).
“Often in corporate America, your individual impact can be difficult to see. The impact of working with a small business is easier to see; the owner’s appreciation was a great reward for our work. This was also a great exercise in understanding the audience of a project.”
Pro Bono volunteerism allows volunteers to support mission-driven work, which is a big draw. Volunteers often report enjoying meeting like-minded individuals through pro bono volunteer teams. And pro bono volunteerism requires a deeper investment than traditional volunteering. Even if it’s a one-day engagement, it’s asking you to use your brain and skills very profoundly. We’ve seen volunteers respond to this. They appreciate using their hard-earned skills to make what can be a significant impact at an organizational-wide level. The fulfillment derived from helping those in need is unparalleled. Knowing that your expertise makes a tangible difference in someone's life or contributes to a cause can significantly boost job satisfaction and overall happiness.
Conclusion:
Pro bono volunteering transcends the limitations of routine work. It allows professionals to channel their skills into purposeful, transformative endeavors. The benefits are numerous and profound, from skill enhancement and personal growth to networking opportunities and increased job satisfaction. By investing their time and expertise in pro bono work, professionals can make a lasting impact on their communities and themselves, creating a win-win situation that resonates far beyond the confines of a traditional job.
If you want to learn more about HandsOn Twin Cities’ pro bono opportunities, contact Joy Altmann, Managing Director, Pro Bono Advisory Program, and see how you can use your skills and expertise to make a difference!
References:
Boštjančič E., Antolović S., & Erčulj V. (2018). Corporate volunteering: Relationship to job resources and work engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01884
Im, S., Chung, Y. W., & Yang, J. Y. (2018). The mediating roles of happiness and cohesion in the relationship between volunteerism and job performance. International Journal of Public Health, 15(12), 2903. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122903
Holly, D. (2019, February 1). Building social sector capacity through a day of skilled service. Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/building_social_sector_capacity_through_a_day_of_skilled_service
Patterson, P. G., McColl-Kennedy, J. R., Lee, J., & Brady, M. K. (2021). Gaining insights into why professionals continue or abandon pro bono service. European Journal of Marketing, 55(3), 790-813. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-05-2019-0438
Shantz A., & Dempsey-Brench K. (2021). How volunteerism enhances workplace skills. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-volunteerism-enhances-workplace-skills/