{"id":14982,"date":"2025-05-12T07:11:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T07:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=14982"},"modified":"2025-05-12T07:11:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T07:11:09","slug":"volunteering-in-retirement-6-tips-for-making-an-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=14982","title":{"rendered":"Volunteering in Retirement: 6 Tips for Making an Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If volunteering in retirement sounds appealing to you, you are not alone. More than ever, workers over 50 are looking toward careers in the nonprofit world, seeking a second chance at purposeful work.<\/p>\n

In fact, according to Encore.org, more than 25 million Americans ages 50 to 70 are eager to share their skills, passions and expertise by volunteering to address social needs.<\/p>\n

Of those 25 million Americans, 4.5 million people identify themselves as already working in encore careers today, while another 21 million are preparing to move into their own encores, a study<\/a> by Encore.org and Penn Schoen Berland shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a great market for an older worker \u2014 someone who\u2019s looking for a second act close to retirement or once they\u2019re retired,\u201d says Kerry Hannon, Washington, D.C.-based career, retirement and personal finance expert. \u201cThis whole idea of doing work that actually has meaning and purpose is something that really resonates with the older age group.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than half of Americans (55%) agree that putting skills and expertise to use in some fashion to help others is an important part of how they view the stage of their lives that would follow a primary career. And 28% put volunteering in retirement at the center of their planning, according to the Encore.org study.<\/p>\n

Volunteering in Retirement is Good for You (Very Good for You)<\/h2>\n

Volunteering after retirement isn\u2019t just a kind thing to do\u2014it\u2019s one of the best things you can do for your health, happiness, and sense of purpose.<\/p>\n

Better Mental and Physical Health: <\/strong>Volunteering isn\u2019t just altruistic; it offers tangible health advantages. Studies indicate that seniors who volunteer experience reduced risks of depression, improved cognitive function, and even increased longevity. Engaging in volunteer activities can lead to better mental and physical health outcomes for retirees.<\/p>\n

Social Connections: <\/strong>Retirement can sometimes lead to social isolation. Volunteering provides an avenue to build new relationships and maintain social interactions. Participating in community service can help retirees stay connected, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of loneliness.<\/p>\n

Greater Happiness: <\/strong>Retirement can feel aimless without structure or purpose. Volunteering reintroduces meaning\u2014you\u2019re needed, your contributions matter, and your time is making someone else\u2019s life better. That kind of purpose is linked to higher happiness and even longer life expectancy.<\/a><\/p>\n

6 Tips for Retirement Volunteering<\/h2>\n

The rising interest \u2014 and engagement \u2014 in volunteering is clear. But before embarking on the next chapter, it\u2019s important to first consider a few tips to help make the transition to volunteering in retirement as seamless as possible.<\/p>\n

1. Find the Right Retiree Volunteer Opportunities for You<\/h2>\n

Finding work with a non profit or a volunteer opportunity can actually be challenging. You want to get the right fit for everyone.\u00a0 There are hundreds of ways to help in your own community \u2014 try contacting schools or hospitals, for example.\u00a0 You can also go farther \u2013 much farther \u2013 afield for a volunteer adventure.<\/p>\n

Here are a few organizations that can help you find a rewarding volunteer in retirement gig near home or somewhere far away:<\/p>\n

Koya Leadership Partners:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Koya Leadership Partners<\/a> has connected millions of people with a great place to volunteer and helped tens of thousands of organizations better leverage volunteers to create real impact.<\/p>\n

Senior Corps:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Senior Corps<\/a> is a network of national service programs for Americans 55 years and older, made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. Senior Corps volunteers commit their time to address critical community needs including academic tutoring and mentoring, elderly care, disaster relief support, and more.<\/p>\n

National Park Service:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The National Park Service<\/a> offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups as part of the Volunteers-In-Parks program. Work behind the scenes or on the front line in positions ranging from a one-time service project\/ volunteer event to a longer term position, serving alongside park employees or with one of our many partner organizations.<\/wbr><\/p>\n

The Peace Corps:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Peace Corps<\/a> is not just for youngsters. Your experiences will be an asset in your host country to both your community members and your fellow Volunteers. Use your skills to help a community learn about business or technology, inspire a new generation in the classroom, or transfer your love for sports or a hobby into a youth development program. Hear from senior volunteers about their Peace Corps experiences<\/a> or browse available volunteer openings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Create the Good: <\/strong><\/h3>\n

A partner of AARP, Create the Good<\/a> has a simple quick online questionnaire that quickly matches you to volunteer opportunities.<\/p>\n

Global Volunteers:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Global Volunteers<\/a> was granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1999, and formalized a\u00a0relationship with UNICEF in 2008. Through\u00a0high-level\u00a0associations, their international volunteer service work protects children\u2019s security and welfare\u00a0as they address hunger, health, poverty and educational issues at the community level around the world.<\/p>\n

VolunteerMatch:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

VolunteerMatch <\/a>has connected millions of people with a great place to volunteer and helped tens of thousands of organizations better leverage volunteers to create real impact.<\/p>\n

2. Volunteering in Retirement? Plan in Advance<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t just jump into the nonprofit world; start planning in advance \u2013 especially if you want to get paid for your good work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people who are most successful at making career transitions start three to four years ahead of time,\u201d says Hannon, AARP\u2019s jobs expert.<\/p>\n

For some people, this transition might happen before retirement; for others, it might happen during retirement. Among those in encore careers today, 44% transitioned into new roles between ages 45 and 54, and 44% in the next decade, from 55 to 64, according to Encore.org.<\/p>\n

Some popular nonprofit fields for 50+ workers include finance (accountants, bookkeepers), marketing, sales, fundraising, event planning and public relations, Hannon says. Whatever the field \u2014 or organization \u2014 seek out positions that can benefit from your lifetime of knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not reinventing yourself in a second career in the nonprofit world; you\u2019re re-deploying [your skills],\u201d Hannon says.<\/p>\n

3. Start Volunteering Now<\/h2>\n

Volunteer as soon as possible \u2014 both with the organization you have your sights set on as well as others.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not yet retired, spend some time volunteering on the weekends or in the evenings to get your feet wet in the nonprofit world, while adding some helpful skills and experience to your portfolio.<\/p>\n

The same holds true for those who are already retired: \u201cVolunteering is critical,\u201d Hannon says.<\/p>\n

It can be the gateway to networking, board member positions and potential job opportunities.<\/p>\n

4. Sharpen Your Skill Set<\/h2>\n

Many volunteer organizations will offer you training, but getting started on your own can be a good idea. Learning new skills or taking a few extra college courses will help prep you for an encore career or exciting adventures.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you know ahead of time that this is a move you\u2019re interested in making, take some classes or ramp up your skills with a workshop,\u201d Hannon says. \u201cSee what courses are out there that offer an introduction to different fields.\u201d<\/p>\n

The University of Connecticut, for example, offers a program called Encore!Hartford, which focuses on the differences in best practices between corporate and nonprofit business management, examining where practices mesh as well as differ.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis process will enable you to identify the transferable skill sets you bring to the nonprofit sector from your prior work experience,\u201d the program overview states.<\/p>\n

Another program, the Pace Encore Transition Program at Pace University in New York, provides a five-day series of evening classes that promise to prepare students for meaningful work in nonprofit and public service organizations.<\/p>\n

Check the local colleges and universities in your area to see if similar programs are available.<\/p>\n

5. Market Yourself<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re tech savvy or not, making a stellar LinkedIn profile \u2014 complete with volunteer experience and causes you care about \u2014 is a must for launching into the nonprofit world.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter what kind of second act you\u2019re looking for, you\u2019ve got to have a great LinkedIn profile,\u201d Hannon says.<\/p>\n

If you think volunteering for your local church, food pantry or animal shelter isn\u2019t important to include in your profile, think again.<\/p>\n

More than 40% of LinkedIn hiring managers consider volunteer work equally as valuable as paid work experience when evaluating candidates, according to a LinkedIn survey. Additionally, 20% of hiring managers in the U.S. agree they have hired a candidate because of their volunteer work experience.<\/p>\n

When launching into an encore career, volunteer work is especially important, because \u201coften, that volunteer work leads to a position at a nonprofit,\u201d Hannon says.<\/p>\n

6. Get Confident About Your Finances (So You CAN Volunteer)<\/h2>\n

Though working at a nonprofit provides a \u201cpaycheck with a purpose\u201d for those beginning their encore careers, workers should be cognizant of some of the financial challenges that come with it.<\/p>\n

More than two in three (67%) of those already in encore careers experienced gaps in their personal income during the transition to their encores, reporting that they earned no money (24%) or that they earned significantly less during the transition than they earned at their previous jobs (43%), according to a MetLife Foundation survey.<\/p>\n

Of those who experienced time with little to no income, nearly four in five (79%) say they experienced a gap of six months or more, while 36% say their income gap lasted more than two years. Most of those who answered (65%) say they relied on personal savings alone to make ends meet.<\/p>\n

Because of these challenges, it\u2019s important to make sure your finances are stable before making the transition.\u00a0 Working with a financial advisor can be money and time well spent.\u00a0 Or, you might try an online retirement calculator.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoney is the biggest stumbling block for people who want to make a move into the nonprofit world or are just starting a second act,\u201d Hannon says. \u201cThe most important thing is to be as financially fit as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is it time to get confident about your financial future? It is easy to create and maintain your retirement plan with the Boldin Retirement Planner.\u00a0 Try different scenarios and see what kind of adventures you can afford.<\/p>\n

See what\u2019s possible today and keep yourself on track for the future.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If volunteering in retirement sounds appealing to you, you are not alone. More than ever, workers over 50 are looking toward careers in the nonprofit world, seeking a second chance at purposeful work. In fact, according to Encore.org, more than 25 million Americans ages 50 to 70 are eager to share their skills, passions and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[348],"tags":[1154,457,350,251,6157],"class_list":{"0":"post-14982","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-retirement","8":"tag-impact","9":"tag-making","10":"tag-retirement","11":"tag-tips","12":"tag-volunteering"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}