This analysis points to the great promise of the aging population, but nonprofit organizations cannot afford to be complacent in expectation of a glut of volunteers. In order to take advantage of the natural population increase, nonprofits need to plan for getting the growing 50+ population to be involved and engaged in ways that fit their changing lifestyles, interests, and experience. The simplest way to accomplish this goal is to ask people to volunteer.
The 50+ cohort responds to being asked to volunteer, and they respond in dramatic ways. About 65 percent of both working and retired adults aged 50+ volunteer when asked. This is a substantially higher percentage than those who volunteer on their own, about 26 percent of each group. That is, the volunteering rate is about 3 times higher for those who were asked than for those who were not. However, the average number of monthly hours given by these volunteers, asked or not, does not differ: They give the same number of hours per month on average. What is important is that those asked are much more likely to volunteer in the first place.
To take advantage of the increasing size of the 50+ age group, nonprofits need to be active by recruiting volunteers to a degree never seen before. The finding that only 50 percent of the working cohort and 40 percent of the retired cohort are asked to volunteer shows this—not only will nonprofits have more people to ask in the future, there is also great potential to increase the proportion of volunteers among this group.
To volunteer call 2723-2087.
Reprinted from the Independent Sector.
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