Micro Volunteering is an option for Charities
Micro volunteering involves low commitment action towards a cause. Micro-volunteers can choose how and when they volunteer, providing they have access to the internet via a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Micro-volunteering opportunities could involve:
- Signing online petitions
- Writing blogs
- Re-tweeting, sharing and posting relevant content on Facebook and Twitter.
- Providing feedback on marketing materials.
- Creating Facebook Live meetings or Google Hangouts meetings.
- Getting creative by generating material for upcoming events.
Micro-volunteering and virtual volunteering will not replace traditional volunteering. During COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns it has been a great option to maintain engagement and stay tuned with volunteers, both your current volunteers and your potential future ones.
We have seen that online volunteering is growing rapidly as a result of this crisis. Online food banks such as through the Salvation Army provide a way people can continue to “volunteer” and share in their community’s well being.
There are many examples of Micro volunteering which can be considered as more people are looking to contribute in new ways, in small increments or one-off.
Micro volunteering works best with a consistent online presence including social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. With a large project, you can identify micro tasks or actions within the project where volunteers can assist with tasks such as writing articles, blogs, providing feedback on marketing material, designing a logo, photography for fundraising campaigns and so on.
The power of social media is an integral component of Micro volunteering and it is an ideal way to communicate micro opportunities to followers and to share their contributions. It is important to keep posting, commenting and engaging regularly on social media.
This is an excellent way to engage volunteers for those one-off tasks where no long term commitment is required, are flexible and suits those with less time. The tasks can be carried out anywhere and do not require any training. Micro volunteering can also work with roles where no person to person interaction is required such as gardening and distributing pamphlets.
The benefits from Micro volunteering are the increased engagement with both short term and existing long-term volunteers and Micro volunteering volunteers willing to give more of their time as they get involved with your organisation and learn more about your cause.
For further information on Micro volunteering you might like to read:
Making a Difference in a Matter of Minutes
How Micro Volunteering can Help your Charity
