The perfect volunteer for nonprofit organizations: High school students
If you are a leader in a nonprofit organization, you probably are always in need of volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. From administrative work to social media promotion work, to organizing resources, to event planning, there’s always something that needs to be done.
While volunteers of all ages can be a great asset to any nonprofit, high school students actually have a lot to offer. I’d like to share three reasons why you should consider involving more high school students in your mission.
3 reasons why high school students make the perfect volunteer for nonprofits.
1) They have time.
Unlike college students or working adults, high school students typically have a lot of free time, and if you can structure the volunteer opportunities during the late part of the day or evening, it can be a perfect fit for a student’s daily schedule. This means they can easily come in for a few hours each week to help out, whether it’s stuffing envelopes or walking dogs at the local animal shelter.
Many upperclass students have various blocks of free time, so that they may be able to schedule time to volunteer even before the official end of class schedules for the day.
2) They’re eager to learn.
Many high school students are looking for opportunities to gain experience in the real world. Volunteering is a great way for them to learn new skills and explore different career options.
Plus, they often bring a lot of energy and excitement to their tasks, which can be infectious for everyone around them.
3) They’re motivated.
High school students often volunteer because they want to make a difference in their community or the world at large. They understand that their time and effort can have a real impact on the people and causes they care about, which motivates them to do their best work.
As a side benefit, many high schools require students to put in a certain amount of hours every semester or every academic year. Nonprofit organizations that understand this and offer opportunities that help
Concluding Thoughts
If you’re looking for volunteers for your nonprofit organization, don’t overlook high school students. They may not have as much experience as some other volunteers that are involved with your organization, but high school students can more than makeup for it in time, energy, and enthusiasm.
A Practical Place for Recruiting Student Volunteers
If you have any current opportunities for which a high school student would be a good match, make sure to list your organization and the specific volunteer roles at NJHSvolunteers.com.
And who knows? Besides being an encouragement to any high schoolers that come to the website, seeing how many “real-life” (post-school, “adult”) organizations value their potential contributions, they just might be the perfect fit for your organization long term after they graduate high school.
