How to be a remote (or virtual) volunteer
Remote volunteering allows you to commit your time and services away from the physical site of an organization, project, or campaign. Remote volunteers can participate virtually using online technology tools; more generally, they engage through projects or activities that can be done away from the organization who recruited them, and who orients, supports and manages them.
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What defines a remote volunteer?
Remote volunteering encompasses any instance of you helping an organization from a distance. e.g., You can do Pro bono work or Virtual Volunteering to help an organization. These different types of volunteering represents the many forms remote volunteer work can take.
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How can you be a remote volunteer or a virtual volunteer?
This depends on the organization who is sponsoring this remote volunteer opportunity. In many instances, if the goal or task can be done remotely and achieves a positive outcome for the organization, this is a remote volunteer opportunity. e.g., if there is a shortage of N-95 face masks, and you had a sewing machine and additional cloths, you could help an organization remotely by sewing up and making facemasks. If you chose to mentor or tutor a k-12 student through an online conferencing/webinar system, this will be virtual volunteering.
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Why would you want to be a remote volunteer?
In the instance of a pandemic like COVID-19, policies encouraging shelter in place can make it difficult to volunteer and do the activities that normally require face to face and hands on activities. In these situations, providing opportunities to complete tasks remotely is of utmost importance to helping continue the critical operations of a nonprofit.