Volunteerism in Retirement: Giving Time and Expertise

While retirement is an exciting phase in life where you can finally feel untethered (perhaps for the first time) from the commitment of a job, it comes with some surprising, often sneaky, challenges for older adults. Namely, finding ways to make retirement feel fulfilling while avoiding things that may threaten your happiness, like isolation and loneliness.

About one-third of older adults said in a recent study that they interacted with people outside their homes once a week or less. Perhaps not much of a coincidence—the same percentage feel socially isolated from others.¹  

Without a job to go to or coworkers to interact with on a regular basis, it can be difficult to find a sense of belonging and community in retirement. Not to mention, your physical and mental health need to be prioritized as you age—staying active and doing things that keep your mind sharp can help you stave off cognitive and physical decline for longer.

While you might not want to return to the workforce in retirement (and we certainly don’t blame you!), there’s another way to build structure into your schedule, feel more fulfilled, and find your sense of community. Volunteering is popular amongst retirees, and for good reason! People working their regular, 9-5 jobs and/or raising young kids often don’t have the time to support local organizations. Yet, these charities rely on volunteers to keep operations running smoothly all year long. 

Let’s take a look at how you can get involved in your community through local volunteer opportunities. 

3 Types of Volunteer Opportunities

If you’re toying with the idea of volunteering in your local community, here’s some good news—you have a whole spectrum of opportunities to choose from, depending on your desired level of involvement and areas of interest. 

Here are three common types of volunteer opportunities to start looking into:

Community service: If you love the area you live in, perhaps you’d like to focus on making your town a better place. Get involved in local organizations or volunteer with the local township to pick up trash, host a toy drive for kids, plant trees, “beautify” old buildings with fresh paint or other small upgrades, build wheelchair ramps, etc. Once you start looking, you can find plenty of ways to help others in your area.

Nonprofit organizations: Your community may be home to a number of local nonprofits providing assistance to the unhoused population, operating an animal shelter, supporting families experiencing domestic violence, and other causes. If you have a certain cause you’re passionate about, check and see what your town offers first. 

Or, you can look at the national level for larger nonprofits that may offer a local chapter or host events in your area. Just keep in mind that larger, national-level organizations tend to receive more funding and support—whereas your efforts may be more impactful when focused on a local community nonprofit.

Educational and mentoring roles: If you worked in education throughout your career, perhaps a natural next step for retirement would be to volunteer as a tutor or educational assistant. Perhaps you’d like to become an advocate for students with learning disabilities or help with homework clubs at the local library.

Or, you may want to help mentor your community’s youngest members—especially if you have a higher concentration of families with disadvantaged youth. Find local or national mentorship programs, or get involved in youth-focused volunteer opportunities like local sports teams or library programs.

Utilizing Professional Expertise

You very well may have decades of professional experience under your belt—and many others in your community find that knowledge to be valuable and worth sharing. If you’re not interested in the commitment of a paid consulting job, you can still find opportunities to share your very own treasure trove of knowledge with others who are interested in following in your footsteps. 

Look for opportunities to lead classes at your town’s community center or local college. If that’s not feasible, you may even be able to offer virtual learning sessions right from your computer.

And your professional expertise doesn’t have to be limited to what you learned in the office. Maybe you’ve mastered a hobby over the years or got certified in something cool—like beekeeping or coding. 

Examples of Expertise-Based Volunteering

Some organizations seek out volunteers with certain professional backgrounds, such as:

• Attorneys and lawyers
• Accountants and tax preparers
• Entrepreneurs
• Financial advisors
• Doctors and nurses

Depending on what you have experience in, you may be a valuable asset to organizations that connect retired professionals with community members in need.

If you enjoy being active or have a background in nutrition and wellness, your local gym or community center may be interested in having you as a wellness coach, trainer, or teacher.

How to Find Volunteer Opportunities

As we said before, there is no shortage of volunteer opportunities available—but sometimes it’s a matter of knowing where to look. 

If you have something specific in mind, you may find it helpful to call up your local community center, library, college, or township to learn how to get involved. You can also check out community Facebook groups, or search for non-profits on a database like GuideStar or Charity Navigator. These third-party sites are especially helpful for learning more about the legitimacy of an organization, reading reviews, and identifying any potential red flags.

If all else fails—reach out to your network. Family members, old coworkers, church friends, book club… people in your social circle may have great suggestions for getting involved in important organizations. 

Planning Your Volunteer Work

Volunteering is just one component of your retirement. You’ll want to decide how much time you’re comfortable committing to your favorite charity. Do you want to volunteer somewhere on a weekly basis? Once a month? Only during the holiday season? Your commitment as a volunteer can vary widely, and it’ll also depend on what organization you get involved with and what role you play.

If you have other activities lined up in retirement—say a fitness class, book club, and babysitting the grandkids—you’ll want to strike a balance between staying busy and enjoying the rest and relaxation you deserve.

How Will You Be Spending Your Retirement?

Volunteering has been found to deliver positive health benefits to retirees.² If you’ve been thinking of ways to bring more fulfillment and structure to your time in retirement, it may be worth reaching out to your favorite organizations. Not only can volunteering help you avoid social isolation and increase physical activity, but it can help your community benefit from your talents, expertise, and passion for giving back. 

Whether you’re already in retirement or preparing to transition to retirement soon, consider starting your search now for the perfect role. If you’d like to discuss your retirement plan or timeline with a professional, we encourage you to reach out to our team today. We’d be honored to join you in your journey toward making retirement an exciting and rewarding experience.

^Sources

^{1 Trends in Loneliness Among Older Adults from 2018-2023}

^{2 Volunteering and health benefits in general adults: cumulative effects and forms}