Volunteer Works: Choosing Your Cause; How To Find That Perfect Fit

By Danita Brisson

Tina Bueche, Michael Friedman and Victor Guzman

In an ideal world, volunteering entails teaming with like-minded friends who are passionate about a cause that matters to you. The experience is invigorating. Your contribution feels valuable and valued. Given the infinite number of worthy initiatives in humanitarian aid, animal welfare, and the arts, how do you choose where to invest your time?

This month’s virtual panel includes Tina Bueche of Fiesta de Vivos y Muertos, Michael Friedman of Amigos de Animales, and Víctor Guzman, perennial volunteer. Their insights are drawn from decades of experiences. The first question they answer is, “Why do you volunteer?”

Tina: I want to give back to the community. My parents volunteered. I tried many events, like a buffet, and if I liked them, I looked up the organizers and offered to help. You might follow your passion, or you might volunteer to support friends. Before you apply, decide what you want to get from the experience. There are no wrong answers so be selfish. Organizations have value sets and cultures that may not match yours and some morph over time. A program I volunteered with diverged and no longer met the community’s needs. Another volunteer and I founded a new event that did. This year marks its 10th anniversary. If a commitment stops being fun, be honest and step away. Otherwise, it will show in your efforts.

Words of advice: Before you give the gift of your time, insist on an interview and ask questions about the organization and the roles available. Be open and honest about your expectations. If they don’t know you, they can’t help you find the right fit.

Michael: I like a full life with no downtime. My wife Susan and I shared a pre-existing interest in animal welfare. We were prepared to consider other causes when we moved here but quickly found an organization with a clear mandate that we supported. Start from your background (profession) and try every role until you find one that fits. In our six years with Amigos de Animales, involved in almost everything! Amigos makes cross-connections with many other animal welfare charities and arranges sterilization for their rescues as well. When it’s a personal passion, you don’t care who gets the credit, as long as the job gets done.

Words of advice: If you find that an organization isn’t a good fit, walk away. Analyze what didn’t work then keep looking until you find the right one. It’s like with your career; you should love what you’re doing and feel as though you’re making a difference.

Víctor: I don’t like spare time. I can’t just sit at home and do nothing! If you want to volunteer, talk to people in the community to see where there’s a need. Find out if there’s already an organized charity, what they do, who they serve and what their mindset is, and if you think you can help out, try it. Otherwise, start a new group. Trust your abilities. You’ll know where you should invest your time once you know what drives you. If you are results oriented, don’t join an organization with lots of bodies where they meet every week just to talk about what should be done.

Words of advice: Lots of people are willing to volunteer if someone tells them what to do. Charities need strong leaders and good organizers who can solve problems and work with other groups. Some skills may only be needed briefly to create solutions or set a path. Volunteering your time doesn’t take anything away from you. You always get back more than you give.   

In summary, our panelists agree that to find your cause you must first find yourself. Be open to trying something new but honor your core values. Trust in your skills and talents but if they don’t fit with a particular organization, move on. It’s not a reflection of your value. If you still can’t find that perfect nonprofit fit, consider starting one!