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Note: This article is excerpted from the Nonprofit Risk Management Center’s book, No Surprises: Harmonizing Risk and Reward in Volunteer Management—5th Edition.
Seniors are participating as volunteers for nonprofit organizations in record numbers. Participants include AmeriCorps—formerly Senior Corps, the federally-funded national “network of programs that tap the experience, skills, and talents of older citizens to meet community challenges” (Source: www.nationalservice.gov) to seniors who serve in large numbers of nonprofits throughout the country, to senior church members, grandparents, and others who pursue local volunteer opportunities in human services, recreation, cultural arts, and social services.
Recent census information states that “One out of every five Americans—some 72 million people—will be 65 years of age or older in 2020. This is 20 percent of the population. The age group 85 and older is now the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.” (Source: www.census.gov.) According to a report by Independent Sector and AARP, 47 percent of working Americans 50 years and older volunteer, while 42 percent of retired Americans in this age group volunteer. The report notes, “Retired volunteers aged 50 and over are even more dedicated than those still working…they give substantially more hours per month.” (Source: Experience at Work: Volunteering and Giving Among Americans 50 and Over, www.independentsector.org). With population increases of 31 percent (50- 64 years old) and 12.5 percent (65 and older) projected between 2000 and 2010, older Americans represent a tremendous opportunity for nonprofit and volunteer organizations.
The benefits to seniors who volunteer include:
The benefits a nonprofit realizes by recruiting senior volunteers include:
Do:
Don’t:
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