5 Reasons to Volunteer Now
 By Alex R. Merriman

You already know that community service is a great way to help others.

But did you realize that it could also help you boost your business?

Whether the economic downturn has left you with extra free time or has packed your schedule more tightly than ever, there is no better time than the present to sign up for volunteer work.

Not convinced? Here are five reasons you should make time to give back.

1. Enjoy countless opportunities for personal growth
Serving others will help you learn more about yourself and the people around you.

Working with new people in novel ways will give you a chance to see the world from a fresh perspective. And as you learn more about your community—your neighbors and the issues that affect them—you’ll also learn how to better serve your customers when you’re at work.

2. Take advantage of a new network
Volunteering is a great way to make new contacts. Right off the bat, you share a powerful connection with the people you’ll meet—a common interest in the cause.

Chances are your professional interests and skills will also intersect. Service programs provide a unique opportunity to build personal and professional relationships that will extend your network exponentially.

3. Elevate your profile
Volunteer work will make you a more visible member of your community, which is a great (and free) way to promote your small business.

Large-scale efforts might attract attention from local media, but even low-key contributions can help jump-start word-of-mouth referrals. Your service will showcase your professional competence while helping you become a familiar face among a wide variety of people—a combination that can open more doors than traditional advertising efforts.

4. Stretch your boundaries
Donating your services provides an excellent chance to test a new skill set, work with a new demographic, or learn more about a new area of interest. Volunteering provides a safe context in which to explore unfamiliar territory.

Whether or not you decide to apply that experience to your business, broadening your horizons is always a good thing.

5. Recognize that helping people is its own reward
While volunteer work is advantageous for you and your small business, it’s important to remember that you’re contributing to something much larger than yourself.

Giving is good. And donating your time and your skills in lieu of money is a great way to contribute while the economy is strained.

Reaching out to people who need your help will make the world a better place—a bottom line that’s hard to refuse.

Volunteer Resources
Don’t know where to start to find volunteer opportunities? Try these resources.

• SCORE
  This nonprofit association is dedicated to educating entrepreneurs. It’s a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The organization depends on 11,200 volunteers nationwide to provide free, confidential advice to entrepreneurs. You can contribute your expertise by becoming a mentor, providing online counseling from your home or office, and in other ways.
• VolunteerMatch
  VolunteerMatch makes it easy for people to connect with a good cause. At the Web site, you can enter your ZIP code, city or state and keywords describing the type of volunteer opportunity you’re looking for. You can also search for virtual opportunities have no set location, and can usually be completed from your home or using the Internet.

(Posted May 2009)

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