The Virtues of Virtual Volunteering
How to spring into action (virtually) this National Volunteer Month.
April is National Volunteer Month—an ideal time to renew and refresh a commitment to volunteering, especially virtual volunteering.
Whether you’re an individual or a business, join Umpqua Bank as we Spring into Action this April during National Volunteer Month.
Some examples of virtual volunteering include hosting Zoom-based mock interviews for jobseekers, facilitating youth financial education, making nonprofit fundraiser phone calls, remotely attending nonprofit committee or board meetings, and more.
“Spring, especially this year, is a time of renewal that can spark both community-care and self-care,” said Umpqua Bank’s Caitlin Back, VP, Community Development Officer. “For us at Umpqua Bank, it’s an important time to come together in renewed support of our communities, continuing to foster a culture of service that elevates our associates’ sense of purpose and meaning.”
The positive impacts of volunteering, including virtual volunteering, extend beyond communities to one’s own mental and physical health. Volunteering is found to reduce stress, improve bonding with others, and even extend lifetimes, according to the Longitudinal Study of Aging.
Umpqua Bank is in the 18th year of our Connect Volunteer Program through which associates receive 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually, resulting in more than 550,000 to date. In addition, our internal Community Action Hub serves as a resource to find virtual volunteer opportunities available across our five-state footprint. These include local Oregon and Washington organizations like the Children’s Book Bank, Portland Rescue Mission, Hands on Greater Portland of the United Way of the Willamette Valley, United Way of King County, and Serve Washington’s Get Connected statewide platform connecting volunteers and organizations. Many additional, vetted, virtual volunteer resources are provided below.
Follow us on social media @UmpquaBank #VirtualVolunteer #SpringIntoAction, and learn more about Umpqua Bank’s commitment to community at www.UmpquaBank.com/community.
Search for a Virtual Volunteer Opportunity 
The following organizations are just a few of those that provide a diverse range of virtual volunteer opportunities. Many are skills-based for volunteers to apply their professional expertise and experience to community needs.
- American Red Cross offers opportunities to help those in need while refreshing or acquiring skills that corporations everywhere seek.
- Catchafire improves the quality of the volunteer experience by providing pro bono opportunities for skilled professionals.
- Idealist connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives.
- Taproot Foundation is a skilled volunteer matching website.
- VolunteerMatch offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer, and business leaders committed to civic engagement. Its internet recruiting tool engages more than 88,000 nonprofit organizations.
- AllforGood is a hub for volunteerism and community service on the Internet.
- UN Volunteers matches skilled volunteers with project-based volunteer opportunities.
- CareerVillage is a web platform that matches the career questions students ask with volunteers.
- Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 national crisis-intervention and counseling service conducted exclusively through SMS text. Volunteers use the nonprofit's web-based platform to provide emotional support to texters who are dealing with a wide range of issues—bullying, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and more.
- Hire Heroes USA works to create job opportunities for U.S. military veterans and their spouses. Most of their volunteers participate remotely helping with mock interviews, career counseling, or providing guidance on job searches, preparing resumes, and filling out applications.
- MicroMentor matches small business owners with business mentors. Volunteer mentors should have three years of business ownership experience or five years of management experience or several years of professional experience in a specialized skill.
- icouldbe.org connects the energy and expertise of mentors from various professions with the most vulnerable students in the U.S. educational system.