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5 Models of Volunteering

Project volunteering reflects short term volunteer engagement, often by volunteers with specific skills, with clearly delineated outcomes and timeframe. This is an option particularly suited to professionals, corporates, retiring baby boomers and students.

Project based volunteering is becoming increasing popular in our contemporary society, reflecting our time conscious, but outcomes-driven way of life. Volunteers often have specific periods of time available, and therefore seek out volunteer projects that have clearly defined timeframes. Projects are frequently characterised by high levels of volunteer involvement over a short time period.

The focus may be on skills that people have to offer rather than formalised volunteering roles, so it’s common for project-based opportunities to utilise volunteers’ specific skills for projects.

Project based volunteer programs may exist within formal programs, but may also be set up exclusively to deliver a specific outcome, for example a community festival may be planned by a group of interested community members. Project volunteers operating alongside formal volunteers in a specific program, may not be bound by the same parameters as other volunteers.

Individual volunteers may want to develop their own ‘project’ in consultation with the volunteer coordinator. The volunteer coordinator in this situation may require an approach that is characterised by ‘working with’ and empowering the individual, rather than managing.

Some examples of project volunteering include:

  • Volunteering to oversee the plan and construction of a new building

  • Running or assisting a specific event

  • Redesigning the website for an organisation

  • Volunteering to write a marketing plan for a community group

Project based volunteering is particularly suited to a range of demographics including professionals, students, baby boomers and corporate volunteers.

Visit our resources section to view templates, tools and information sheets specifically about Project volunteering. Look for resources that have the Project (P) icon highlighted in red.