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Benefits of Volunteering

Why volunteer?


Professional Benefits

  1. CAREER DIRECTION
    Experience what working in a certain company, field or work environment is like.
  2. NEW PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
    Build SKILLS and get EXPERIENCE that improves your job qualifications and makes your resume more competitive.
  3. LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
    CHALLENGE YOURSELF! Community engagement can be added to your resume and is viewed positively by employers.
  4. JOB REFERENCES!
    Job applications often require 3+ references, and ongoing volunteerism is a great way to ensure you have them by graduation.
  5. NETWORK, MEET PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS
    Make valuable contacts and learn about job opportunities that will help in your future search for employment.

Personal Benefits

  1. NEW FRIENDSHIPS & SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
    Meet and build bonds with fellow volunteers, nonprofit workers and advocates for the causes you care about. Volunteering increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common interests. Dedicating time as a volunteer helps expand your social network and practice social skills with others.
  2. SENSE OF MEANING AND PURPOSE
    Find satisfaction in helping others and discover purpose and passion for an important cause.
  3. STRESS REDUCTION, HAPPINESS BOOST
    Research shows that volunteering results in a release of dopamine in the brain (Mayo Clinic; Berkeley). Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain associated with feelings of well-being, among many other positive things. The stress reduction and happiness boost occurs for individuals with both high and low levels of initial well-being, and those with low initial levels of well-being experience even greater benefits from volunteering (Berkeley). 
  4. GREATER LIFE SATISFACTION, OVERALL HEALTH
    Job Those who volunteer consistently and more frequently experience greater benefits (Berkeley). A Longitudinal Study of Aging found that individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not, even when controlling for age, gender and physical health (Mayo Clinic). 

University Benefits

  • Members of the email group receive regular emails informing them of volunteer opportunities at USI.

Tax Deductions

  • The IRS allows volunteers to deduct unreimbursed expenditures made incident to the rendering of services to the University of Southern Indiana. Examples of deductible expenses include automobile mileage, bus and cab fares, parking and toll fees, special uniforms, telephone bills, entertainment and mailings. The IRS does not allow deductions for the value of volunteer time.
  • A complete description of federal deductions for volunteers can be found in IRS Publication #526, Deductions for Charitable Contributions.