Your Experience Volunteering

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Hi! I'm Kevin, a UX Designer with a background in nonprofit communications and teaching. UX Designers make apps, websites, and other products to make people's lives easier. I'm working on project that explores how volunteers and nonprofits work together through volunteering. Can we make it easier? Better? More impactful?

If you currently volunteer or have ever volunteered before, I'd love to learn more about your experience.

It just takes a 5-minute survey. At the end, you can let me know if you'd be open for a 30 minute conversation with me to dive deeper into your joys, frustrations, stories, and memories with volunteering. I'd love to buy you a coffee, drink, or connect over Zoom for a fun and insightful conversation about your experiences.

Thank you so much for helping with this project and supporting volunteering, nonprofits, and social impact!

Privacy Note

Your response will only be seen by me (Kevin Bowen) and my faculty advisor (James Pikover), and will be used only for my student project in the Springboard UX Design online bootcamp program. The results of this project will be published on my portfolio website, and will only include overall trends from this research. Your individual response won't be published or shared. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at kevinthomasbowen@gmail.com

1. How often do you volunteer?

2-3 times a week

Once a week

2-3 times a month

Once a month

A few times a year

I used to volunteer more often, but don't right now

I've volunteered a few times

I've never volunteered before

Other:

Clear selection

2. What best describes the organization you volunteer at the most?

Local, small (0-10 staff / 0-500 members)

Local, mid-sized (10-20 staff / 500-5000 members)

Local, large (20+ staff / 5000+ members)

National, large (20+ staff / 5000+ members)

International, large (20+ staff / 5000+ members)

None of the above

Other:

Clear selection

3. How do you typically connect or sign up to volunteer at your primary organization?

Choose up to 3

Talk to someone in-person

Pen + paper

Phone call

On their website

A simple online document or form (Google Docs, Google Forms, etc)

A 3rd party website (Signup.com, Signup Genius, Doodle Poll, or other)

Text message

A smartphone app

I don’t sign up; I just show up at a given time.

Not sure

Other:

4. What best describes your experience of expressing interest or signing up for volunteer opportunities?

Choose up to 3 words

Easy

Welcoming

Efficient

Exciting

Okay

Impersonal

Confusing

Difficult

Frustrating

None of the above

Other:

5. Why do you volunteer?

Choose 2-3 of your main motivations

Social - To meet people, make new friends; to be around others, be part of a community

Values - To support a cause or organization I care about; I believe volunteering is important

Work/School/Career - To gain experience for my college application or resume; to complete community service hours for school or work; to network or find work

Personal Growth - To learn or practice new skills, grow as a person, learn about myself or a cause/issue

Impact - To share my gifts and skills, make a difference; I could see help was needed

Altruism - To care for others; to help people; what goes around comes around

I was asked directly, and wanted to be a good friend, group member, citizen

None of the above

Not sure

Other:

6. How much have the organization(s) you volunteer at met your needs and motivations for volunteering?

Life-changing

A lot

Somewhat

A little

None

Not sure

Other:

Clear selection

7. When deciding whether or not to volunteer, what consideration(s) do you think about most?

Choose up to 3

Will I know anyone there?

Will I be comfortable and welcome, or will it be awkward?

Will I meet people I like and connect with?

Do I have time?

Will I enjoy the activity?

Do they really need me? Will it make a difference if I join?

Will I grow or learn something new?

Will it be easy or hard?

Will I be trained and/or supported?

Will my input, effort, and work be recognized and appreciated?

Will I be on the hook forever?

None of the above

Not sure

Other:

8. Have you ever been disappointed or frustrated by how volunteers are managed before, during, or after a volunteering experience?

Very Frequently

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Clear selection

9. What part(s) of your volunteering experience have you found to be the most challenging, or needing improvement?

Finding the right opportunities for me

Deciding whether or not to volunteer

Signing up

Scheduling

Feeling prepared / knowing what to expect

Showing up the first time

Training & support

Organization

My task/role fitting my skills, interests, being enjoyable

Personalities/attitudes of leaders and other volunteers

Recognition, appreciation & feedback

Leaving gracefully (Knowing when I'm done/free, what opportunities/options are next)

None of the above

Other:

10. How much do you feel your talents, time, and potential are utilized by the organization(s) you volunteer at?

Fully - I'm able to share my talents, use my time valuably, and contribute at my full potential

A lot - I'm reasonably matched to roles that fit my talents and make good use of my time

Somewhat - My presence makes a difference, but I could be making more of an impact

Not much - I'm just one more person to help get a job done, but that's fine

Very little - I sometimes feel like my time and/or potential are being wasted

Not sure

Other:

Clear selection

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