Retirees aged 65 and older have been the backbone of the volunteer population for years. According to AmeriCorps, in 2023, approximately 41 million retired older adults volunteered with nonprofit organizations nationwide. However, we are seeing fewer individuals retire each year due to financial hardships and the rise in the retirement age. There is a higher rate of retirees leaving the volunteer population than new retirees coming in to replace them, making this gap within the volunteerism pool broader and more expansive. This post will help you to understand how to hold on to your valuable retiree volunteers and who else we can look to to fill this gap in the volunteer pool.

The root of it all: why retirees volunteer 

Volunteerism is a great way for retirees to mingle outside their social circles. After retirement, many individuals look to volunteerism as a way to continue routine and structure in their everyday lives. Not only does volunteering benefit the community, but it also provides health benefits to this population's cognitive and social well-being. Doctors have even prescribed volunteering to patients to boost their mood and mental health. 

Retiree volunteer retention

It is vital to meet the needs of the retired volunteers who are already donating their time to your organization. Retirees want to give their time and talents to a cause they care about without being locked into a long-term commitment. These individuals are still figuring out new pieces of their lives as they leave their careers. You do not want to bog them down by demanding long hours of volunteer service from them. Providing new and unique volunteer opportunities to retired individuals at your organization will pique their interest and keep them returning to your nonprofit.

Set the time and place

The transitional time of individuals entering retirement is a pivotal moment to introduce them to being a part of a larger cause. Offering flexible volunteer opportunities for retirees to plug into will improve their self-esteem. These flexible projects should offer a variety of times and location options. Nonprofit organizations should utilize at-home or virtual volunteer elements to reach individuals unlikely to attend in-person events.

Catering to volunteers wants

Retired older adult volunteers want to bring their kids, grandkids, and friends to these community service projects. As their schedules become more restrictive, these retirees may be forced to choose between spending time with family and friends or volunteering at your organization. Creating family-friendly volunteer opportunities will help combat the retiree population's shrinking availability.

Volunteer position descriptions matter

Our nonprofits need to consider how we market volunteer opportunities to retirees. Creating well-written and detailed descriptions of volunteer positions can entice retirees to volunteer. The descriptions should include basic skills that the project requires so that retirees feel capable of completing the task. In doing this, you are setting your volunteers up for success. Additionally, consider highlighting ways volunteerism provides health benefits to these retirees.

Branch out to a new population

Nonprofits should also explore engaging corporate volunteers to compensate for the volunteers they will not receive from fewer individuals retiring each year. Private companies are looking to nonprofits to increase their community footprint as their employees are looking for companies that share their values. As retiree volunteers return to work, the nonprofit sector should meet volunteers where they are. This strategy will likely lead to corporate volunteers replacing some volunteer power lost as retirees are less accessible. This opens the door for employees to continue their volunteer lifecycle when it is time to retire. 

Colleen Sewall is a 2024 graduate of the Masters of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program at Arizona State University. She started her career in the nonprofit sector in her hometown of Syracuse, New York, as a food pantry director, where she found her love for working with volunteers who share the mindset of creating community change. Sewall currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona, and manages corporate volunteer engagements at a local nonprofit, HandsOn Greater Phoenix.

Image by Lillian Finley

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