Q: Will my employer support volunteerism or allow time away from work to volunteer?
A: It’s good to talk with your employer about volunteerism and how it may impact you at work. Many organizations:

• allow employees to volunteer a certain amount of their time during business hours.
• provide incentives (financial or in-kind contributions) to community organizations in which their employees volunteer their time.

Q: Should I track my volunteer hours?
If you are employed, check with your employer to see if it is worthwhile to track your volunteer hours. Some companies provide financial assistance to community organizations in which their employees volunteer a specified amount of time.
It may be beneficial to check with your local United Way chapter to see if it is worthwhile to track your volunteer hours.

Q: If a background check is needed, what does it entail? Do I have to pay for it?
Some community organizations require a background check before you volunteer your time with their organization. The information they look for includes, but may not be limited to:

• adult criminal records
• sex offenders

Q: How do I know where to volunteer?
Finding the right place to volunteer is up to the volunteer themselves. Simply access the Volunteer Opportunities section on this website and you can search by category, organization and time commitment. Or simply browse the listing.
Included in each opportunity is contact information including a:

• name,
• phone number
• email (optional) and
• website to learn more about the organization.

Q: What is the volunteer need in McLean County? How many organizations need volunteers?
There are more than 200 community organizations in McLean County who regularly need volunteers. Each organization has its own needs. Once you find an organization you are interested in, the best thing to do is contact them to see how you can help.

Q: How much time do I have to commit to when I volunteer?
Community organizations are happy with whatever time commitment you can provide them. Some organizations need volunteers for small time increments, while others need volunteers on an ongoing basis.

Each opportunity listed in the Volunteer Opportunity section of this website notes the time commitment a specific volunteer event may need.

Q: How much is my time really worth to an organization?
On average, your volunteer time is worth $17 an hour to a community organization. That means what you do by volunteering saves them a great amount of money.

Q: When I volunteer, can I specify what I want to do, or do I just show up?
Both. You can identify what skills you have if you are interested in volunteering for an organization or you can simply tell them you’re available and have them assign something to you. It depends on your comfort level. It’s important to remember you have a voice as a volunteer.