What’s In It For Me? The Benefits of Volunteering

By Andrés Alvarez

There’s a Spanish saying I find funny: “Pagas para que te alquilen,” or “You pay to get rented out.” It’s used to describe people who love to help others; people whose happiness is tied to giving a hand, or volunteering.

I’m sure we all know someone like that. Maybe you are that person. What’s interesting is that the phrase uses “pay” as a way to show how far some people will go to help. Most definitions of volunteering focus on it being unpaid work that helps someone else. Often, it’s seen as something only people with lots of time and money do for those with less. But does that really match what most of us see? Is it only people with extra resources who help out? And if there’s no money involved, is it true that only the recipient benefits? Maybe there’s another kind of reward; something you don’t see on a bank statement, but that keeps people coming back. Or maybe this idea of transactions is missing the bigger picture about community and getting involved.

In 2025, Volunteer Alberta teamed up with the social design agency InWithForward to do some research. We had seen numbers telling us that volunteering had dropped a lot after COVID-19, which many saw as a crisis. However, we wanted to know the story behind those numbers. We did not know if people were not wanting to help anymore, or if this help wasn’t being considered as volunteerism, or at least in the way we were defining it. This made us think differently about what volunteering means. Instead of seeing it only as a way to help others, we started to view volunteering as a way to meet basic human needs, like security, purpose, self-worth, and connection. In this light, volunteering is not just good for communities but also good for the volunteer. With this in mind, I’d like to share some key findings and ideas with you.

Most of us have volunteered at some point; maybe for a school project, or by helping out through family activities, like watching a parent coach a sports team. In our research, people often shared positive memories of their volunteering, even if they weren’t volunteering at the time we met them. This was especially true for Albertans aged 55 and up. For many, retiring isn’t just about slowing down; it’s a chance to find new ways to stay connected and valued. We met people like Dennis, who calls his volunteering a “personal blessing.” That idea challenges the thought that volunteering is only about giving. For Dennis, and many others, the real reward is in the giving. It helps build a network of relationships that makes our communities feel safer and closer.

Dennis, however, is what we call a “lifelong community builder”; he has been an active volunteer for many years. But how can others find their way back to volunteerism? And where do we find these opportunities? One common narrative is that there’s one right way to volunteer: a way that counts and another that seems less valid or not formal enough to count. This split between formal and informal volunteering did not account for the lots of people we saw already helping out in their communities. Things like helping a neighbour or giving someone a ride might not even be called volunteering, but they still matter. Maybe these small, flexible ways of helping are the easiest way to get into volunteering. And as we help each other, we can make new friends and learn new things, too.

Time was another big barrier for people thinking about volunteering. The idea of being stuck in a long-term role that doesn’t fit can be discouraging. That’s why “micro-volunteering”...short, simple tasks…can be a great way to get involved. A great way to start is to think of things you are good at, things you want to learn to do better, or things you have not done before but enjoyed and might want to try again.

Picture it like a sampler pack: you can try out different roles and see what you enjoy, without a big commitment. Volunteering should be something you enjoy, not a chore. After you have a better idea of the “what”, the only thing left is to ask and offer. This is where opportunities get lost most of the time, when no one asks. A lot of people are already connected to a cause or project, or might need a hand themselves, but they’re too shy to ask. On the other hand, many people are eager to help but don’t know where to put their energy. A simple conversation with a friend or acquaintance, where we say, “I’ve been thinking that I want to do more of x or y,” could spark that ask.

So, coming back to that phrase, “You pay to get rented out,” it makes sense, helping others is an investment in your own well-being. So here’s an invitation: whether you help a neighbour, join a short-term project, or just offer a little time, your experience matters. You don’t need a lot of time to make a big difference. All you need is the willingness to connect.

A Message from Volunteer Alberta

If you want to learn more about our research, reach out to us at info@volunteeralberta.ab.ca.

If you want to find volunteer opportunities through more traditional channels, one of our most recommended websites is Volunteer Connector, which is based in Alberta. It lets you search by location, activity type, interest, or commitment level. You can also browse organizations in your area and follow them to be notified when they post new opportunities.

About the Author

Andrés Alvarez

Andrés Alvarez is a Research and Knowledge Mobilization Specialist at Volunteer Alberta. With a background in Creative Direction and a postgraduate degree in Gender and Social Justice from the University of Alberta, his work is rooted in a deep-seated interest in advocating for dignity and equity for those society often marginalizes.

Andrés is a firm believer in using storytelling to translate complex research into tools that fuel community action. He is the type of person who would always rather be out lending a hand than staying at home, a trait that fuels his work in engaging others in the “web of interdependence.” Originally from Mexico and now calling Edmonton home, he spends his free time with his partner, pets, and friends, ideally exploring nature along the way. He is an avid music lover and an unofficial local expert on Edmonton’s taco scene. Just don’t ask him for his thoughts on taco salad.