The Virtual Volunteering Guidebook

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“Virtual volunteering” refers to volunteer tasks completed, in whole or in part, via the Internet and a home or work computer. It's also known as online volunteering, cyber service, telementoring, teletutoring and various other names.

The concept is not meant as a substitute for traditional “in person” volunteering. In fact, one of the most exciting things about this innovative use of technology is that it is adding both to the quantity of service contributed and to attracting people who have not necessarily volunteered before. Virtual volunteering offers greater access to community resources and provides more ways for people to support community groups, nonprofit agencies, schools and other organizations. For some people, service online will be a preferred avenue of volunteering but, for most, it will be an additional way of contributing time and talent.

Most organizations which involve online volunteers do so in addition to welcoming on-site volunteers. Also, only a few online volunteers work solely via the Internet. Often a combination of on-site and online tasks for volunteers works best for everyone involved (volunteers, staff, clients). As will be described later, assignments can have different levels of virtuality. For instance, one volunteer may interact with clients online but meet on-site with a staff member regularly; another may talk with a client via e-mail in addition to regular face-to-face visits.

The information in this Guidebook has been compiled through collaboration with agencies who involve or have involved volunteers virtually, feedback from individuals who have provided volunteer support to an agency via a home or work computer, and the VV Project Team's own firsthand experiences working with real-world and online volunteers. Related resources, such as information about telecommuting or publications to help organizations involve people with disabilities as volunteers, have also been researched.