--- title: "Daily Buzz: Members Can Still Volunteer During COVID-19" id: "50172" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-members-can-still-volunteer-during-covid-19" published_at: "2020-05-15T22:11:47+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T03:29:00+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/05/15/daily-buzz-members-can-still-volunteer-during-covid-19/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/05/15/daily-buzz-members-can-still-volunteer-during-covid-19.md" excerpt: "How your organization can provide opportunities even in difficult times. Also: Maximize your data's potential." taxonomy_category: - "Membership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "community data" - "virtual expo" - "volunteering" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: Members Can Still Volunteer During COVID-19 How can associations help members and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic? Offer volunteer opportunities. This will have a positive impact on your community and your volunteers , [says Erin Halley on VolunteerMatch (opens in a new tab)](https://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/2020/05/14/4-ways-to-make-a-difference-now/) . “Studies have shown that volunteering is good for your mental health,” she says. “According to a VolunteerMatch study with UnitedHealthcare in 2017, there are many mental and emotional benefits to volunteering with 93 percent reporting an improved mood.” Now is a perfect time to offer virtual volunteering, since volunteers will need only an internet connection and a computer or phone. Virtual opportunities have grown among nonprofit organizations since the pandemic began. “We at VolunteerMatch have seen a large shift to virtual opportunities, which is now at over 630,000. According to our survey in March, 32 percent of nonprofits started creating more virtual opportunities,” Halley says. In-person opportunities are also possible as long as you ensure that volunteers follow [CDC guidelines (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html) on social distancing and staying healthy. “Communities are needing your help now more than ever when it comes to volunteering in person as some volunteering can’t be done virtually,” Halley says. If potential volunteers express concern about in-person volunteering, you can ask them to review safety tips from the nonprofit [Points of Light (opens in a new tab)](https://www.pointsoflight.org/safety-tips-for-volunteering-in-a-covid-19-world/) . ### Get More Value From Your Data > Do organizations — and do we as a society — know how to unlock the value of our vast amounts of data? [https://t.co/jC1oaSo3A1 (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/jC1oaSo3A1) > > — Harvard Business Review (@HarvardBiz) [May 15, 2020 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz/status/1261305914356830213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **A large amount of data** is not useful on its own, but it has tremendous potential value if properly utilized, says [Stefaan G. Verhulst in Harvard Business Review (opens in a new tab)](https://hbr.org/2020/05/unlock-the-hidden-value-of-your-data?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr) . “We are still living in the knowledge economy, and organizations are still trying to figure out how to unlock under-utilized assets,” he says. One way to maximize data assets is to determine what you mean by “value.” Is it monetary or societal value? “All these metrics co-exist in a delicate balance. Considered together, they can help organizations determine the true value of data,” Verhulst says. ### Other Links of Note **AMS or CRM—or both?**Protech Associates breaks down what makes them different and [how to integrate (opens in a new tab)](https://www.protechassociates.com/association-answers/ams-vs-crm/) the two into your association’s database infrastructure. **Concerned about the performance of your virtual events?** MemberSuite has tips for [how to show virtual event ROI (opens in a new tab)](https://www.membersuite.com/blog/how-to-deliver-marketing-roi-to-your-virtual-event-sponsors-and-exhibitors) . **Can socially distanced pop-ups****help bring back live events?** BizBash’s Claire Hoffman takes a look at [what some companies are doing (opens in a new tab)](https://www.bizbash.com/style-decor/event-design/media-gallery/21132836/can-socially-distanced-popups-help-bring-back-live-events) . (mitay20/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Michael Hickey](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Michael Hickey is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#community data](https://associationsnow.com/tag/community-data/) [#virtual expo](https://associationsnow.com/tag/virtual-expo/) [#volunteering](https://associationsnow.com/tag/volunteering/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoDo You Volunteer? Be InvolvedApril 17, 2020](https://associationsnow.com/2020/04/17/do-you-volunteer-be-involved/) - [VideoWhy Do you Volunteer? 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