To expect something for volunteering?

[Dogismyname]

I guess the clue is in “volunteering”; you don’t do it to get something but I’m feeling peeved off.

I volunteer for a charity that supports animals, mainly dogs. I adopted a rescue dog and wanted to help support so began volunteering. The charity is part of a company, the main company is profit making and expensive, very “high brow”. I’m not naive that charities can be used for tax avoidance, but I care for the animals.

The team is made up of mostly paid, salaried full-time staff (London wage too) and relies on volunteers for a vital process that without them (including me) the charity would cease to exist. I am the longest standing volunteer and there are 3 of us in total (they need more but the work requires a skill which some don’t have and a lot of time, so you have to do it longer term). I volunteer a couple of hours a week despite having a very demanding job. I do it at antisocial hours and isn’t an easy thing to do (trying not to out myself sorry!)

Basically, I’ve never received anything. The charity has a lot of branded clothing etc to raise money, I don’t think sending me one would hurt. However I never thought about it until recently.. I have the head of the charity on Instagram (she is the person I have to speak to most to do my work) it was her birthday last month and she received a gift - the item that the Company that runs the charity specialises in. I’ve never even received a happy birthday.

Also, I enquired with the company to pay for what they sell for an important event. I mentioned I was a volunteer with the charity arm and wasn’t even acknowledged. I did think they might give a small discount...this brand is used by celebrities and influencers and they are regularly gifted things, so I suppose it hurt.

I am wrong to expect some form of gesture / acknowledgement?

I was coming on to say you are being unreasonable but with the context you have provided I actually think YANBU and it sounds like you are being taken advantage of.

Clearly the profit making arm of the business has deep enough links to the charity that someone could suggest some good PR by rewarding their hard working volunteers (so it would even be able to come from their marketing budget whilst also garnering support for the charity arm)!

likewise, generally I wouldn't expect anything beyond a sincere 'thank you' for volunteering- I used to work for a small charity which had paid staff (not badly paid but not massively well paid) and volunteers were always treated well, thanked, included in meetings where appropriate, expenses paid and they would be invited to staff christmas do (no cost to them)- I think that is all good practice
it sounds like you are being exploited and the charity is quite dubious ethically. There are loads of charities that work with dogs/animals I suggest you go and help them instead

The only thing you get from being a volunteer is usually more volunteering...

More practically, they will be very leery of giving you any products or discounts so that you can't claim you are actually an employee and come after them for backpay at minimum wage plus maternity pay etc.

Govt guidelines:
"You are not paid for your time as a volunteer, but you may get money to cover expenses. This is usually limited to food, drink, travel or any equipment you need to buy.

You may need to pay tax on your driving expenses if you get back more than you spent.

You might be classed as an employee or worker rather than a volunteer if you get any other payment, reward or benefit in kind. This includes any promise of a contract or paid work in the future.

You get certain employment rights if you’re classed as an employee or worker, like getting the minimum wage."

YANBU. Idiots they are, and greedy with it.

If they can afford to gift celebrities and influencers, they can afford to look after their volunteers.

@Florial

If they can afford to gift celebrities and influencers, they can afford to look after their volunteers.

They can write off the celebrities and i fluency as advertising costs. Op is not able to advertise the brand effectively

I don’t get any form of expenses. I don’t get anything. I don’t even get a thank you.

I always did it because my dog is my greatest love and so I always felt grateful but I did pay for her...

You absolutely should be thanked and acknowledged for your time as a volunteer and definitely acknowledged when you contact them. However, whilst I understand that you feel that they could give you branded items/benefits in kind, it would be very unwise of the charity to provide you with gifts of any significant monetary value. Anything of monetary value, other than out of pocket expenses, puts the charity in a risky footing in terms of you being able to claim a contract between yourself and them and also could affect you in terms of tax/benefit claims etc.

It does seem like you have not been made to feel valued at all, which is very poor, and should be standard for the staff and leaders to thank you and acknowledge your donation of time and effort. But I'm afraid I don't agree with the idea that you should receive gifts/benefits as a result.

If you’re not happy there are plenty charities that would be glad of your help.

P.s. by branded I mean with their logo, made by them. Not some expensive item! The t-shirts are around £20

I understand the risk of sending items - however, even a message on my birthday would be nice. I only ever get a message if they want more information on what I’ve done or to ask me to take on some more work.

I want to continue volunteering but not being taken advantage of. I do it at a sacrifice to socialising and down time. What I do for this charity is fairly unique so I don’t know if it’s something other charities require and the bigger the charity the more formal the process. For example, I don’t have a contract with this charity, I’m just part of a Facebook group where they message for our availability!

Do I mention that I feel this way? I’m thinking of taking some time off.

It's shit not to get a thank you every now and again, but if you aren't happy, then stop volunteering. You don't have to do it, so it is for you to decide whether you find it rewarding or not.

FWIW, I have volunteered for an organisation for the last 5 years, and I don't think I have ever been thanked. That's fine, I do it for my own reasons, because I think the work is important.

You might want to get in touch with the volunteer manager and ask if you could give some involved in volunteer retention as you have some ideas.

In my experience charities either look after their volunteers really well, or they don't bother their arses at all. Sounds like your place is the latter.

Often the wealthier the charity the less they give a shit about their volunteers as well I find.

I'm sorry but I don't agree with you, though it pains me to say it as a dog lover.

You volunteer, you volunteer. I don't think you should expect anything at all but good on you for giving your time and hard work/experience.

The points you've raised about staff getting a London wage/branded clothing/gifts etc is a completely separate issue.

The structure you describe isn't legal OP. A charity is independently constituted. That doesn't stop it being run by dicks though, who clearly need to brush up their volunteering and expenses policies!

I used to think that all who were involved with charities were mostly voluntary. I found out the wages and expenses of a small local charity. I now never have anything to do with charity unless I do my homework first.

If you are unhappy and fell you are been taken advantage of speak to someone.

Hmm I wonder if these celebs and “influencers” receiving gifts donate money to the charity. Seems a bit weird to “support” a charity by showing off their gifts and encourage followers to donate, but not donate money themselves. Anyway, if you don’t feel happy there then find a smaller charity to work with. Somewhere that would appreciate your help.

@Summerhillsquare I’ve been careful with how I described the structure or it is VERY obvious. However, I’m a CA so they have definitely taken advantage of the charity through gifted shares of the company.

@Pandacub7 sorry if I’ve not explained it well.
Let’s pretend the company sells shoes. They have a charity the founder of the shoe shop runs, same name, same ceo etc. They gift influencers shoes and the head of the charity was gifted shoes for her birthday. They regular do posts such as “happy birthday to Siobhan our marketing manager” etc but there’s only 5 employees and 3 volunteers so it wouldn’t hurt to extend that thanks!

@Dogismyname ah I see! I would find a smaller charity to work for. Smaller, local charities seem to be more appreciative

I think you have just reached a fatigue point with these guys. The good feeling that you get for donating your time and expertise has been emptied and it's time to move on. It's a shame but I think you should cut your losses before you start to really resent them. By all means mention it someone there; I'm sure there will be plenty of suggestions about how you could do it. You might want to write a goodbye card just explaining that you feel you have come to the end of the line, thanks for the memories, oh and if they want feedback, a little reward and recognition for your replacement would probably encourage the next person to stay longer.

I wish you well and thank you on their behalf. You will have made a difference.

If there are only 5 employees and 3 volunteers then it is clearly very small. As a regular volunteer at a very large charity, not only do I feel valued but also appreciated for my contributions. At some events there are over 2000 volunteers yet I still feel the same. I was sent a small token having completed 10 years volunteering with them and I really appreciated it, it was just a small heather but I’m really proud of it.

I have also volunteered at a local social enterprise and again felt valued, was provided with a polo shirt and fleece and got a free lunch and coffee/tea. I felt part of the term.

In your situation I would approach the ceo in writing to explain, not ao much about the discount or getting freebies but that you don’t feel valued by the organisation, that you are never sincerely thanked for giving your time and small things like birthdays are not acknowledged. What’s the worst that can happen? Because in the worst case you decide to take your precious time elsewhere.

@lyralalala

In my experience charities either look after their volunteers really well, or they don't bother their arses at all. Sounds like your place is the latter.

Often the wealthier the charity the less they give a shit about their volunteers as well I find.

This is very often the case.

Unfortunately I've heard this stuff again and again. If you don't feel valued, but you still want to volunteer, personally I'd go and find another charity.

I got a certificate for helping for a year really helped with my CV. We were thanked and just the general environment made us feel looked after.