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 would feel the same. I would take a step back and have some time off. See how you feel about returning. You could try another charity, perhaps a smaller one would be better.

Time to move on. You’re doing a good thing but it is reasonable that you are treated with respect.

I definitely think you are being used and disrespected.

A thank you costs nothing and they can't even do that.

I would find another organisation to help and tell them you are going to help an organisation where you are actually appreciated.

I am so suspicious of charities.
I am very selective of whom I support.

12 years ago I waa signed up to at least 8 of them with a monthly subscription etc...not any more.

When I volunteered for the National Trust, all volunteers had their travel expenses paid, free NT membership, 20%discount in NT shops/restaraunts, annual summer bbq and xmas dinner, and free quartely coach trips to other NT properties.

The volunteers were treated very well and extremely loyal because of it - the mistake I made was transferring to a paid position, and realised staff were treated like crap......but that is another issue!

I’ve been beaten to it!

Came on to say I’m a NT volunteer, have been for years. We are treated very well.

No one knows my birthday so I haven’t been wished a happy Birthday. But I wouldn’t expect that.

We get perks and the work is fun. Hard work, but fun. I love it.

It sounds like you've come to the end of the line with this particular charity.

I'm curious at all the people on this thread who seem to be outraged that people who work for charities get paid a wage. Who the hell can afford to give up their time to do a full time job for free? If a charity wants a professional job done they have to pay for it. They are still businesses.

OP I agree that they could probably give you some merchandise every now and again but you said it yourself, the clue is in the word volunteer...