For many organisations, the idea of working with unseen volunteers can be an unsettling or even disturbing thought. Virtual volunteering, online mentoring, teletutoring, and other forms of cyber service are uncharted and unexplored areas for the vast majority of agencies, even those who use the Internet frequently.

The focus of Virtual Volunteering is to help organisations create online opportunities and manage volunteers using the Internet, but we also offer resources for volunteers interested in or already engaged in virtual volunteering.

Here are ways to find or create a volunteer opportunity that you can complete via your home or work computer, and, at the same time, introduce the idea of virtual volunteering to other organisations:

* It's so easy to say yes to volunteering via the Internet that many people sign up to do so before really considering their expectations and schedule for an assignment. There's nothing virtual about the commitment you are making. The organisation is counting on you to finish completely any projects you volunteer for, and to meet all pre-agreed obligations as a volunteer. Before you start looking for virtual volunteering opportunities of any kind, take this self evaluation to determine if you are ready.

* Remember - most of the organisations you contact have never heard of virtual volunteering, so you've got to sell them on the concept as well as promoting yourself as a volunteer. A good way to do that is to ask and answer these questions of yourself, and be prepared to communicate the answers to an organisation you want to help:

o Why do you want to volunteer, in general?
o What do you hope to gain and give by volunteering?
o What kind of organisation(s) or programs do you want to help?
o What sort of services and assistance would you like to provide - building a web site for an organisation, doing online research, mentoring a young person via the Internet, visiting virtually with someone who is home bound? (Check out our examples of ways an organisation can involve volunteers via the Internet for ideas)
o What organisations have you volunteered with before, on or offline?
o What skills and experience would you like to bring to a volunteer assignment?
o What is your availability for the assignment (do you want to work during a set time of day? for a certain amount of days, weeks, or months?)

* Some volunteers prepare a special resume or a letter of introduction that answers all of these questions. If your initial contact with the organisation is via e-mail, include this information with that first e-mail. If you are going onsite to the organisation, print out the information and take it with you. You may be required to answer these questions again on a volunteer application.

* Look for organisations that already do something offline that interests you. For instance, if you want to tutor a young person online or visit someone virtually who is home bound, look for an agency in your area that already does this in traditional, face-to-face, offline settings. Become a part of this offline program FIRST, and then ask if online tutoring or visiting could be introduced.

* Many organisations require potential volunteers to come onsite for a face-to-face volunteer orientation, even those who want offsite volunteer assignments. That's why it's usually best to look for virtual opportunities with organisations that are geographically near you. If transportation or a physical disability prevents you from coming onsite, be clear about this in your communications with the organisation, so that alternatives may be sought.

Contact us by phone or e-mail and ask for a list of volunteer opportunities or view our online opportunities. When you get a list of opportunities, review them and note which ones might be something you could do via a home or work computer. Then contact those organisations.