Studies by the Corporation for National and Community Service consistently show that only 19% of New York residents volunteer over the course of a year, placing us among the least engaged in the whole nation.
Think about that: Less than one of every five New Yorkers gives of themselves.
To improve those numbers and, more importantly, the human condition and the quality of life of those served by volunteers, we need to change our culture of participation.
To do that, we have to start young.
Goodness knows we try – most Participation in Government classes at high schools require some sort of mandatory volunteerism (which is oxymoronic). It shows in the participation rates. 20% of New Yorkers aged 16 to 19 volunteer. Compare that to those who came before them: Only 14% of college-aged adults volunteer and 15% of those in the 25 to 34 age bracket do.
So, we force kids into volunteerism, some of them dig it and stick with it, but many just fade away and stay away. We need to reverse that trend and find a way to keep these people – our future - engaged in their communities when they’ve got their foot in the door.
To do that, we need to treat them like adults and allow them to understand and participate in the high-level operations of the organizations that they are working with. If we could have them sit on the board of directors, we would afford them the chance to know the operational, financial, marketing, and recruiting aspects of their chosen non-profit. By doing so, that board could capitalize on the bright and new ideas and youthful energy of the minor, which could help bring in more new blood to achieve the charity’s stated goals.
Unfortunately, New York State law doesn’t give most of those minors and boards the chance to do that.
Under Not-For-Profit Corporation Law – NPC section 701 -- board participation for youth is extended to minors down to the age of 16, but only for those organizations that educate youth or provide them recreation. A quick roll call would show non-profits like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, charter schools, and your local little league.
While that could be a fair number of organizations, it impacts only those non-profits that provide direct services to that youth and her peers. It does not allow minors to sit on the boards of groups through which the minors would provide services to others such as the United Way, Meals on Wheels, fire departments, or any number of foundations and charities.
That approach to board participation does not promote volunteerism at its best. Instead of having the teen approach his directorial duties with “what can I and this organization do for the community?” he’s encouraged to be a selfish board member who sees his role as “what can this organization do for me and my friends?”
We need to change that way of thinking by changing New York’s laws. We need to allow minors to be a part of the boards of all non-profits in our borders. While we’re at it, we need to drop the age, too, from 16 to 14, to recruit kids in middle school who can make their efforts infectious while in high school.
Now is the perfect time to do it. The pandemic gutted many non-profits while at the same time laying bare society, exposing and increasing needs for charitable actions. It’s all hands on deck. All of them. Young and old.
Never discount what young people are capable of. In my decades of volunteering for the Boy Scouts, I’ve encountered many teens who are wise beyond their years and brighter and more caring than many adults I know. We as a society (and as adults who run non-profits) need to capitalize on that – a simple fix to state law could really change the business model of our institutions and promote a lifetime of service in an era when it’s truly needed.
From the 07 June 2021 Greater Niagara Newspapers and Batavia Daily News
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