By Michele Lerner

Volunteer work is often equated with “giving back” to your community and helping other people, but the secret that not every knows is that volunteering benefits the person doing the work as much as the people or organization they’re assisting. Volunteering with a professional organization or association can build relationships with other people your field and support career growth.

“Volunteering for professional associations has many benefits. First, it's a terrific way to network with 'connectors' in your field,” says Dorie Clark, a consultant, author of Entrepreneurial You and an executive education professor at Duke University. “You might end up with referrals from Realtors® who operate in other cities or neighborhoods - and you can become a useful resource for your own clients, who might want insight on a great Realtor® in another market. You can learn best practices from colleagues and the fact that you hold a leadership role in a professional organization adds to your credibility with clients.”

Reggie Copeland, principal broker of C.R. Copeland Real Estate in Fairfax and an active NVAR volunteer since his broker encouraged him to get involved in 2005, says his work with the association provides him with educational and networking opportunities. Copeland is the 2021 NVAR president-elect.



“Some of the most successful agents I've met over the years have been so passionate about the industry you can't help but to pick up nuggets from them whenever you're around them,” says Copeland. “We don't become a success in this business by being on an island by ourselves - every successful agent has picked up information over the years from numerous individuals.”

Approximately 35% of brokers and 19% of agents volunteered in their local, state or national Realtor® associations in 2020, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Value of association participation

Being active in a professional organization, regardless of your profession, can be mutually beneficial.

Lakisha Ann Woods, president and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences in Washington, D.C. and upcoming chair of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Research Foundation Board, joined ASAE as soon as she graduated from college.

“I thought it was the right thing to do to volunteer with a professional organization and I wanted to grow my knowledge and my network,” says Woods. “I’ve had job opportunities, including becoming a CEO, because I volunteered with professional organizations.”

The majority (88%) of people who volunteer with professional organizations are very or somewhat satisfied with their volunteer experience, according to ASAE research. 

Heather Embrey, an associate broker with Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Premier in Falls Church and the 2021 NVAR secretary-treasurer, volunteered first with NVAR’s Education Committee after she was impressed with her GRI classes and wanted to learn more about the inner workings of the association.

“Volunteering at NVAR helps me establish relationships with other agents and bolsters my credibility, which helps when negotiating offers on behalf of my clients,” says Embrey. “I recognize agents I have served with and always feel a sense of comfort with them in a transaction because I know they understand the importance of our role as a Realtor®.”

After three years of active engagement with NVAR, Esther Biggs, a Realtor® with Pearson Smith Realty in Ashburn, says she wishes she had started earlier.

“I feel like the more involved I am, the more I can be a voice to the people I represent and the more I can learn and grow, while also building stronger relationships,” says Biggs. “Of course, I always seek to have fun while simultaneously feeling fulfilled and rewarded, so it’s a win-win-win for me.”

Biggs says she’s met many peers through her association work.

“Being part of the volunteer groups helps me expand my vision and learn more about other cultures,” Biggs says. “From a transaction standpoint, I’ve leveraged my relationships and have been able to win more business because it’s easier to work with people you know and trust.”

While volunteering with an association is not directly tied to clients, many agents find that their clients – and their referrals – benefit from their involvement with their professional organizations.

“When you’re on a professional standards panel where you see some of the things that happen out in the streets, it behooves you to raise the level of service to your clients to avoid being in a bad situation,” says Copeland. “Once I received a call from someone who had a very bad experience with an agent ethically. My name was given to these folks who immediately googled me and found that I was a member of the NVAR board of directors. They told me they immediately felt a sense of peace and trust in me. My commitment to the industry by volunteering set me up before I spoke a word to them.” 

Earning certificates for training benefits your clients, too, says Woods.

“Consumers begin their search online and when they see my involvement it gives them a sense of comfort,” says Embrey. “I also receive referrals from agents in other jurisdictions who are involved in their Realtor® association.”

Clients can gain from the relationships you make through engaging in your association, says Woods.

“Not only do you meet others in your field, but you meet suppliers of things you and your clients need that can save you money,” says Woods. “You can learn about new tech tools that can make you more efficient, too.”

Engaging with professional associations

Becoming active in your association can be an important opportunity to shape the next generation of leaders in your industry, says Woods.

“You may want to start small with a micro-volunteer opportunity such as participating in online advice sessions or sourcing vendors to help your community of professionals,” says Woods.

“Volunteering to judge awards can be a great way to see what other people are doing so you can learn from them.”

Joining a committee can be valuable to the association and to your career, but Woods warns, “don’t just join to add this to your resume.” She says volunteers should participate and engage in the work of committees and subcommittees.

“The most important advice is to go deep, not wide,” says Clark. “It's far better to become involved in one or two organizations in a more substantive way, as opposed to joining 10 organizations and maybe going to one meeting per year. The goal isn't to meet the most people; it's to build substantive relationships that may lead to friendships and business connections over time. It's fine to attend a lot of initial meetings to see which organizations jive with your interests and values, but then decide which you'd like to pursue further, and then raise your hand when they're looking for committee members or officers.”

Clark suggests optimizing the value of your volunteering based on the skills you’d like to develop and the people you want to meet.

“For instance, if you'd like to become more conversant with social media, volunteering to serve as social media coordinator for your professional association is a useful 'forcing function' that will help train you, and you can later apply those same skills to your own marketing for your business,” Clark says. “And if there's not a specific skill you want to cultivate, then just optimize for connecting with as many people as possible, as deeply as possible - so think about taking on roles where that's a key component, such as program chair or membership chair.”

While agents and brokers are constantly busy, volunteering a few hours per month can bring benefits that extend far beyond the work you do during that time. Research shows that the satisfaction of helping others can improve your mood, build new skills and make you feel as if you have more time rather than less – and when your chosen volunteer work benefits your business, too, it makes even more sense to dedicate your time. 

Michele Lerner, a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C. area, has been writing about real estate and personal finance for more than 20 years.