The Benefit of Volunteering: Giving Back is Good for You

With the demanding schedules most of us face, spending time on anything beyond work, family, or favorite activities is not an easy choice. And yet, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that more than 28 percent of Americans volunteer through official organizations, and many more give their time informally. 

In an increasingly busy, distracted, and often cynical world, the obvious question is: Why? One major reason may be that volunteering is good for you.

Mental health

In an article published by the American Heart Association, Jeffrey Burr, a professor of gerontology at UMass Boston, said, “We’re convinced that volunteering does have positive ramifications for well-being. Compared to non-volunteers, volunteers have less depression, less anxiety, higher self-esteem, higher life satisfaction, greater happiness, and greater sense of meaning in life.”

Research from the McKinsey Health Institute reinforces this perspective. In a global survey on workplace well-being, McKinsey identified volunteering as one of the few “modifiable drivers” that can significantly improve both mental and physical health. For employees who engaged in volunteer work, it is life changing. Most reported lower levels of burnout, stress-related symptoms, and social isolation. In other words, giving time to others doesn’t just benefit communities—it also helps individuals thrive. 

Volunteering as culture

This connection between volunteerism and well-being is something Christian Agulles, president and CEO of sustainable engineering and consulting firm PAE, has seen firsthand.

PAE is a 400+-person Portland-based firm with offices in Seattle, San Francisco, and eight other locations nationwide. It gives employees 20 hours of paid volunteer time each year—roughly one percent of their work time. 

The company also organizes multiple service events and provides pro bono engineering services to nonprofits and community groups. These efforts are aligned with PAE’s status as a certified B Corp and holder of the JUST label, two credentials that reflect its triple-bottom-line approach of considering “people, planet, and profit.”

For Agulles, the benefits go beyond feel-good optics. “Volunteerism is one of the best activities there is for promoting mental health,” he said. “It’s the intersection between doing what’s right for our communities and doing what’s right for our employees around mental health and wellness. 

“Our business is deadline-driven and often very stressful, so this allows our staff to disconnect from that. Volunteering gives people a chance to recharge in a way that’s similar to paid time off, but with more purpose. It’s not only about getting away from the day-to-day grind; you also walk away feeling good about helping the community.”

Real work, real impacts

Volunteerism at PAE is built into the company’s strategic planning, operations, and recruitment efforts. In April 2025, the entire leadership team spent the second day of a meeting in Portland working with Forest Park Conservancy to protect native species and remove invasive ivy. 

Agulles explained that the leadership team’s participation in these events sends a message and reinforces the importance of volunteering. “At Forest Park, a staff member from the Portland office said to me, ‘I really appreciate you and the leadership team being part of these events.’ She also mentioned how much she appreciated that we talk so openly about mental health at PAE. That was a moment that stuck with me,” he explained.

Another form of volunteerism that mechanical engineers can start offering technical expertise to provide pro bono services to worthy organizations. PAE partners with like-minded DignityMoves, a nonprofit that creates transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness. Agulles says that the firm has provided pro bono services to help design more than 700 shelter beds across multiple cities in California.

When the firm invited DignityMoves CEO Elizabeth Funk to speak at a year-end staff event, Agulles explained the room was deeply moved. “It was one of those moments where everyone could see the direct impact of our work. It was powerful.”

In San Francisco, another PAE team recently completed a new community center for United Playaz, an organization that supports at-risk youth. In New York, one of PAE’s newest offices helped deliver pro bono design services for a YMCA facility and has planned multiple community service events in its first year.

“You know that it resonates with our staff when our newest teams embrace this part of our culture so quickly,” Agulles said.

More than morale

While the emotional payoff of volunteering is important, Agulles also points to strategic advantages. “Volunteerism supports engagement, inclusion, and a sense of belonging—three pillars of our long-term plan,” Agulles said. 

Internal surveys at PAE consistently show that employees who volunteer report higher job satisfaction and a stronger connection to the company’s mission.

It also plays a role in recruiting. As PAE expanded to the East Coast, Agulles began asking job candidates in New York and Boston whether their current companies offered pro bono or paid community service opportunities. 

“More often than not, the answer is, ‘No,’” he said. “I ask that question intentionally because it gives me a chance to talk about how we view volunteerism, community service, and pro bono work. People get pretty excited about it. It goes beyond the typical recruiting conversation and says something more meaningful about who we are.” 

Team cohesion is another benefit. When employees come together in a different context, outside of the pressure of billable hours or project timelines, they often develop stronger interpersonal trust. This in turn enhances collaboration back at the office.

Make it work

Mechanical engineers can dedicate time to volunteering even if their firms aren’t B Corps or don’t have a structured volunteer program. Here are some suggestions:

•    If you’re not in a leadership role, create a proposal (in the same way you would a business plan or response to an RFP) for a volunteerism event or policy that the firm can implement in the coming months or year. 

•    If you are in leadership, offer paid time off for volunteering. Even a modest allotment, such as 8 to 16 hours per year, can signal a change in values and encourage grassroots efforts. Let employees propose and lead their own projects.

•    Partner with local nonprofits, independently or as a group. Focus on organizations whose missions align with your firm’s strengths and that most benefit the communities you serve, work, or live in.

•    Track and celebrate impact. Share photos, stories, and testimonials internally, on the company website (as approved) and on social media to reinforce the cultural value of giving back.

Engineers are problem solvers

Volunteerism seeks to solve an identified problem, and by their nature, mechanical engineers are problem solvers. Whether designing sustainable buildings, improving public infrastructure, or fixing bicycles at a community repair event, engineers thrive and gain a sense of satisfaction when their skills are applied to tangible challenges.

Volunteerism simply offers a broader canvas on which to apply those same instincts, with the added bonus of better mental health, deeper team connections, and stronger community ties.

“We’ve always known that giving back to our communities is the right thing to do,” Agulles said. “But over time, we’ve come to realize it’s also one of the most impactful things we can do for our people and for our business.”

Jerry Guerra is an independent writer in Lynnfield, Mass.