Giving Compass' Take:

• Volunteer work can help engage elderly individuals as well as address social isolation. 

• What vehicles do you think are most successful as engagement tools for this population? How can volunteering fight off social isolation? 

• Here are some volunteering trends you should know. 

Boomers who retire are at risk for social isolation — an epidemic that hits close to 60 million Americans and is as life-threatening as obesity. With 45% of women 75+ living alone, we have a commitment to finding relevant ways to engage these constituents through volunteer work in our communities.

Social media. According to Sprout Social, 65% of Generation Xers, as well as baby boomers, say Facebook is their favorite social network. Despite the myth that “older” online users aren’t tech savvy, more than two-thirds are social media regulars with a real willingness to learn about volunteer opportunities through the web.

Video pre-roll. Based on a recent comScore report, 84% of boomers watch video online every month. The development of mobile technology has enabled boomers to stream video anytime on any device (a Nielsen Global Digital Landscape Survey estimates that 34% of boomers streaming video content on mobile devices), giving nonprofits a clear path to get their messages across to boomers in real-time as they watch their favorite programs online.

Geotargeting. Search intent technology, site retargeting, and behavioral targeting allow organizations to pinpoint the exact individuals that fit their audience profiles when they’re engaged online.

Online radio. The use and popularity of streaming audio platforms such as Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Spotify offer another vehicle for nonprofits to tailor their message through quick audio soundbites to boomers’ personal hand-held devices. The prevalence of mobile audio use among boomers is exploding, so it is important to take steps to incorporate online radio apps into your volunteer recruitment strategy.

Read the full article about targeting baby boomers for volunteer work by Basil Sadiq at VolunteerMatch.