Virtual volunteering is any volunteering activity that can be performed online. It is also known as online volunteering, e-volunteering and micro-volunteering.
Virtual volunteering complements traditional, face-to-face volunteering, by giving volunteers another way to get involved. Virtual volunteering can range from less technical tasks like social media engagement and the signing of petitions to more technical tasks such as designing a logo, creating an annual budget for the organisation, supporting the organisation’s IT needs, providing legal advice and many other skilled activities.
Volunteering is defined, by Volunteering Australia, as “…time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain”. Further, virtual volunteering is any volunteering activity that is conducted, in part or in whole, through the Internet, according to Cravens & Ellis 2014.