Volunteering Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study Perspective

Background The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes in all aspects of society, including the work of non-profit organisations. Many restrictions reshaped the economy and everyday life, causing serious threats to the work of both for-profit and non-profit sectors. However, the crisis also created an opportunity for innovation. As an important part of civil society, associations had to find new ways to support their beneficiaries and maintain volunteer activities. Methods/Approach This paper used a quantitative survey of volunteers from the Krijesnica Association. Data analysis was conducted to assess changes in volunteer activities and to identify the main challenges volunteers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The research results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic led to the proposal and implementation of new forms of volunteering, such as digital volunteering. Significant restrictions on physical contact encouraged the modification of existing forms of volunteering, which enabled the continued provision of assistance to beneficiaries. Conclusions Understanding the changes in volunteer activities and the challenges volunteers face is crucial for developing strategies to support civil society organisations and ensure their sustainability in the future. The Krijesnica Association successfully adapted to the pandemic’s challenges and continued to support its beneficiaries. The development of new forms of volunteering and the challenges volunteers face are important lessons for the future and an incentive for further research.