A volunteer is someone who works for a community or for the benefit of natural environment primarily because they choose to do so.The word comes from Latin,and can be translated as "will" (as in doing something out of ones own free will).Many serve through a non-profit organization – sometimes referred to as formal volunteering,but a significant number also serve less formally,either individually or as part of a group.By definition,a volunteer worker does not get paid or receive compensation for services rendered other than reimbursement for out-of-pocket expensesMany organizations (hospitals,food banks,etc.) have a continual need for volunteers.Other high-profile events,such as a marathon,require hundreds or thousands of volunteers for a one-time or annual need.The success of such events has a significant economic impact on the local economy.Thus,there is increasing awareness of the economic importance of volunteers.This,in turn,has elevated the importance of the volunteer manager for such events,people who formerly may have managed volunteers in addition to other duties but now may be viewed as professionals in the field.This has also increased the need for volunteer management software,e-mail broadcasts,texting and other technological tools,allowing the volunteer manager to register and communicate with large numbers of people who otherwise have no connection to each other.