Can Volunteering Become "Consulting" on a Resume?

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When your volunteering goes beyond your time (meaningful as that is) to include your talent within your area of expertise, I think it is not only okay, but well worth including in a resume. In my opinion it shows your passion both for your field and your character in terms of your commitment to helping others. Putting your time into a project not for the monetary return but to achieve the goal of the organization your helping - sounds like time well spent that's worth sharing to me.
I should add that I held a variety of volunteer positions, most often in a leadership role, for a decade while my children were growing up. I am transitioning into a social entrepreneur currently because working toward a values-based mission is so integral to who I am. A sample of my resume that is chock filled with my volunteer work is available on the resume page on the following link: http://www.getmyprofile.com/nancygallant/
Same rules apply as traditional resume entries including action verbs, quanitifying as much as possible, highlighting leadership roles...
One last point: It's standard practice for high school kids include community service on their resumes that accompany their college applications.
My two cents - Hope it helps!
Nancy Gallant
Founder/Time Well Spent
Twitter ~ @NancyTWS

Nancy Gallant of MA 10:13AM January 13, 2010

I've been recommending this approach, when truly appropriate, to help long-term job seekers fill gaps or to help them switch careers.
I agree with Alison, it is no one's business how much money you were making, the key is to point out the accomplishments of the assignment, paid or unpaid.
I don't think we are recommending job seekers "pull a fast one" over employers, but I would be curious to know how this goes over in an interview.

Career Sherpa of NY 4:39AM January 13, 2010

You certainly did consulting work for those organizations. Definitely call it what it is, but don't loose the volunteer aspect. Just like Alison said, focus on your accomplishments within the organization as a volunteer to subjugate any ideas that the bar was lowered somehow. Remember, volunteering shows a real commitment to the cause or development of skills involved. A smart interviewer will make that link and an even smarter interviewee will highlight it! A new wave of volunteering in the United States and a younger generation coming into it's own has led to more and more "servie-junkies" ending up in executive positions at companies. Just be yourself and put your best foot forward!

Ben M. of DC 11:09AM January 12, 2010

Make sure that your supervisor and others you worked with at the nonprofit are aware you're calling your work consulting. There would be nothing worse than the company you're looking at to call the nonprofit or talk to one of their friends there and have your work described in a different manner.

Marjorie Williams of IL 9:46AM January 12, 2010

Why not? Spin weekend binges as "research"...

Byron of CA 8:27AM January 12, 2010

Thanks, Alison, for the advice! I have used a more structured volunteer consulting project on my resume years ago and kind of forgot about it as an option. I've got to say that using it wowed interviewers in the past. And I never said I was paid and disclosed that it was a volunteer project. I appreciate the "pro bono" comment above as well. Thanks!

Annie of CA 12:22AM January 12, 2010

As a Certified Resume Strategist, I have no problems including pro bono work under professional experience. In the interest of resume integrity, I will describe it as that - pro bono consulting - in the summary statement for that job.

Karen Siwak 10:32PM January 11, 2010

say so. But don't make your gifts sound like you were paid for them if you weren't.

Muser of NM 2:26PM January 11, 2010

I have listed my volunteer/consulting work under affiliations on my resume. Given that I freely give media advice to non-profits, and I bill for for-profit clients for the same type of information, I feel comfortable using the term consulting.
Cheers,
Tony

Tony Loftis of MA 1:53PM January 11, 2010