The article presents the results of a study of the professional development of professionals in the non-profit sector. In their lives, the phenomenon of volunteerism occupies a special place and plays a meaningful role. The article analyzes the data of in-depth semi-formalized interviews with leaders of socially-oriented non-commercial organizations of the Sver- dlovsk region, managers and employees of state social institutions, volunteers who have been engaged in volunteering ac- tivity for a long time ( N = 27, 2014-2015). The typology of life strategies offered by the authors allows one to see life path trajectories of professionals and also to understand certain meanings of their decisions and actions in professional activities and in promoting certain interests and ideas.