We live in a world where there are so many non-profit organizations looking for volunteers. With this kind of variety at our disposal, the issue is not so much finding one but finding one that will be more suited to you and what you hope to accomplish. Whether it is helping with animals once a week, or building a house once a year, there are opportunities out there to fit those needs, and it is simply a matter of finding them. Luckily, with technology vastly growing, there are many websites catered to finding the right volunteer opportunity in your community.
VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch has about 77,000 different opportunities, so you are certainly going to be able to find something that best suits you. It also has an easy to use a database that allows you to cater the search to what you are looking for. You simply have to type in your zip code and a keyword about the kind of activity you want, and it will give you a list of opportunities in your area for that particular activity.
Idealist.org
Idealist.org is another great site that allows you to find volunteer possibilities. It caters to what you want and what you are looking for to help you find the exact kind of opportunities you need. Similar to VolunteerMatch, you type in your city, and then there is a drop-down sidebar that allows you to look for events. The site also updates you on ongoing volunteer opportunities, as well as one time asks from non-profits. Also, if you are looking for a career in this field, you can search for jobs and internships that are available.
SmartVolunteer
SmartVolunteer works under the motto of “skills-based giving – it’s not just for lawyers anymore.” With this mantra, SmartVolunteer provides a simple way to donate your skills to charitable organizations and other places looking for volunteer work. The opportunities this site emphasizes are in finance, technology, marketing, and human resources; and the best part is that if you are unable to go to the site, you can search for “virtual” opportunities where you would need a computer with reliable Internet connection.
All For Good
All For Good is the largest online database for finding volunteer opportunities, so you are bound to find something that suits your needs to make a difference. Every month, they update their site with 150,000 volunteer listings in major cities. All For Good also helps United We Serve and is also part of Point of Light which is the largest volunteer network in the world.