Top 20 Volunteering Web-Sites

Question: Where do I find volunteer openings?

Answer: The post includes the following topics:

• Top 20 Volunteering Web-Sites
• Where to find volunteering in your community
• Advantages of volunteering for your career
• How to get started to become a volunteer

Top 20 Volunteering Web-Sites

1. Volunteer Match: Various opportunities all over America:
2. United Way: one of the largest national organizations in the U.S.
3. National and Community Service
4. Taproot Foundation, Catchfire: Matching skilled volunteers and opportunities:
5. Idealist: Social entrepreneur opportunities:
6. National parks volunteering
7. Habitat for Humanity homelessness and low-income
8. YMCA children and youth
9. American Red Cross helping during national disasters
10. USA: government and public service
11. Serve.gov government and public service
12. PeaceCorps.gov – serving abroad (education, health, environment and more)
13. CitizenCorps.gov – free training in first aid and emergency skills, supporting local emergency responders and disaster relief efforts.
14. NationalService.gov – offers grants for volunteering (AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Social Innovation Fund)
15. Volunteer.gov: volunteer in American’s public lands, including national parks.
16. Volunteer.VA.gov: Veterans Affairs (VA) facility in your area.
17. Federal Election Volunteers: assist election officials in your state.
18. Natural Resources Conservation: environmental (water conservation, wildlife habitat, etc)
19. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Volunteers take part in research, observation and educational roles that benefit science and the planet.
20. DREAM: Youth Volunteering

Volunteering in Your Community

• Hospitals
• Animal rescue shelters
• Homeless shelters
• Colleges, schools, and universities
• Soup kitchens, food banks
• Non-profit boards and city boards
• Libraries
• Art museums
• Retirement homes
• Rotary Clubs
• Community Churches
• Political Campaigns

Advantages of Volunteering for your career growth:

• You will improve your English skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
• You will gain sector work experience and learn relevant work skills
• You will build professional connections and acquire job references
• You can use volunteering title as a resume plug-in
• You will become an insider and build a reputation in the organization

How to get started as a Volunteer

1. Set your career goal:
   • Decide what do you want to accomplish by volunteering
   • Write your goals down.
2. Determine your availability and service preferences:
   • Decide on availability: # of hours weekly/monthly you will volunteer
   • Decide which cause you want to support
   • Call 211 to learn about local programs and talk to someone about options
3. Gather Information- do the Research
   • Use Google to find and research non-profits near your home
   • Select top three that connect with your calling
   • Talk to your friends, relatives, ask for an introduction
4. Start the volunteer application process
   • Go to the non-profit website and apply online
   • Visit a local office and meet Volunteering Coordinator
   • Ask about their application process and requirements

Conclusion:

Whether you are making a meal for homeless folks, knitting hats for newborns, or serve in a cancer center, volunteering can boost your employment opportunities dramatically. I would suggest volunteer every single time you are unemployed and unsure of what of doing next or need more information about any new sector, organization or a new occupation.