You can make a meaningful difference in relieving the effects of natural disasters, whether it be through donations, volunteerism, or advocacy. When looking for ways to contribute before, during, and after natural disasters, consider how you can maximize impact by working with others! Here are 4 ways to support disaster relief efforts today:

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. This list offers a few ways to delve deeper into Black history and support a more equitable future.

Valentine’s Day is a great time to come together and celebrate love—and there are a lot more ways to do that than is typically associated with the holiday! Love is about expressing compassion, generosity, and kindness to others. That’s why we’re highlighting 7 ways to volunteer and put that love into action.

Every follower on your organization's social media is a potential volunteer—they just might not know it yet. Building and maintaining a social media presence, especially in a small organization, is not without its challenges. That is why we compiled 7 ways to level-up your social media strategy to recruit more volunteers:

SNAPkids is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children with disabilities by providing community-based swimming and fitness activities. By providing volunteers with a chance to work closely with our special swimmers, we open hearts, change attitudes and create more respectful, inclusive, and just communities. Learn more at: snapkids.org

Over the last couple of months I’ve been having some interesting conversations about the line between volunteers and paid staff. And, since it’s the start of a new year I thought it might be a good time to brush off those volunteer position descriptions and do a little risk management!

Corporate volunteer programs offer an incredible opportunity for nonprofit organizations to partner with businesses to advance awareness of and raise money for their cause. A nonprofit liaison with a company creates a situation where everyone wins: the nonprofit gets the assistance it needs while the business benefits from building their brand and generating positive impressions throughout the community.

School on Wheels is an organization enhancing educational opportunities for children who are experiencing homelessness from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

• 1/3 of unhoused people are under the age of 18
• 1:20 children in CA don’t have homes
• 64% of children experiencing homelessness do not graduate high school

Guest post by Kelly Smith

As a nonprofit leader, you’re probably aware that volunteers are the heart and soul of your organization – it’s their smiles and hard work that move your cause forward. That’s why volunteer motivation is essential. Here are four smart ways to motivate volunteers:

Guest Post by Courtney Tull

“Volunteers Needed.” After seeing this ad pop-up on your social media page for the fifth time this month, you decide to give your favorite nonprofit a call, and get signed up to volunteer. Volunteer, to do what, exactly? The post was extremely vague, so you aren’t sure what you might volunteer to do. All you know is that you’re free every Monday and you believe in their mission.

One thing I have learned as a marketer on a small team is that making content that serves multiple audiences or multiple purposes is invaluable. The same goes for our efforts in life. We only have limited energy and hours in the day so we need to be efficient—this is how I approach New Year's resolutions.

Today I wanted to share a little more about how we can blur the lines between volunteers and donors and create stronger connections with both groups. I know traditionally, many organizations keep these list separate— that Development communicates with donors and that we, as leaders of volunteers, only communicate with volunteers. But, there’s so much to gain on both sides when we think about collaboration! 

With all the hustle and bustle of our modern lives, it can be easy to let our good intentions to volunteer fall by the wayside. Volunteering doesn’t have to feel like an extra task on your never-ending to-do list. From small tasks to larger projects, finding ways to get involved is easier than you might think.

Giving Tuesday is kicking off the holiday giving season again this year, and while organizations encourage their supporters to give financially, many are also interested in the gift of time! If you haven’t included volunteer recruitment into your Giving Tuesday strategy in the past, here are three easy ways to get ready before November 29th.

Guest post by Ed Grocholski, Junior Achievement USA

November is National Entrepreneurship Month. It is a celebration of those visionaries who strike out on their own to start and build businesses that meet customer needs while benefiting the community as a whole.

Guest Post by Luisa Conlon, Director of Senior Prom

As we celebrate National LGBTQ+ History Month this October, we can work together to raise up the experiences and voices of our LGBTQ+ elders, and learn about the sacrifices so many of them made to get us here.

Published 10/6/21 and updated on 9/30/22

Each of us has the power to create more compassionate and inclusive communities in different aspects of our lives whether at home, school, work, or in our neighborhood. October provides a variety of opportunities to celebrate diversity, learn more about each other, and strengthen our communities by giving back. Explore 12 ways you can do just that!

This week is National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and we want to show some #LocalLove to Literacy Minnesota, the only statewide, volunteer literacy organization in Minnesota. 

Sophie Phan, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator and volunteer for Literacy Minnesota, believes in English literacy as a powerful means to broaden educational and economic opportunities for immigrants and refugees in the United States. Sophie immigrated from Vietnam to Minnesota when she was five years old, grew up as a voracious reader, and believes in the power of stories to motivate and inspire.

The September issue of the Chronicle of Philanthropy highlighted some current challenges in volunteer engagement with two in-depth articles. In the article “Why and How Charities Should Revive a Declining but Vital Resource ... Volunteers” reporter Ben Gose interviewed me, along with many others working with and leading volunteers, to bring some perspective and insight into what’s changed and what’s stayed the same since the pandemic. He asked insightful questions and did a great job framing up the story. I want to share a little more on our discussion, where we are as a field and a profession, and some things to consider moving forward.

In a world where we are seemingly endlessly bombarded with painful news, it’s easy to imagine that the pandemics of our time would have all of us curled up in a ball on the couch. It’s not an unreasonable reaction to a steady onslaught of tough news. It’s also not true.

For this International Dog Day (August 26th) we want to spotlight Lily’s Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary, a nonprofit dedicated to the mighty task of rescuing, caring for, and rehoming large breed senior dogs. Of the dogs who come to Lily’s, 80% are from shelters and, more often than not, have suffered neglect. The organization does thorough evaluations and treatments to get them adoption ready. 

Compassion fatigue. We all know what it is, even if you haven’t heard the term before. The 24-hour news cycle brings, seemingly every day, previously unfathomable stories of devastation and destruction. Our hearts and minds were not made for it. The natural impulse to care can become exhausting.

Volunteering might evoke images of soup kitchens, beach cleanups and fundraising galas. But the truth is, there are a whole lot more ways to volunteer! So many, in fact, that it can feel overwhelming when you're just getting started. VolunteerMatch alone is home to 100s of 1000s of different ways to get involved!

Guest post by Lesley J. Vos

Even the most devoted volunteers experience a lack of inspiration and motivation from time to time.

As a volunteer leader, it’s you who can change this. You can encourage your volunteers, engage and motivate them to grow, and become a source of inspiration!

The Color of Care, from executive producer Oprah Winfrey, takes a hard look at the origins and ongoing disparities of embedded racism in our healthcare system. This timely documentary interweaves history, data and testimony from those who lost loved ones to COVID-19 and frontline medical workers in overwhelmed hospitals.

Last month we held our first ever Webinar Design Session: Solving the Retention Problem. I want to thank everyone who attended and participated — it was a really dynamic conversation! You can learn more about the question that started all of this, some of the existing challenges with retention, and my thoughts here. 

Our theme for National Volunteer Week 2022 is Let's Grow Something Together.  We want to thank all of our supporters— from volunteers to nonprofits, donors and funders to corporate folks stepping up to the social impact plate.  Each and every one of you have been part of our 24 year journey, which recently met a milestone of reaching 17 Million volunteer connections!  YOU are a part of all that good.

In April 2020 in an act of sheer desperation, I googled “San Jose Volunteering COVID-19.” I had been living in isolation in my house a full thirty days—thirty days—likely the longest I’d been in one place since I was 3 years old. I felt cut-off from my work team, which was scattering to the wind as COVID-19 raged in their hometowns around the world. 

Hi Jennifer-

I just listened to your excellent webinar, “The New Volunteer Managers Toolkit.” I am a retiring psychologist and have decided I’d like to focus some of my time and energy on volunteer retention. I’m not yet sure how to narrow the field, but I learned so much from your webinar and you sounded so receptive and encouraging, so I thought maybe I’d start by contacting you.

Michele Wiesner is the Director of Capacity Building at Hire Heroes USA, a national nonprofit empowering U.S. military members, veterans and spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. Her work focuses on supporting service delivery through partners and stakeholders to increase organizational reach, effectiveness and efficiency.

Over 10 years after completing my two years of Service with AmeriCorps I find myself in the unique position of again serving with AmeriCorps, just in a different capacity. At VolunteerMatch, we have partnered with California Volunteers and AmeriCorps to leverage the VolunteerMatch network and team to recruit members and spread awareness.

To celebrate AmeriCorps week, I’d love to share how serving as an AmeriCorps member has impacted my life (long story short, it completely changed the trajectory of my career and how I see the world).

Guest Contributor: Josh Fryday, California Chief Service Officer within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

The Kindhearted Cities Index recognizes the incredible work of volunteers, nonprofits, service members, and community leaders who have embodied the spirit of kindness to give back to communities across the country. Through the Kindhearted Cities index, we can better understand what it is that drives action, change, and impact—and show others how to make a difference. We are beyond thrilled to see six California cities recognized for their efforts, the most of any state.

Guest post by Wendy Kirwan, Kars4Kids

For any organization that relies on volunteers to accomplish their mission, recruitment of volunteers is only the first step. The big question is how to keep the volunteers you've recruited active, engaged and committed to the cause. We’ll share with you five of the most important things you can do to keep your volunteers engaged:

Photo Credit: The Seattle Times

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”In the past two years, the need has been immense for every cause area: from food security to homelessness —education to mental health. Meanwhile, the threat of the virus has prevented volunteerism from returning to its pre-pandemic highs. This year, we can change that.

This year, within our country and our communities, we have witnessed immense social challenges and incredible acts of kindness. Building kind, inclusive, and thriving communities is an intentional process that any individual can contribute to in a meaningful way. As you plan for the new year and make community-building resolutions, this list of our Top Blogs of 2021 can help inspire you.

As part of our givetime campaign with U.S. Bank, we are spotlighting a few of the nonprofit organizations that won free VolunteerMatch membership for a year. If you are looking for ways to give time now and into 2022, consider supporting one of these incredible causes. 

Plus, check out even more ideas at the end of the post!

Many of us are looking for safer ways to give some kindness to others this holiday season as we see the increasing need to support our communities and the rise of the Omicron variant. Giving to others in any form — from cards to meals to a sympathetic ear — shows people they’re cared for. Here are 10 simple ways to be a force for kindness.

With the recent discovery of the Omicron variant, you may be looking for ways to navigate through this latest uncertainty. We are continuing to provide several resources to help you overcome the challenges you are facing. Here are 9 resources to support you during this time.

To Provide More Ways to Give Back on GivingTuesday

OAKLAND, Calif., November 23, 2021 – VolunteerMatch, the largest nonprofit network on the web connecting volunteers with opportunities to give back, is partnering with GivingTuesday and U.S. Bank to offer even more ways for people to give back on GivingTuesday. 

We’re joining forces with U.S. Bank to inspire good people to give time in honor of #GivingTuesday, and you’re invited!

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, your wallet may be feeling a little thin by the time GivingTuesday rolls around, so we want to help you find ways to give time and help make #CommunityPossible.

This year, we’re focusing on what’s near and dear to so many of us during the holidays — community.

This is a guest post from GivingTuesday.

The 10th annual GivingTuesday celebration takes place on November 30 this year. People all over the world will come together to give their time, voice, kindness, power, skills, expertise, and resources. GivingTuesday is the perfect opportunity to complement your organization’s year-end efforts by using the day to engage your volunteers.

This blog post is by VolunteerMatch CEO, Greg Baldwin.

It is with a profound mix of emotions that I share the exciting news that VolunteerMatch is publicly launching a collaboration with Russell Reynolds today to lead a national, cross-sector search to find an extraordinary leader to serve as VolunteerMatch’s next Chief Executive Officer.

This week is World Kindness Week, and there are so many kind deeds you can do to uplift your communities and in the process also uplift your spirits. Here are 4 ways you can give back.

It’s the end of October, and we’re getting really close to the holiday season. You may have already started planning your holiday parties for your organization, for your friends and family, or both. In the spirit of giving this holiday season, there’s never been a better time to uplift your communities. Here are 3 simple ways you can incorporate giving back into your holiday parties this year that can be done in-person or virtually.

Climate change impacts us all. The fires, drought, and floods that we are seeing across the country are all being driven by the warming of our planet. The scientific community is attributing the increasing temperatures globally to these disastrous events all over the world with increasingly negative implications on the economy and society, such as the loss of billions of working hours because of excessive heat. In fact, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) spanning from 1970-2019, these types of disasters have gone up 5 times during this 50 year span, in which climate change is one of the contributing factors. 

It’s time to take action. You can make a difference with small steps. This week is Climate Action Week, 9/20-9/25. We're so excited to be partnering with California Volunteers, Office of the Governor — the team leading the way nationally around mobilizing volunteers in the state with Climate Action Corps. Each of us has the power to drive change. Here are 7 simple things you can do to combat climate change wherever you live.

As part of Climate Action Week from 9/20-9/25, we’re excited to be partnering with California Volunteers, Office of the Governor — the team leading the mobilization of volunteers across the state and setting a tone for state-led climate volunteer corps nationally. 

This 20th Anniversary of 9/11 is a time to pause and remember those who lost their lives in the 2001 tragedy, and to honor their memories by coming together to do good as a nation. From volunteering, supporting charities through donations of goods or cash, and simply by being kind to others, there are many ways to get involved.

OAKLAND, Calif., September 9, 2021 – VolunteerMatch, the largest nonprofit network on the web connecting volunteers with opportunities to give back, is partnering with AmeriCorps and California Volunteers, Office of the Governor to help people find ways to give back in remembrance of the 20th Anniversary of 9/11.

OAKLAND, Calif., August 31, 2021 - With over 35,000 volunteer tutors needed today to help young people prepare for the rigors of returning to school, there’s never been a better time to volunteer your skills.

Some students across the U.S. have started school, while others have yet to start school. And this may be the first time they are doing in-person learning. Back to school brings up so many emotions of excitement and new experiences, and now with the pandemic, some children and parents may be feeling additional anxieties beyond the back to school year jitters of the past. Whether you are a student, parent, grandparent, neighbor, co-worker, or friend and wherever you are during this transition, sending some kindness to others will help you uplift your community and yourself in the process. Here are 9 things you can do to be kind to yourself and others during this time. 

As we hear more about the impact of the Taliban takeover and collapse of the Afghanistan government and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, you may be looking for ways to help. Here are some resources to support people in Haiti and Afghanistan.

We all have the power to make a difference in our communities, to uplift our spirits, and to come together to strengthen them. Here are 10 ways you can make a positive impact today.

OAKLAND, Calif., June 24, 2021 - VolunteerMatch, the web’s largest volunteer engagement network, and Do IT, a leading provider of social networks and marketplaces connecting people to do good things in the United Kingdom, today announce a partnership enabling Do IT to make tens of thousands of volunteering opportunities from the VolunteerMatch database available to members of its community through its web and mobile apps.

Today, VolunteerMatch celebrates the incredible dedication and passion of our community of 130,000 nonprofit partners, as we extend our heartfelt gratitude to MacKenzie Scott for her transformational gift to our organization, and for the recognition of the work we do together as a unified network of nonprofits, centered on creating more connected, compassionate and equitable communities.

So much has happened in 2020 and now into 2021 where we have faced new challenges, less connection, and larger division, which is impacting how we feel. With May being Mental Health Awareness month, it gives us the time to shift our focus to our own wellness and those around us whether at home, at work, or in our communities. Here are 18 ways to inspire you to do just that.

Every single one of us has the power of creativity, and when we tap into this power, we are able to creatively respond to even the most difficult of challenges. Artists and creators lift us up and show us what’s possible during times of celebration and times of tragedy. They inspire us to think in new ways and encourage us to be willing to pivot from what we’ve always known to explore new ways of doing and being when the world turns upside down. 

Highlighting Art as Activism to Celebrate  National Volunteer Week April 18 – 24, 2021

Oakland, CA – April 6, 2021 – VolunteerMatch announces a week of daily events to honor volunteers in celebration of National Volunteer Week April 18-24. The week will showcase artists in multiple disciplines to highlight and encourage art as activism. Emerging from the past year of a global pandemic, VolunteerMatch is activating a call for volunteers of all kinds to return to service in their communities wherever and whenever possible. The dramatic reduction in volunteers (80%) during the COVID-19 crisis spotlights today a critical focus on energizing our heroes to engage again with local organizations across the country.

OAKLAND, Calif., March 16, 2021 — In celebration of Women’s History Month, VolunteerMatch announced today a virtual panel packed with powerhouse speakers: Phenomenal Women! Bringing More Wellness, Joy and Ease into Our Busy Lives.

Note: This VolunteerMatch Young Ambassador Series post is written by Abelard Lormond. The Ambassador series blogs offer practical insights into causes and volunteer opportunities championed by VolunteerMatch or members of our partner network, to provide personal insight and shine a light on the unique work of our nonprofit partners.

In January, we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the third Monday of the month, as we do every year to show our love, respect, and honor for Dr. King and his legacy. One effective way that some decide to go about displaying their appreciation is through the works of different volunteer organizations that follow the teachings of MLK himself. 

“Bus-Hood” by Try Cheatham

Note: This VolunteerMatch Young Ambassador Series post is written by Abelard Lormond. The Ambassador series blogs offer practical insights into causes and volunteer opportunities championed by VolunteerMatch or members of our partner network, to provide personal insight and shine a light on the unique work of our nonprofit partners.

Every month, VolunteerMatch features the work of artists who are passionate about social justice causes. All the earnings that are made from promoting the artist’s work in VolunteerMatch’s Match Studio Collaborative shop are given to a charity of the artist’s choice. 

Note: This VolunteerMatch Young Ambassador Series post is written by Abelard Lormond. The Ambassador series blogs offer practical insights into causes and volunteer opportunities championed by VolunteerMatch or members of our partner network, to provide personal insight and shine a light on the unique work of our nonprofit partners.

As we ease into 2021, we still struggle with an ongoing pandemic, and COVID limits many activities that involve physically being with one another. The virus has also shut down many places such as schools and people’s workplaces. Fortunately, through several forms of volunteer work, many people who are struggling have the chance to keep on going or bounce back from the negative effects that the pandemic has brought about to their everyday lives as well as their communities. Here are 3 ways to help:

Inviting America's 1.5 Million Nonprofits to Join the Movement in Our Nation's Recovery from COVID-19

OAKLAND, Calif., February 17, 2021 – VolunteerMatch, the largest nonprofit network on the web connecting volunteers with opportunities to give back, today announced a gift of free membership for a year to nonprofits with operating budgets of less than $1 million.

Written by: Abelard Lormond

VolunteerMatch and the Newwave Foundation are hosting the first of webinar series, "Money Talk$" focused on developing financial wellness and bridging the information gap for communities of color left behind by current educational practices. This need is particularly urgent within the Black community where, according to a 2020 study on the Personal Finance Index (P-Fin Index), only 38% of African Americans were able to correctly answer a financial literacy questionnaire, compared to 55% of white respondents.

Written by Abelard Lormond

Note: This VolunteerMatch Young Ambassador Series post is written by Abelard Lormond. The Ambassador series blogs offer practical insights into causes and volunteer opportunities championed by VolunteerMatch or members of our partner network, to provide personal insight and shine a light on the unique work of our nonprofit partners.

Throughout the years, and even today, many people have displayed their acknowledgement for the unique injustices faced by African-Americans and sought to create a more equitable society for all. Some have taken physical action, while others have used the power of their words. Today, we take a look at some empowering quotes from 10 of these inspirational, quotable people. 

Thousands of volunteer opportunities available in support of healthier communities during American Heart Month

OAKLAND, Calif., February 11, 2021 – VolunteerMatch, the largest nonprofit network on the web connecting volunteers with opportunities to give back, today announced the release of 9 additional community-based Guides in Apple Maps. Residents and visitors in Austin, Denver, Minneapolis, Portland, and Nashville can now use the Maps app to identify meaningful places to volunteer in-person and virtually.

While getting vaccinated right away may not be right for everyone, large-scale vaccine distribution has been cited as a critical step in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the US.  

Unfortunately, numerous logistical challenges have already arisen for local health departments, hospitals, and other providers, and many local communities have called for volunteer support — both medical and non-medical — administering vaccines and organizing and managing vaccine clinics. 

OAKLAND, Calif., January 15, 2021 – VolunteerMatch, the largest nonprofit network with the most volunteer opportunities, today announced the launch of new community-based Guides in Apple Maps to easily find great places to volunteer. Available in 11 major metropolitan areas, VolunteerMatch Guides feature local in-person and virtual service opportunities in San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, DC, and other major cities.

"We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action."

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As part of our #GiveTime campaign with U.S. Bank, we are highlighting some of the nonprofit organizations that won free membership for a year. If you are looking for ways to #GiveTime now and into 2021, there are a variety of causes and ways you can put your skills to good use to help out your communities and support these nonprofits. Plus, check out even more ideas at the end of the post!

Almost one year ago, I wrote the first blog post of 2020 to kick off MLK Day and what we were confident would be a powerful year of grassroots service across our VolunteerMatch community. We hoped to inspire others and make it even easier and more accessible to get out into volunteer service in the new year than ever before.

With the holidays fast approaching, let’s take some time to celebrate with our communities and share some joy. Whether you’re looking to be of service, enjoy a virtual concert, or watch an inspirational film, here are 7 simple things you can do to share some kindness as we ring in 2021.

Many of us are looking for safer ways to give some kindness to others this holiday season as we see the increasing need to support our communities. Giving to others in any form — from cards to meals to a sympathetic ear — shows people they’re cared for. What are some easy ways to give some kindness to others this holiday season? Here are 10 simple ideas to give back virtually during the holiday season.

December 5 marks the 35th anniversary of International Volunteer Day, established by the United Nations. The resolution recognized the role of volunteer service in “making an important contribution to socio-economic development activities” and “the desirability of stimulating the work of all volunteers both in the field and in organizations, and of giving encouragement to those volunteers, many of whom engage in volunteer service at considerable personal sacrifice”. Governments, NGOs, the private sector, and other stakeholders were invited to observe the work of volunteers on this day each year.

With all the hustle and bustle of our modern lives, it can be easy to let our good intentions to volunteer fall by the wayside. Volunteering doesn’t have to feel like an extra task on your never-ending to-do list. From small tasks to larger projects, finding ways to get involved is easier than you might think. #GiveTime this #GivingTuesday to help share joy in communities across the country.

We’re joining forces with U.S. Bank to inspire good people to #GiveTime in honor of #GivingTuesday, and you’re invited!

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, your wallet may be feeling a little thin by the time GivingTuesday rolls around, so we want to help you find ways to #GiveTime and help make #CommunityPossible.

This year, we’re focusing on what’s near and dear to so many of us during the holidays — community.

Music moves the human heart like no other force I know.

Just a few notes of a song have the power to lift us up when we’re feeling down, make us feel closer when we’re apart, and inspire us to boldly try new things we’ve been afraid to even dare to dream about.

Oakland, CA – October 19, 2020 – So many of us have been asking this year what will it take to make things sustainably better in this country? The Academy Award-nominated and multi-Emmy Award-winning team of Kahane Cooperman and John Hoffman, respectively, believe they have the answer in their upcoming film, The Antidote. VolunteerMatch is excited and honored to partner with them to help this documentary drive a national conversation about the roles that kindness, decency, compassion, and respect play in a civilized, democratic society.

Oakland, CA – October 13, 2020 – COVID-19’s impact on volunteering challenges nonprofits, individuals, and companies to find ways to continue to serve communities in need. VolunteerMatch has spent the last seven months researching across sectors what these challenges are, creating ways to overcome them, and designing a webinar premiering on October 29, 2020 to help us all pivot so that service continues as seamlessly as possible.

With the November 3 election about a month away, you may be looking for ways to get involved in the process. Here are 7 things you can do now to support everyone's voice and shape the future of your communities.

Oakland, CA – September 28, 2020 – Volunteers are the heartbeat of serving people and spaces in need. The pandemic is not only requiring nonprofits to pivot from traditional ways of gathering, assigning, and recognizing volunteers, it is revealing to them beneficially alternative approaches to service that many will keep once COVID-19 is no longer a crisis. 

OAKLAND, Calif., September 23, 2020 — VolunteerMatch, the world’s largest volunteer engagement network, has launched a new website designed to make election-related volunteering more accessible. Nonprofits including Turnout Nation, Open Progress, and Civic Works are featured, each of which offer volunteer actions that can be performed virtually via computer, phone, and mail.

As we pause and remember those we lost 19 years ago on 9/11, we are partnering with 911day.org to invite you to honor their lives by coming together to do over 1 million self-directed acts of service and good deeds throughout the month of September as part of 9/11 Day At Home. Here’s how you can participate.

For the entire month of September, in honor of the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, we’re joining together with 911day.org to encourage all our colleagues and neighbors to make a difference.

With everything going on right now in the world around us, we could all use a little ray of sunshine. And it turns out, doing good is not just good for the health of our communities: it’s good for our personal health, as well. Research shows that volunteering can help lift your spirits and may even make you healthier and improve longevity. Here are 8 ways you can help others, while bringing a little bit of joy and health to your own life.

During the pandemic, we’ve heard many people say they feel less connected -- but are still interested in helping others. We’ve especially heard this feedback from many of our volunteers aged 55+, who are navigating a wide range of stressors, from caring for their own health, to taking care of families and grandkids, while also experiencing higher than average unemployment rates.

At a time when each of us can benefit from sharing our experiences and feeling heard, VolunteerMatch and Listeners On Call are partnering on a new program, Listen for Good.

COVID-19 has changed the way we live, from many schools and colleges going fully or partially virtual to many jobs shifting to remote and a job market that’s in flux. Additionally, people who are retired are seeking ways to do something fulfilling and continue to grow personally, while staying safe. Whether you're looking for your first job, recently retired, or somewhere in between, volunteering can help you feel fulfilled wherever you are now.

It is during times of great need that we can do the greatest good, and hearing from those who were courageous, took a stand, and affected change can inspire us to do the same. Here are 10 quotes to renew your spirits and inspire you into action.

It’s been startling to read recently that the inequality gap that has existed in our country since well before the COVID-19 pandemic began is actually growing more rapidly today.

VolunteerMatch was built to help strengthen communities by providing a platform for organizations in our neighborhoods working towards justice, equality, dignity, and opportunity to recruit their neighbors to their causes.

Huge strides have been made with the Supreme Court ruling this week that protects LGBTQIA+ from being fired because of their sexual orientation and gender identification. Before this decision, almost half the states lacked this legal projection.

“One big lesson from this opinion is don’t give up. You have to believe that you can change things,” said Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry. It’s inspiring to see how individuals can come together to fight against social justice and shape a more inclusive society. And now it is the time to build on this momentum and do even more. 

We have seen how the recent protests around the world have awakened and impassioned a much greater segment of our population to consider the long history of injustice and racism that exists in the U.S. Additionally, the challenges surfacing from COVID-19 are creating greater needs in our communities, while nonprofits are struggling with filling volunteering roles.

The widening inequality gap we are witnessing as we emerge from the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and the attention being paid to the killings of Black Americans including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and, most recently, George Floyd remind us of the absolute necessity of continuing the work to create a society that supports and values each of its members equally. How can we build a society based around compassionate communities, whose members are motivated and empowered to take action to actively improve the world for their fellow human beings?

Over the last several weeks, we have been devastated by the killings of Ahmaud Aubery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. 

These tragedies are painful reminders of the long history of injustice and racism in the U.S. that continues to tear our communities apart and leaves us living in fear of one another.

We all know there is another way — a country where we would all live as “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” 

But we don’t live in that world. George Floyd did not live in that world. 

The challenges surfacing from COVID-19 are creating greater needs in our communities. Nonprofits are struggling with filling volunteering roles, while the people in our communities who need these services are growing. In fact from research we performed during the month of March, we learned that 93% of nonprofit organizations are seeing volunteer cancellations, with some losing 100% of their volunteer force.

What should volunteer engagement look like as we move forward with the next phase of COVID-19 response? While things are opening back up, we are not just returning to life as it was before March.

What should we consider before inviting volunteers to return, and how can we ensure that we’re doing our best to protect our volunteers, our clients, and others in our organization?

There has been an increase in overall demand for food from Food Banks across the U.S. because of COVID-19. It’s amazing to see our communities: individuals, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations come together to support the people in need.

It shows that if we collaborate and work together, we can make a significant difference in fighting hunger in our communities.

Here are some inspiring ways people are working together to combat this growing challenge.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed our lives, and many of us are feeling less connected to others. But, even as we learn to navigate these changes, it’s also empowering to see so many public illustrations of how we are connected — and that, when we each take actions towards helping our communities, and work together, we can make huge strides in combating these larger societal challenges.

Demand is up. Supply is down. How can you help beat food insecurity and hunger during COVID-19?

May 5, 2020, is #GivingTuesdayNow, a new global day of unity meant to encourage generosity, citizen engagement, and support for nonprofits around the world.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed our lives in every way. As you are learning new ways of doing things, you may be seeking out more inspiration, wanting to celebrate what you and your teams have accomplished, or looking for ways to navigate in this new environment.

So how can you do this and connect with others virtually and learn from each other? Here are 3 ways you can be inspired, grow, and learn in May. 

What an exciting week of activities it has been to honor all of our helpers in celebration of National Volunteering Week!

To all who participated as guests on our panels and in our events, to all of you who shared stories, asked questions, and helped amplify our message, a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU.

VolunteerMatch is excited to announce a week’s worth of activities to honor volunteers in celebration of National Volunteer Week April 19-25.

In an era of social distancing, VolunteerMatch is leveraging its website and social media channels to highlight helpers who are the heart and soul of our communities.

Turn Your Website into a Volunteer Action Hub.

At VolunteerMatch, we are continuing to look at ways to serve communities and nonprofits during this challenging time. Our approach has been to listen to all our stakeholders — volunteers, nonprofit and business leaders, government representatives, and anyone who plays a role in supporting the impact ecosystem.

OAKLAND, Calif., March 26, 2020 — VolunteerMatch, the world’s largest volunteer engagement network, has launched a volunteering portal specific to promoting virtual volunteering opportunities with nonprofits around the country to aid communities impacted by the coronavirus. Virtual opportunities are those that can be completed remotely, typically with a computer and internet connection, or by phone.

Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis round out the top 5

According to the Independent Sector, 63 million Americans volunteered a whopping 8 billion hours of time, talent and effort spent strengthening local communities in 2018. That got us thinking… if we’re given one extra day this year, how and where are Americans most likely to donate their time?

What if I told you that I know the reason a full 33% of your employees don’t participate in your giving and volunteering program?

You’d act quickly to remedy that barrier right?

Well, thanks to America’s Charities Snapshot 2017 Report, we do know the reason. And for many companies, it’s not that hard to remedy.

According to the report, 1/3 of employees won’t give through their workplace because they’re not able to choose the causes that matter to them.

The report elaborates further:

Consistently engaging your employees can be tough so if you’re struggling to get your team focused and prioritized, you’re not alone. It’s actually an issue all across the country. 2018 Gallup statistics reveal only 34% of American workers felt engaged in their work, with 53% feeling no connection to their work or workplace. And with the changing workforce landscape, it’s becoming increasingly clear that new tactics are needed to ensure employees are productive, and subsequently care about their output. 

Updated Sept. 03, 2019 for relevancy.

These past years’ hurricane seasons have been extraordinarily active and destructive across parts of the U.S. If you’ve followed coverage of Hurricane Florence and of Hurricane Michael, you’re well aware of the dangers they’ve brought, including life-threatening storm surges, catastrophic flooding and historic rainfall. We are now following coverage of Hurricane Dorian, which has reportedly caused devastating damage in the Bahamas, Florida and the Carolinas’ coasts.

Guest post by Miles Maftean.

You’re passionate about a cause. It’s what inspired you to start volunteering.You wanted to be involved, join a community and make an impact.

But did you know volunteering gives you an edge in the job market too?

Guest post by Meridian Swift. This post originally appeared on volunteerplaintalk. 

Everywhere you look, you see volunteer recruitment ads that begin with “Energetic Volunteer Wanted.” Or “Caring volunteer.” Or even “Friendly volunteer.” Maybe “Enthusiastic,” “Flexible,” or “Compassionate” appears. But does “Detail-Oriented” really float your boat? Does “Organized volunteer” send you running in to help sort an organization out of their accounting mess?

The point is, how can a volunteer be enthusiastic about a role they haven’t yet undertaken? And what does flexible indicate? That a volunteer will be called at 3 am? Or that they have to drive 50 miles just to participate?

Many aspects of traditional nonprofits, such as collecting donations, raising awareness and planning campaigns, have moved online.

Guest post by Kayla Matthews.

Volunteers are often the lifeblood for nonprofits, especially when those organizations are understaffed and overworked.

But what happens when those volunteers become disheartened and no longer enjoy the work they do? They might be suffering from burnout, and you need to take action before it’s too late.

It’s trickier than you think to describe impact – and that’s good.

Every time I offer a volunteer impact measures training, I’m struck by some new takeaway that helps me better explain how to master this complex-but-valuable process.

Regardless of the size of your volunteer engagement program, you need to be in touch regularly with your volunteers to ensure your organization's goals are being met. While most volunteer managers use emails, phone calls and social media to stay in touch with their volunteers, texting may actually be the most effective communication tool. In fact, text message open rates are significantly higher than email open rates.

Want to increase volunteer retention? Here’s how to do it and enjoy the process.

It’s start the New Year by taking a show of hands. How many of you subscribe to this belief?:

While traditional methods of volunteer recruitment and fundraising remain effective, technology has allowed nonprofits to innovate new ways to attract supporters to their cause. Organizations have expanded on their previous efforts by adopting new strategies, and social media is no exception.

With nearly 3 billion social media users across the globe, social good organizations are increasingly adopting a more digitized approach towards social activism and engaging their volunteers.

Click here to read Part One of this two-part series.

A lot of well-intentioned people advise volunteer managers to treat “hiring” volunteers in the same manner staff is hired. It’s not that simple, and Part One of this two-part series explored why. In case you missed it, here’s that list again:

Guest post by Meridian Swift. This post originally appeared on Volunteer Plain Talk.

We need volunteers. We say as much, in ads, to staff, to other volunteers and to the woman behind us in line as the barista makes our coffee. So, how can we justify rejecting anyone who steps forward and raises their hand? Because, as much as we want every person who even mutters the word “volunteering” to succeed, we need volunteers who will make a positive impact on our missions.

Volunteering involves a commitment of one’s time, energy and/or resources to benefit others with no expectation of reward or compensation. Millions of Americans volunteer in many different ways, dedicating anywhere from a few hours per month to several hours per week to assisting others. There are a variety of motives for volunteering and plenty of rewards to be gained when helping others.

Guest post by Warren Fowler. 

Volunteering is often thought of as a selfless act — one where you give up your time for a worthy cause without being paid. While this may be true, what is often less obvious are the many benefits people experience when they volunteer.

I don’t remember the date, but I remember the conversation. It was the first time I’d heard the word “competition” in relation to volunteer organizations. I was in a community meeting, and nonprofit experts were discussing the impact of a newly formed nonprofit in the area.

The end of the year can be a rough time for many people. Days are shorter and darker; nights are longer. In colder weather, people are less inclined to go out and some struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Spending the holidays alone can feel isolating, and traveling to see loved ones can be stressful. Some see the end of the year as a time for self-reflection, leading to feelings of regret, inadequacy or inferiority.

You worked really hard to craft the perfect volunteer appeal, but what’s next? When’s the best day or time to publish your opportunity on VolunteerMatch to ensure it gains the most traction? After all, you want to make sure you’re casting your line while volunteers are searching!

Volunteering doesn’t exist in a bubble — it’s reflective of the people and the societies they live in.  Therefore, when major shifts take place, be they economic, cultural or political, it’s reasonable to presume that some aspects of volunteer behavior will be influenced. For example, increases or decreases in the numbers of active volunteers, volunteer hours, or types of volunteering being done.

Some companies view volunteerism as a need to satisfy employee engagement objectives. But on the other end of the spectrum, many understand the essence of volunteerism as a selfless way to serve one’s community.

Guest post by Shaunak Wanikar.

Volunteers are the heart of your organization. Are you spending as much time communicating with them as you should be?

Unfortunately, many organizations fail to communicate effectively with their volunteers for a variety of reasons. For example, they may not provide enough time and space for one-on-one interactions or they don’t have any proper mechanisms in place to receive feedback. Poor communication leaves your organization at risk for increased misunderstandings, unhappy volunteers, and volunteer attrition. It might even deter some volunteers from getting involved at all!

Making change happen requires a large network of people working together to get the job done. It takes a big team to accomplish your organization’s goals, and while your employees contribute valuable mission-driven work every day, so do your volunteers!

Guest post by Jade Anderson.

As the popularity of social media continues to rise with no sign of slowing down, the ways it can be used have increased dramatically. It is no longer simply a means to stay connected with friends and families. Now, social media is a news resource, a way of promoting products and services, a fundraising platform, and even a recruitment tool. If you run a nonprofit, you can use social media to attract and engage volunteers.  In fact, every follower is a potential volunteer. Follow these tips to recruit individuals who are as passionate about your cause as you are.

“The reward for pro-bono work is not always just in heaven.” — Paul Rand

Why skills-based volunteering?

Design is a resource that makes products more engaging to interact with and easier to use. In 2018, when most companies must consider their digital presence, the demand for design is only growing. While technology companies may have the resources to hire a team dedicated to design and user experience, there’s still a large segment of organizations that don’t have ready access to design resources.

Guest post by Lisa Joyslin

Many organizations struggle to engage volunteers who reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the communities they serve. In response to this issue, the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Administration (MAVA) recently embarked on a research study which resulted in a set of eight strategies for creating a more inclusive volunteer program within nonprofit and government organizations. These strategies serve as a starting point for volunteer engagement leaders seeking concrete next steps for better engaging volunteers from diverse and immigrant communities.

By Apakshit Sachdeva and Basil Sadiq

Today, nearly 120,000 organizations are looking for volunteers on VolunteerMatch. With more than seven million volunteers registered, the good news there’s plenty of talent to go around.

Before you post a volunteer opportunity, however, it’s important to identify your department or program’s needs. Once you do, it’s time to write your volunteer opportunity, or appeal. Think of this as your organization’s cover letter.

Regardless of the size or type of your nonprofit, volunteers are probably your lifeblood — perhaps even more than your donors.

Volunteerism has long been an integral part of Box’s epic corporate culture. The technology company, based out of Redwood City, CA, wanted the process of finding and signing up for volunteer opportunities to be as easy as possible for their employees.

With VolunteerMatch’s Network Subscription, they were able to consolidate their giving platforms and incorporate thousands of searchable, real-time volunteer opportunities.

Guest post by Kenneth Waldman

Getting your employees to volunteer can be a challenging task. However, it can provide your company and your employees with many benefits that aren’t obvious right away. Employees may see volunteering as something that cuts into their time — either on or off work. In reality, volunteering represents a way of giving back to one’s community while strengthening relationships and building new skills, all of which ultimately improves the workplace and boosts employee engagement and retention.

Imagine this scenario: you write a position description, craft a compelling volunteer opportunity, hit publish, then wait. You either don’t receive many responses or hear back from volunteers that aren’t a great fit. Here’s where things get interesting: you’re not alone! For the third year in-a-row, volunteer managers worldwide still list volunteer recruitment as their #1 challenge.

One of the most common misconceptions about volunteering is that there are not many people willing to give their time and effort to a worthy cause. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), more than 62 million people volunteered in the U.S. in 2016, giving 7.8 billion of their hours to help generate more than $1.8 billion in services.

Editor’s Note: January is National Mentoring Month! To celebrate, we’ve partnered with Cricket Media to share stories about the positive impact mentoring — especially eMentoring — can have on young people’s lives.

Guest post by Jerome Tennille

Conducting operations while not depleting the resources these operations depend on is the pinnacle of any company pursuing sustainability. With countless factors to consider when tackling environmental or economically sustainable initiatives, many companies struggle to find a starting point. Some even quit before they begin.

Guest post by Apakshit Sachdeva

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.”—Erma Bombeck

In today’s world, volunteerism serves as a hope for restoring the virtues of compassion, empathy, and community-building. Since volunteers are such a rare and admirable resource for achieving peace and well-being, it’s imperative that nonprofits know how to utilize their potential to the fullest.

Mother nature just wreaked havoc on your community — now what?

In times of disaster, people are eager to help. They seek ways to feel helpful and resourceful. If it makes sense for your local organization to help communities affected following a natural disaster, here’s a checklist for finding the right volunteers. We can’t emphasize this enough: please use your best discretion to keep you — and those around you — safe from harm.

Abraham Lincoln famously said: “You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time.” As many corporate social responsibility (CSR) professionals will recognize, this rings true when defining your CSR strategy.

Guest Blogger: Kayla Mathews

Many people, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, often don’t have access to professional development resources, the ones that spur careers and help you achieve personal goals. In fact, 36 million Americans lack even basic work skills, making it challenging to find meaningful employment.

Guest post by Olivia Ryan

Whether through a job interview, a business deal, or simply a first interaction, you may have noticed: the first impression always counts. When talking specifically about volunteer interviews, there’s one important trait that will always impress: your motivation.

Team-building is a great reason to volunteer. Employees who volunteer together have the opportunity to form closer bonds. At larger companies, a corporate volunteer event might be an employees’ first interaction with a co-worker from a different team or department.

But that’s only part of the equation.

For more than a decade, leading companies have been investing in making their community engagement programs more strategic. This is why so few have succeeded — until now.

In 2002, a ground-breaking article, The Competitive Advantage of Corporate Philanthropy, appeared in the Harvard Business Review. In it, Michael Porter and Mark Kramer challenged the prevailing argument at the time that philanthropy and business were inherently contradictory. Instead, they made the point, which has shaped a generation of business leaders, that companies can, and should, “…systematically apply their distinctive strengths to maximize the social and economic value created by their philanthropy.”

There are lots of fantastic reasons to volunteer. You can help a person or cause, make a difference in your community, build lifelong friendships, and more.

Did you know, however, that volunteer work can have a significant (and positive!) impact on your career and your future? Whether you’re trying to get into college, attempting to land your first post-college job, or looking to move up in the workplace, here are five reasons volunteering is great for career development.

Companies with engaged employees outperform those without by up to 202%. Surprising?

It’s simple: when your employees aren’t engaged, they aren’t productive, and employee retention drops. Employees may begin to explore outside opportunities if they sense that their current role with your company isn’t — and isn’t about to become — fulfilling.

Guest post by Nicole Boyer

Volunteering is more than spending one’s time actively participating in selfless acts or activities that benefit other people. It has a greater impact on society as a whole. Volunteers are of great help to the community as they immerse themselves in a pool of opportunities. These opportunities are one reason why we need to encourage more students to volunteer.

Guest post by Nicole Boyer

It isn’t always easy to attract volunteers to help with your cause. There are just so many different nonprofits out there nowadays competing for the same pool of people that it can be hard to find new volunteers.

For that reason, you’ve got to think outside-the-box: come up with ways that not everybody is leveraging. Not feeling that creative?

Here are few ideas to help you get started.

Guest post by Jason Miner

With National Volunteer Week approaching, and events in Boston and Texas reminding us of the importance of community, it’s become even clearer that volunteers really are the backbone of nonprofit organizations.

Volunteers help with fundraising, administrative tasks and operations, and they help spread the word about the mission of the organization. And although volunteers tend to perform such duties out of the care and concern they have for the goals set forth by the organization, there are a few key strategies that can be used to make these all-important volunteers feel recognized and appreciated:

Guest Post by Mila Sanchez

It’s easy to think about volunteering in places like hospitals, food banks, schools, and animal humane societies, but some places that are commonly overlooked [and could really use volunteers] are prisons.

You’ve gotten to know Roger well over the past 6 months. Without fail, he’s shown up every week to volunteer his time at your nonprofit organization. And never once has he shown up without a cup of coffee in his hand. You know that his favorite coffee spot is just down the street from your office.

Each year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issues a report on volunteer rates in the United States.

This report tells us a lot. We can learn the total percentage of the population that has volunteered over the past year (from September – September). We can see which age groups and races volunteer the most, and whether men or women are more likely to volunteer. We can see if employment status, education level, marital status and more have an effect on volunteering.

Guest post by Ermina Veljacic

Employee disengagement can prevent your business from reaching success. According to a Gallup survey in 2011, approximately 71 percent of American employees are disengaged at work, and 19 percent are actively disengaged. This lack of employee engagement is alarming, and it negatively impacts your business.

The Gallup report also showed that organizations with high employee engagement have 3.9 times the growth rate for earnings per share than other companies with lower engagement in the same industry. Many in the business world consider employee disengagement one of the top three business threats. The good news? Employee volunteer programs can easily increase employee engagement.

Our country takes great pride in the role volunteering has played in our history. We believe that volunteers are virtuous, kind and essential to the health of our society. It is why the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, for instance, is celebrated as a national Day of Service. We are a country that loves volunteering.

Guest post by Scott Huntington

As a small business, finding ways to give back is important. Volunteering is a way to do something “better” for the community your business is in. It allows your employees to cooperate in a new way and creates a sense of empowerment.

However, creating a volunteer program for your business might not be the easiest task in the world. With thousands of choices available, how do you decide in which direction to proceed?

Dylan volunteering in Boston, Mass.

This post should really be called: “How I learned more about my community and humanity once I stepped outside my college classroom.” You see, going to college in the heart of a city has an abundance of advantages, and many students are quick to take a big gulp of all the opportunities presented by the fast-paced, busy, and unique city landscape.

Updated June 29, 2016

It’s more than just another acronym for you to remember. Volunteer Time Off (VTO) policies are a quickly growing trend among businesses committed to authentic corporate social responsibility.

These companies provide a certain number of hours per year for employees to volunteer in the community – independent from the company-sponsored volunteer days and weeks of service. And just as these group programs show direct benefits for the employee, the company, and the community, businesses who institute VTO policies are finding they make a difference in a number of important ways.

Solutions by VolunteerMatch makes running an employee volunteer program easy. Learn more.

Next week is National Volunteer Week, and we hope you’ll join us and spend some time thinking about the significant role volunteers have played, and are still playing, in our country overall. In the days to come, we’re going to be focusing on volunteer engagement, recognition, inspiration and more. But first, let’s consider just how deeply volunteering is a part of who we are as a nation.

It’s a fact: Filmmakers insert products, messages and themes into their movies that influence the way we think and act. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though.

(VolunteerMatch fighting hunger in style)

Food banks are looking for as many sources of canned goods as they can get in this season of high demand.

As a company, you can help these food banks in their effort to eliminate hunger from our communities. In-office food drives are small campaigns that allow your company to work together as one towards a greater cause.

Whether you are an administrator or an employee, you can fight hunger from your work space. Here are some tips for how you can create a successful food drive for your company.

Guest post by Aileen Pablo

Most parents can’t even get them to tidy up their rooms, so what are your chances of motivating teenagers to leave their computers and work on an “impossible” mission, right?

If that’s how you view today’s youth, I suggest you quit leading them. Your perception of who you are dealing with will shape your behaviour, and treating teenagers of today like they are children is a great recipe for inaction.

Written by guest blogger Chris Bautista

Taking the time to recognize volunteers is important if you want to retain volunteers and recruit new ones. In honor of National Volunteer Week, here are some tips that you can use during and after the time your volunteers serve:

Last month the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship released a joint annual report revealing that “a majority” of Americans are civically active in their communities.

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