How to Research Volunteer Work

Volunteering to help pets or people can benefit everyone.

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, especially if you have some spare time. Many charities and nonprofit agencies are happy to have interested volunteers join them and participate in their cause. Volunteering can help individuals feel useful and provide them with a feeling of well being as they help others. Learning about an agency and how it works is also excellent experience that volunteers can transfer into a career later on in life.

Instructions

1. List out any special skills or training that you have to offer others. Consider areas of interest and what topics you would like to learn more about. Think about what types of populations, animals, situations or causes would make you uncomfortable and you would like to avoid.

2. Secure transportation and establish which geographical area you will be able to volunteer in. Make sure you have an adequate amount of available time to commit to an agency or organization.

3. Use the volunteer matching tools available online to research the types of opportunities available (see Resources). Seek out the agencies that meet the criteria you have previously considered. Write down the direct contact information of at least three agencies you would like to know more about.

4. Call or contact the organizations you are interested in. Ask them about any specific requirements they may have, such as background checks, heavy lifting or necessary vaccines.

5. Request a tour or time to visit with the agency that best meets your criteria. Explain that you would like to volunteer for the organization in the future but would still like to learn more about the duties and organization in general. Most agencies interested in volunteers will gladly give you a tour because they too want to be sure of a good fit and do not want to waste time training someone who will not show up.

Tips & Warnings

• Check church bulletin boards or community kiosks for small or temporary volunteer opportunities that may not show up on the larger websites.

• Many local newspapers list available volunteer positions in the community section.

References

• Helpguide: Volunteering and Its Surprising Benefits

Resources

• Helpguide: Volunteering and Its Surprising Benefits
• Volunteer Match: Find a Place to Volunteer