How to Find a Volunteer Gig That Makes a Difference
Figuring out the most impactful way to donate your time
If you’ve decided it’s time to start volunteering — or add a new project to your existing community service commitments — you’ve got plenty of company. The Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent foundation of the federal government, reported in its 2017 survey that volunteerism in the United States is on the rise. In the year the report was published, more than 77 million Americans donated some of their time to a cause.
And as those millions of people can attest, satisfying the desire to do good has less altruistic perks as well: Research has found that volunteering can teach you empathy, pull you out of a depressive funk, give you a sense of purpose, and even lower your blood pressure.
But deciding to volunteer is different than actually joining the ranks of those who do. For one thing, it’s not always easy to fit volunteer hours into the confines of a busy schedule, particularly if you work a nine-to-five job. And it’s not unusual to hear of nonprofits in big cities with waiting lists of helpers. Corporate days of service, holidays, and other organized volunteer efforts can also create headaches, with volunteers showing up unprepared or ill-equipped for the work and organizations short on…
