How to Volunteer for Charity Work: Servant Leadership in the Community

Covered Topics

How to Volunteer For Charity Work

Assess Your Priorities.

Decide Where Your Skill is Needed Most.

Decide on Your Commitment Level.

Assess Volunteer Related Expenses.

Will you give of your time or your money?

Community Service Ideas

Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities

Get out there and volunteer for charity!

Ryan Davis

In a world where kindness and compassion seem to be lacking, volunteering for charity is a great way to spread some hope. Whether it’s coaching youth sports, organizing a church event, or aiding in disaster relief efforts, the act of giving back enriches not only the lives of those being helped but also the hearts of those doing the helping. At the core of this noble endeavor lies the principle of servant leadership – a philosophy that emphasizes serving others as a core tenant of a good leader. In this article, we’ll explore how you can uplift those around you and serve your community with some tips on how to volunteer well and a few community service ideas!

How to Volunteer For Charity Work

When it comes to volunteering, there’s a wide world of options out there. When you first start looking, it can be overwhelming to choose a route. Here are a few tips and aspects to ponder before you jump into a new obligation.

Assess Your Priorities.

If you want to volunteer, you first need to assess your why. Do you want to gain job experience or make your resume look better? Maybe you just want to give back to your community or meet new people. Perhaps, you’re doing it to help others in need or as an act of Christian charity. Knowing your motives will help you figure out the right volunteer spot for you.

Decide Where Your Skill is Needed Most.

Decide what kind of volunteering you’d like to do by assessing your personality and valuable skills. Do you prefer working with people or behind the scenes? Would you rather use the skills you already have or learn new ones? Consider if you want to focus on local issues in your community or on global issues that affect people everywhere. Think about what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing.

Decide on Your Commitment Level.

Decide how much time and energy you can give to volunteering. Can you offer once a week, month, or year? Start small and see how much you can handle. You can eventually choose to commit more time if it goes well. Decide if you want to volunteer regularly with the same company or participate in one-time events.

Assess Volunteer Related Expenses.

When you volunteer you might incur expenses along the way. You need to consider this and how it will affect your budget. These could include transportation costs, purchasing supplies or materials, or expenses for volunteer training. While these costs can add up, the good news is that some of them may be eligible for tax deductions.

While some volunteer work is a great tax write-off, not all volunteer-related expenses are deductible. The expenses must be directly related to your volunteer work for a qualified organization, and you must be able to itemize your deductions on your tax return. Additionally, you cannot deduct the value of your time spent volunteering; only out-of-pocket expenses that you incur as a result of your volunteer work are eligible.

Will you give of your time or your money?

Many people want to give to the needy, but they don’t have a lot of time between work and family responsibilities. You can always help out by donating money to a trusted charity. Check with your employer too because many big corporations will match donations, so your gift gets doubled!

Also, any money you donate to a 501-C3 charitable organization is a tax benefit for you. Give to whoever you want, but know that not all good causes are treated equally when it comes to taxes. If you have a well-respected local charity, go with that, but before you give to any large charity, check out their ethical situation by doing some research on Give Well.

Community Service Ideas

Now that you’ve got the gist of getting started. Here are a few great options that are available in most communities.

Spread the word: Nonprofits often struggle to get attention and support. I once did a series of lectures on a Nepali mission I had visited with local churches to raise money for them. This opportunity involved speaking in front of crowds, so if you don’t like that, you might consider using your social media voice instead!
Clean up your neighborhood: Get your friends together and tidy up your city. You could even commit to keeping it clean regularly.
Organize a recycling event: Get people in your area to recycle more by organizing a collection drive. You can teach them what can and can’t be recycled and gather up items to take to the recycling center.
Start a community garden: These are becoming more popular and are great for bringing people together. You can all pitch into plant, look after, and enjoy the produce from a shared garden space.
Adopt a stretch of road: Businesses and community groups can take care of a section of highway through Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation.
Volunteer at Animal Shelters: Local animal shelters are always in need of dedicated volunteers to help care for animals awaiting adoption. Tasks may include feeding, grooming, exercising, and socializing animals to improve their chances of finding forever homes. Additionally, volunteers can assist with administrative tasks, fundraising events, and outreach efforts to promote adoption.
Support Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers: Wildlife rehabilitation centers play a vital role in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured or orphaned wildlife back into their natural habitats. Volunteers can assist with feeding, cleaning enclosures, providing enrichment activities, and assisting with medical treatments under the supervision of trained professionals.
Adopt an exotic animal. You can also help endangered animals by symbolically adopting one through the World Wildlife Fund. Your donation will go towards feeding, caring for, and protecting endangered species.
Organizing a pet food drive: Pet food prices are high right now. Talk to a shelter to find out what they need, then gather donations and help stock their pantry.
Foster Animals in Need: Fostering animals provides a temporary home for pets who may not thrive in a shelter environment. By opening your heart and home to a foster animal, you provide them with love, care, and socialization, ultimately preparing them for adoption.
Organize an outreach to an underserved community: Plan a fun day for kids in underserved areas. You could focus on sports, reading, or introduction to careers.
Do a public health seminar at a local school: Team up with the school nurse to hold health seminars for students.
Produce a pamphlet for public awareness: Create a pamphlet or social media page with community leaders to raise awareness about health and safety issues in your area.
Host a blood drive with the American Red Cross: You provide the location and volunteers, and they handle the rest!
Manage social media for a nonprofit: Many organizations need help with their online presence, and your skills could really boost their visibility.
Teach computer skills to seniors: Many older adults want to learn more about technology, and your knowledge could make a big impact on their lives.
Help with website maintenance: Small organizations often need assistance with keeping their website current, and your expertise could be a huge help.
Paint windows for nonprofits or local businesses: Volunteer to paint festive scenes for places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. This is a fun seasonal volunteer opportunity around the holidays!
Design holiday decorations for your town: Use your skills to decorate parks, roundabouts, and squares during the holiday season.
Create a mural for your city center: Work with city leaders to add art to public spaces and make your community more beautiful.
Help build sets for a community theater: If your city or community college has a theater group, offer your skills to design and make sets for their productions.
Arrange flowers for a nursing home: Bring some life and color to a local nursing home by creating beautiful flower arrangements.
Volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters: You can become a mentor and make a positive impact on a child’s life.
Coach a youth sports team: Spending time with youth is the definition of positive impact volunteering! Teaching kids discipline, teamwork, and the value of a good work ethic provides the next generation with skills to succeed.
Join Translators Without Borders: Use your language skills to help translate important materials for communities around the world.
Community Events Volunteer: Work the booth at your local fairgrounds for a good cause or work the concession stand at a school function.
Assist the Smithsonian Institute by archiving documents: They have a lot of documents and photos that need to be organized online, and you can help with that.
Assist with voter registration: Hosting a voter registration clinic can simplify the process, making it easier for more people to participate in civic duties.
Help coach athletes at the Special Olympics: Have a positive impact volunteering with the rewarding opportunity to support athletes with disabilities in adapted sports.
Join a marathon or other fundraising event: You don’t have to be a super runner—there are all sorts of races and challenges you can take part in to support charities.
Plan a youth sports day for your community: Gather sponsors to cover the cost so the kids get to participate for free!
Participate in a charity challenge: Have fun doing things like a slip ‘n’ slide competition or a polar plunge. It’s a fun way to raise money for a good cause.
Take care of a hiking trail nearby: Keep it clean and safe for people to enjoy while you’re out running or walking.
Help out in your library: Organize books, help with returns, or read to kiddos!
Participate in a Park Cleanup: Dedicate time to cleaning up a local park or natural area. Bring gloves, trash bags, and enthusiasm to pick up litter, clear debris, and help maintain the beauty of the environment.
Serve Meals at a Local Soup Kitchen: Spend a few hours as a family serving meals to those in need at a nearby soup kitchen or homeless shelter. It’s a hands-on way to make a direct impact on the lives of others.
Visit a Nursing Home: Brighten the day of elderly residents at a nearby nursing home by visiting as a family. Spend time chatting, playing games, or reading to the residents. Your presence and companionship can make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Organize a Food Drive in Your Neighborhood: Work together to collect non-perishable food items from neighbors and friends. Once you’ve gathered a good amount, donate the food to a local food bank or pantry to help support individuals and families facing food insecurity.
Create Care Packages for the Homeless: Provide support for the immediate needs of those less fortunate. Assemble care packages containing essentials like toiletries, socks, snacks, and water bottles. Then, distribute the care packages to individuals experiencing homelessness in your community.
Help with building homes: By joining organizations like Habitat for Humanity, you can help build and improve homes for those in need.
Knit warm scarves for people at the homeless shelter: You can also make hats and gloves to keep them cozy in winter.
Teach a skill at the community center: Share your knowledge with younger people. Teach a job skill or a life skill.
Make quilts for kids at the local children’s hospital: Each child gets their own special blanket, and your quilts can make a big difference.
Volunteer at your church’s children’s program: Help out with activities like summer camps or Sunday school classes.
Write letters to local heroes: Write to healthcare workers, firefighters, and police officers. They’ll appreciate the encouragement and gratitude.
Help a younger student with their schoolwork: Tutoring can boost your confidence and skills. Lots of students struggle with writing, so a great way to help is to organize a writing academy to help.
Make your high school look nicer: Work with your school’s leaders to plant flowers, clean sidewalks, or paint classrooms.
Offer to babysit for families who might need extra help: It’s a great way to bond with younger kids and support single parents.
Gather school supplies for a nearby elementary school: They always need things like crayons, glue, and pencils, so start collecting!
Assist an older neighbor with tasks like raking leaves or weeding: They’ll appreciate the help, and you might even get some tasty treats as a thank you!
Gather and donate toys for kids in need: You can buy new toys or give away ones you don’t use anymore.
Put together care packages for people in the hospital: Brighten up their day with goodies and spend time chatting with them.
Referee: If you’re a sports nut, but you don’t have time to coach, consider becoming a referee for weekend peewee games.
Become a pen pal with an elderly person: Send them letters or drawings to keep them company.
Take a volunteer trip: Volunteer trips are very popular for teens and young adults, and you can serve communities in need all over the world by digging wells, teaching English, working on eco-farms, or helping with building projects. This is also one of the best volunteer ideas for families to do together.
Volunteering for a disaster relief charity: Serve a community affected by disasters like tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. You might assist with tasks like distributing food and supplies, providing shelter, or helping with cleanup efforts. Crisis Response International is a great example of this kind of volunteering. These programs generally require training.

Pro Tip: While volunteering isn’t about personal satisfaction, not every opportunity will be for you. If working with a new charity, don’t commit to more than one visit at first and have an exit strategy. Know that many first-timers are left feeling burdened or frustrated after. Working with the homeless or disaster relief can elicit a strong emotional response, so take some time to process and look after your own mental health.

Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities

I hope you found something that intrigued you on the list above, but if not, don’t worry. The options are seriously limitless. For more volunteer opportunities, check out your local Chamber of Commerce website. Keep tabs on your city’s website. Pay attention at work or at church, as these organizations work with local charities often. When all else fails, there are always social media platforms and Google searches, which can both help you find groups that fit your interests and skills.

Get out there and volunteer for charity!

If you’ve been lacking purpose lately or feeling frustrated about the state of our society, find a charity that speaks to your heart and volunteer your time. We all have special skills and unique knowledge that can help someone else. Put yours to use. If you found something on this list that looks appealing to you, I strongly encourage you to jump on it today. Don’t wait. Make the call, and get started on your volunteer journey. You won’t regret it!

How to Volunteer Locally: Ideas for Every Kind of Volunteer

Have you ever wanted to do something for the greater good, but aren’t sure how to volunteer for charity work? Here are a few ideas to help you get started volunteering in your community!

Community service is an important piece of being a well-rounded and productive citizen. From keeping public spaces clean to encouraging and teaching the next generation, we all have a role to play in making our communities healthy, happy, and functional. Unfortunately, our generation is not doing a great job at getting out there and getting the job done. As we work for demanding corporations, try not to drown in the inflation waves, and struggle to raise kids who aren’t deviants, finding time to serve the community can feel like a stretch.

However, I’ve found that instead of adding another task or stress to my life, my days volunteering are a stress reliever. They’re a time to socialize with like-minded individuals, give back to those who have gone before me, and help create a community that we all actually want to live in.

If you’re looking for easy ways to get involved with your community, read Ryan’s entire article full of tips and tricks to help you get started on BeFunBeKind.com!

About Author

Ryan Davis

Ryan is a professional travel and relationship writer, originally out of Arkansas. Educated as a health and physical education teacher, he sold all his possessions, uprooted, and went on sabbatical in 2020 to go exploring! He's spent the last four years traveling the world, living and working in more than forty countries. At his side, is his wife of 19 years and fellow travel writer, Abby. Aside from being a sports fanatic and Jesus lover, he's uncle extraordinaire to 14 of the greatest creations on Earth. His passion is sharing cultural finds and encouraging men to experience a more fulfilling life by loving, serving, and understanding their partners better. Ryan is often published on Adventures From Scratch where he shares his relationship advice and family adventure tips, and on Let's Roam, where he details his travel experiences. You can find more from Ryan on he and his wife's YouTube Channel- LostAmongLocals.