20 websites for finding volunteer opportunities in 2026

The internet makes it genuinely easy to find volunteer work that fits your life, whether that’s helping at a local animal shelter or joining a project on the other side of the world. The sites below cover a wide range of causes, locations, and commitment levels, with something for students, retirees, families, professionals, and everyone in between. The list leans US-heavy because that’s where the largest platforms are headquartered, but we’ve added a regional supplement at the end with major options for the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.

How to find volunteer opportunities online

Before you start submitting applications, read through opportunity descriptions carefully. It’s tempting to apply the moment something catches your eye, but understanding what an organisation is actually looking for will save you time and help you focus on roles that fit your schedule and interests.

When you’re ready to apply, treat it like a conversation rather than a formal submission. Organisations want to get a sense of who you are. Share honest thoughts and real experiences. They’re looking for people who genuinely care about their cause.

20 websites for finding volunteer opportunities

1. Point

The Point App offers volunteer opportunities across a wide range of interests and causes, from environmental conservation and education to homelessness and healthcare. Point partners with reputable nonprofits and social impact initiatives, so you can trust the listings are legitimate. Coverage is across the US.

2. DoSomething

DoSomething.org focuses on engaging young people and helping them take action on causes they care about. It covers social issues including environmental sustainability, social justice, mental health, and education. The campaigns use creative approaches that make volunteering feel accessible and genuinely engaging for younger people.

3. VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch merged with Idealist in early 2025 and the two platforms are now unified under the Idealist brand (see #12 below). The volunteermatch.org URL still works as an entry point and the underlying database remains one of the largest sources of volunteer opportunities anywhere. Nonprofits, schools, NGOs, government organisations, and other tax-exempt groups can all list roles. If you only know one of the two brand names, you’ll get to the same place either way.

4. JustServe

JustServe helps people find volunteer opportunities close to where they live. You can search by project or organisation to find something specific. The site also features past success stories, giving volunteers and organisations a sense of the real impact previous work has had.

5. Doit.life

Doit.life, formerly Do-it.org, is the UK’s biggest volunteering database, with more than 850,000 people having volunteered through it. You can browse by cause, location, skill, or time commitment, and listings range from local one-off events to ongoing roles with national charities. If you’re based in the UK, this is the most comprehensive starting point.

6. International Volunteer HQ

International Volunteer HQ connects people with opportunities abroad across 40 countries. Project areas include sea turtle and marine conservation, teaching, arts and music, sports, and women’s empowerment, with destinations spanning Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific.

7. Points of Light Engage (formerly All for Good)

Points of Light Engage is the volunteer opportunity database run by Points of Light. It absorbed and replaced the older All for Good platform, although the allforgood.org URL still redirects to it. Beyond searching for causes or registering an organisation, you can use it to start a new project: add your location and idea, set goals and dates, and find collaborators or invite friends and neighbours to get involved.

8. Catchafire

Catchafire matches professional skills with nonprofits that need them. Accounting, branding, engineering, web design, marketing, writing, and social media are all in demand. The majority of opportunities are remote, making it easier for busy professionals to donate their time on a flexible schedule.

9. GozAround

GozAround lets volunteers set up a profile that reflects their skills, interests, schedule, and location. The platform adds a light gamification element, letting you set hour goals and track your progress. It’s headquartered in Canada and active in 400+ cities worldwide. It also encourages sharing volunteer experiences, helping organisations and volunteers create more visibility for the causes they care about.

10. Volunteer.gov

Volunteer.gov is a great fit for people in the US who are passionate about nature, conservation, and animal protection. You can search for opportunities by state, project, or date, and no specific experience is required. From campground hosting to therapeutic gardens to Spanish interpretation for park rangers, there are many ways to get outside and do some good.

11. Taproot Foundation

Taproot Foundation focuses on matching skilled professionals with organisations that need specific help. Social media strategy, employee handbook development, business planning, and technology assessments are commonly requested. Taproot offers resources to help you find the right role and contribute in a way that makes a real difference.

12. Idealist

Idealist absorbed VolunteerMatch in early 2025 (see #3 above), and the unified platform is now one of the largest places anywhere to find volunteer roles, internships, and nonprofit jobs. Across their combined history, the two organisations have connected more than 250,000 organisations with over 40 million people. You can search by role type and location, or browse organisations directly to find a local nonprofit that might need support even without a listed opening.

13. Create the Good by AARP

Many people know AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. Fewer people know it runs a volunteer opportunity database called Create the Good, with a network of more than 200,000 people. It connects charities with volunteers through a simple search based on your interests and skills.

14. Doing Good Together

Doing Good Together is built around family volunteering, bringing parents and children together in service to their communities. It currently provides free listings in Baltimore, Boston, Miami, New York, Oakland, San Diego, St. Louis, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and the Twin Cities.

15. United Way

United Way has been driving positive community change for more than 125 years. Their volunteer search tool lets you browse opportunities by keyword and location, then filter by skill, category, and activity type to find something that suits you.

16. Global Volunteers

Global Volunteers offers one-to-three week programmes for students, families, individuals, professionals, and retirees. Projects include teaching English, supporting women’s craft cooperatives, improving computer literacy, and nutrition education, with destinations ranging from Cuba to China.

17. GivePulse

GivePulse helps both volunteers and organisations find what they’re looking for. Organisations can list volunteer calls with location, dates, and role details. Volunteers can track their hours on the platform, which organisations can then verify, and teams can collaborate with friends and family to make a bigger collective impact.

18. Jumpstart

Jumpstart is an education-focused nonprofit that connects college students and community volunteers with children who need literacy support. Volunteers read to students, teach reading skills, and help spark a genuine interest in books. Those who join the corps gain training and practical experience, especially useful for anyone considering a career in education.

19. Globe Aware

Globe Aware helps travellers make a meaningful contribution in destinations like Thailand, Costa Rica, and Peru. They offer programmes tailored for families, retirees, solo travellers, and university groups, combining enriching travel with purposeful volunteer work.

20. AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is known for long-term service commitments, but there are also daily, weekly, and monthly opportunities available locally. Their Serve page lets organisations post volunteer calls and lets individuals search for nearby events and organisations. Building houses, supporting youth literacy, and distributing meals are among the many ways to get involved.

Volunteer platforms outside the US

If you’re based outside the US, the platforms above will sometimes work but often won’t have much local coverage. The options below are more useful starting points by country.

United Kingdom

Doit.life is the largest UK volunteering database (also listed at #5 above). For skills-based and trustee opportunities, Reach Volunteering connects professionals with charities that need expertise in marketing, finance, governance, technology, and similar areas. Volunteering Matters runs national programmes for individuals and corporate volunteers across community, health, and youth projects. NCVO maintains a Volunteer Centre Finder that helps you locate the local volunteer centre nearest you.

Australia

GoVolunteer is the national database run by Volunteering Australia, listing opportunities by location, cause, and skill. Seek Volunteer offers another searchable database with similar coverage. Most Australian state and territory volunteering peak bodies (Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering Queensland, and so on) also maintain their own opportunity listings.

Canada

CharityVillage is a long-running Canadian platform with volunteer roles alongside paid nonprofit jobs. Volunteer Connector brings together listings from local volunteer centres across the country, and Volunteer Canada is the national umbrella organisation with regional links and resources.

Ireland

Volunteer Ireland runs the I-VOL database, the national volunteering register for Ireland, with opportunities across the country and a network of local volunteer centres in each county.

New Zealand

Volunteering New Zealand is the national peak body, and the Seek Volunteer platform also covers Aotearoa New Zealand alongside Australia. Most regional Volunteer Centres maintain their own local listings as well.

Finding the right volunteer opportunity for you

The best volunteer opportunity is one that fits your schedule, plays to your strengths, and connects you with a cause you actually care about. Start by browsing a few of these sites with those filters in mind. And don’t be afraid to reach out to organisations directly if something looks like a good match but doesn’t quite fit the listed role.

If you’re a volunteer manager looking to upgrade your programme, take a look at our list of volunteer management software, or head straight to our volunteer management app.