Everyone knows

In the past it was churches, hospitals, and other public institutions that were the common places to go when the urge  to volunteer struck. Today, internet has changed all that. It's now remarkably easy to find volunteer opportunities for very small groups, and in very unlikely places. A simple search can unveil places that are tailor made for an individual's specific interests and skills. Whether that's teaching math to kids in Madagascar or collecting litter while trekking the Appalachian Trail, there are limitless ways to match up your passions with your desire to do some good in the world.

Read the full GOOD Guide to Volunteering here.

In the last few years

Architecture for Humanity is a small non-profit organization with a big mission and an even bigger impact all around the world. Founded in 1999, they aim is to bring affordable, professional design and construction services to communities stricken by natural disasters, poverty, and the aftermath of civil conflict. With projects in dozen of countries, Architecture for Humanity improves thousands of lives each year through building and design.

We asked Kate Stohr, the co-founder and managing director of AfH, a few questions about what it's like to volunteer for the organization:

GOOD: Can you describe the kinds of work a volunteer might do? Do people really have a chance to get their hands dirty and build things?

Kate Stohr: Construction starts six months to a year after a disaster. So, volunteers may be interested in giving back in the first few weeks, but often there is not much opportunity for them to be useful. Once the first construction season starts, then volunteers can assist. Often, they do need to live and work in the area where they are building to be effective. Remote design services can be ineffective because what is needed most is project management and construction oversight most of the time. Architects are not necessarily general contractors, but they certainly work on live projects that get built. We’ve built temporary clinics, schools, and designed housing in Haiti. We have six more schools going out to bid this week

GOOD: When going into a community that has a lot of rebuilding ahead of them, whether there's been a natural disaster or civil unrest, what would you say are the most important qualities a volunteer can bring with them to the situation?

Stohr: First, most of our volunteers volunteer with local chapters throughout the year. Professionals may also apply for a design fellowship. They give six months to a year of their time and are in a community providing design services, project management, and construction oversight. They typically see a project through from inception through completion.

Volunteers are matched on the skills sets they bring to the work. Primarily we look for local volunteers. If that’s not possible, a volunteer who speaks the language of the area will be given preference. Finally we may need a specific professional skill set, such as experience in education, structural engineering, or surveying. It can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. We keep all the volunteer profiles on file. It’s not uncommon to call someone two or more years after they have first offered to volunteer.

GOOD: What do volunteers learn when working with AFH that they might take and apply to life after their experience?

Stohr: Most say it’s an incredible experience. They learn different professional perspectives; they learn how to engage in construction in a much more hands-on way. They're often training other builders in safe design and construction. They learn to manage a project from start to completion—taking on the role of a community developer. And there is the satisfaction of truly creating change, a sense of place and improving lives. They learn the strategies and tools for engaging a broader audience in a discussion around place and helping to visualize a community’s aspirations. For those who have never had to manage a construction budget before, that alone can be a great experience. Above all volunteers—especially design fellows—learn to become leaders in the profession. To see a project in all its phases and be responsible for carrying it through, which often does not happen in mainstream architecture where projects are more often managed by teams.

Other possibilities for do-it-yourselfers:

• Habitat for Humanity helps to build shelters for homeless and low-income families in need of a home.
• Engineers Without Borders works to design and build solutions to address issues in the developing world such as clean water, power and sanitation.
• Edge of Seven works to support girls in developing countries through education, health and projects that create economic opportunities.
• Public Architecture 1% Program, a program of San Francisco-based Public Architecture, supports non-profit organizations in need of pro boon architecture and design services.Design Design Ignites Change is a mentoring program that provides support to design and architecture students who wish to apply their work to developing solutions to social change.

Everyone knows

One organization that has become famous for its environmental mission is the Surfrider Foundation. Founded by a group of die-hard surfers who understood that the joy of their sport depends on the health of the ocean, Surfrider has come to be one of the greatest advocates for clean oceans and beaches. Around the world, Surfrider leads beach cleanups, ocean monitoring programs, and training in how to design landscapes that prevent toxic run-off. The outcome, of course, is the preservation of excellent waves for riding.

We spoke with Matt McClain, Surfrider Foundation's director of marketing and communications:

GOOD: When someone comes to volunteer for Surfrider, what would you say are the most important qualities they can bring with them?

Matt McClain: Barely a day goes by where I’m not blown away by both the enthusiasm and imagination that our volunteers demonstrate through their efforts. Just showing up to volunteer is often a Herculean effort. Keep in mind that everything our activists do is done on their own time—in between school, or work, or parenting. Whereas most people use what few hours of free time they can find out of their week to flop out and relax, our activists are out there donating their time to help protect and preserve our beaches and coastlines—and do so with zeal and enthusiasm.

As well, the creativity and imagination with which they approach this work is simply stunning. From organizing themed beach clean-ups and fundraisers, to local messaging, to producing highly sophisticated movies (like our activist produced Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water movie, which played at Sundance this year), our volunteers are constantly coming up with new ways to keep activism fun, engaging and impactful.

GOOD: Can you describe the kinds of work a volunteer might do for you?

McClain: As a grassroots organization, 95 percent of the work we do is done by volunteers. That work really runs the gamut; from “roll-up your sleeves” logistical work, to “get your hands dirty” field work, to highly involved campaign work that can span months, even years.

While it might not be the most glamorous job, mailings and phone trees are a big part of what we do. Beach clean-ups have been one of our most visible and popular volunteer efforts for many years now. Campaign work is usually carried out by our most committed activists. A lot of it involves time-intensive activities such as research, conducting outreach, attending hearings, and providing public comment. 

One area that is rapidly growing is online activism.  A lot of people are using online tools and social media to work their networks to sign petitions, conduct outreach or fundraise. The important thing to understand is that every action, from a simple Twitter posting to sitting through a 13-hour coastal committee hearing, plays a big part in making the Surfrider Foundation as powerful as we are.

GOOD: What do volunteers learn when working with Surfrider that they might take and apply to life after their experience? (Do they ever learn to surf?)

McClain: Interestingly, quite a few activists have been able to use their volunteerism as a launch pad to full time environmental work. At least half of our full-time staff were interns or volunteers before they got hired. We’ve also had several activists down in the Florida region go on to work for other NGO’s. I think that is tremendously telling that other NGO’s regard our activists highly enough to hire them.

Other possibilities for environmentalists:

• Protect Our Winters is founded by—and geared—toward winter sports enthusiasts and athletes, focusing on efforts to reduce the effects of climate change that are leading to changing winter conditions.
• The Access Fund  is a conservation organization oriented toward rock and mountain climbers. It supports the protection of remote climbing areas, including land stewardship and education.
• The International Mountain Bike Association works to preserve and improve wilderness trails where mountain bikers enjoy recreation. [UPDATE: URL fixed]
• American Whitewater is a conservation organization focused on protecting rivers throughout the United States where whitewater rafters, paddlers, and others go to enjoy the outdoors.

The way a kid

One organization that has become a beacon for literacy and creativity around the US is 826 Valencia. Founded in San Francisco by the celebrated author Dave Eggers, the organization now has outposts around the country, where it hosts tutoring in writing skills, covering everything from SAT preparation to poetry. To keep the place suitably San Franciscan, 826 Valencia also maintains a pirate store, where people can buy supplies for the pirate lifestyle, as well as many of the zines and chapbooks created by the students. Other branches of 826 double as superhero stores, time travel stores, and so forth.

We talked to Volunteer and Events Coordinator Margaret McCarthy about being a writing volunteer at 826 Valencia:

GOOD: When someone comes to volunteer for 826, what would you say are the most important qualities they can bring with them?

Margaret McCarthy: Our volunteers come to us from an extraordinary range of backgrounds: Since our opening in 2002, we've had help from over 1,700 volunteers, including published authors, teachers, filmmakers, musicians, lawyers, students, and people who happen to have some time on their hands. Quite frankly, the most important quality a volunteer can bring with them is a willingness to work with students, and to be a patient, caring, optimistic adult who's interested in their development. 

GOOD: Can you describe the kinds of work a volunteer might do for you? 

McCarthy: Our volunteers have taught workshops on everything from autobiographical graphic novels to radio podcasting to writing for your pet. We send hundreds of volunteers into public schools all over San Francisco to support teachers with writing projects, we host classes of students at our center four days a week for collaborative writing projects, and we offer free homework tutoring five days a week. There's a lot for volunteers to do!

GOOD: What do volunteers learn when working with 826 that they might take and apply to life after their experience?

McCarthy: The experience of working one-on-one with a student to help them find their voice and improve their writing can be nothing short of life-changing. We've had writers say this has inspired them in their own work, we've had volunteers go on to become full-time teachers, and even start their own nonprofit writing centers. Even if you're not a writer, rediscovering the joy and confusion and excitement of learning something new is an almost indescribable thing to do with your free time.

Other possibilities for mentors:

• National Mentor Partnership is a national organization that facilitates mentor relationship for children between the ages of 6 and 18.
• Summer Search supports low-income high school age students to excel academically and develop leadership skills through year-round mentoring, summer programs and college advising service. 
• Boys and Girls Club  is one of the country's largest youth mentorship and support organizations, providing facilities and programs to help kids succeed in school and in life.
• TutorMatch is an online service that connects adults looking to tutor with youth who are in need of extra educational guidance. Tutoring takes place online, which can be particularly helpful to youth in rural areas and home school students.
• College Summit helps low-income teens graduating from high school to increase their chances of college admission by helping with the skills required to write a strong college application.

Urban living

To make urban living even better, many grassroots organizations and motivated citizens have been working to improve city transportation, encourage cycling, plant more trees, and generally make the bustling metropolis into an idyllic destination. One such organization is the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, a small but powerful group that advocates for sustainable housing and development, better regional planning, economic improvements, environmental regulation and other issues that can make San Francisco a better place to live.

We talked to Sarah Karlinsky, the deputy director of SPUR:

GOOD: When someone comes to volunteer for SPUR, what would you say are the most important qualities they can bring with them?

Sarah Karlinsky: The most important qualities people can bring with them are: intellectual curiosity; a passion for cities and urban environments; the ability to communicate well, both in writing and in person; and a good sense of humor

GOOD: Can you describe the kinds of work a volunteer might do for you?

Karlinsky: SPUR is a very flat organization. As the Deputy Director, I am responsible for doing everything from drafting policy reports and meeting with city officials to ordering lunches for meetings. Volunteers at SPUR do the range of things that staff do, including everything from helping to arrange chairs for meetings, to planning major events, to contributing ideas in meetings, to recruiting new SPUR members, to helping to write content for the website and our monthly publication, the Urbanist.

GOOD: What do volunteers learn when working with SPUR that they might take and apply to life after their experience?

Karlinsky: I think that SPUR volunteers come away with a much greater understanding of how cities work, particularly the great city of San Francisco. Every day we have meetings and events with some of the top thinkers in urbanism and being part of that conversation is an amazing benefit of being involved with SPUR.

Other possibilities for City Dwellers:

• Smart Growth America works to promote sustainable local business and employment by supporting and creation of self-sufficient urban communities.
• Reconnecting America works on improving urban transportation systems and advocates for transit-oriented development.
• Transportation for America is a coalition of businesses and public health and environmental organizations working together to make transportation policy more conducive to economic opportunity, healthy communities, and a clean environment.
• The Center for Neighborhood Technology advocates for sustainable urban development at a community level, carrying out research and action to support sensible environmental, economic and development goals.
• America 2050  focuses on the idea that by 2050, there will be another 130 million people among the American population. With this in mind, the organization looks at planning and policy for the eventuality of metropolitan "megaregions" that connect multiple cities.