50+ volunteer opportunities for students

Key takeaways

• While volunteering certainly looks good on a college application, it is also a meaningful way to give back to your community.
• With 50+ volunteering ideas based on personality and interests, it’s easy to find a volunteer opportunity that speaks to you.
• Below you’ll find volunteering experiences for the animal lover, creative, organizer, helper, environmental advocate, tech-savvy problem solver, and future educator.

Looking for a way to make an impact in your community? Whether you are in high school or college, volunteering is an amazing thing. While it looks great on any college application or job resume, volunteering gives you experience while giving back to your community and the world. If you’re not sure how you should volunteer, we’ve put together 50+ volunteer opportunities that may be available in your community.

Find your match: 50+ volunteer ideas for every personality type

There’s a volunteering experience for everyone, and everyone has a different way they like to make an impact. Take a look through these 50+ volunteer opportunities and find the one that best aligns with your personality, career path, or causes you care about. Then, go out and use it to make your corner of the world better.

For the animal lover…

1. Help out at your local animal shelter.
2. Walk dogs in your community.
3. Help socialize anxious animals.
4. Organize an adoption event.
5. Volunteer with wildlife rescue organizations.
6. Host a drive where others can donate pet supplies.
7. Help clean parks or trails to protect wildlife.
8. Take photos or write online bios for pets in shelters.
9. Offer to foster a cat or dog.

For the creative…

1. Paint a mural for a school or park.
2. Use your graphic design skills to assist local nonprofits.
3. Organize an art show.
4. Knit blankets or scarves for local homeless shelters.
5. Ask to photograph local events or fundraisers.
6. Create free bookmarks for libraries.
7. Organize an arts and crafts event for young students.
8. Gather supplies to donate to an art class in need.

For the organizer…

1. Build a Little Free Library for your school.
2. Plan a school-wide cleanup day.
3. Plan and organize a donation drive.
4. Ask teachers how you can assist in their classroom.
5. Organize a school event such as a dance or talent show.
6. Become an orientation leader on your campus.
7. Oversee sign-up schedules for community or school events and fundraisers.
8. Help non-profits by organizing files and paperwork.

For the helper…

1. Donate unused clothes or shoes to a homeless shelter.
2. Help out at a food pantry or soup kitchen.
3. Organize books at the library.
4. Give blood (if you’re eligible).
5. Spend time with senior citizens at a nursing home.
6. Ask your elderly neighbors if you can run errands or help with yardwork.
7. Deliver meals to seniors with Meals on Wheels.
8. Donate or help deliver toys to children in need during the holiday season with Toys for Tots.

For the environmental advocate…

1. Start a community garden or plant flowers in a park.
2. Pick up litter around town, on walking trails, or at the park.
3. Design a recycling program for your school.
4. Challenge your school to go plastic-free.
5. Help plant trees.
6. Get involved with environmental organizations.
7. Reduce textile waste by starting a clothing swap among your peers.

For the tech-savvy problem solver…

1. Build or maintain websites for nonprofits in your area.
2. Manage a local charity’s social media presence.
3. Offer to edit photos or videos for a school club, nonprofit, or fundraiser event.
4. Design flyers or graphics for local businesses.
5. Teach seniors how to use technology.
6. Set up technology at school or local city events.
7. Create an online site for local volunteering opportunities.

For the future educator…

1. Volunteer for summer activities, like being a camp counselor.
2. Spend afternoons helping out at the Boys and Girls Club.
3. Offer to tutor peers or elementary students.
4. Read to younger students.
5. Teach a CPR class.
6. Coach Little League teams for your school or community.
7. Help disabled children through organizations, such as The Arc.
8. Offer to teach arts, sports, or STEM at low-income elementary schools.

Why you should consider volunteering

Volunteering can be truly rewarding work, both for yourself and the community. Consider what you enjoy or what you’re good at, and explore the different types of volunteer work in that area. If you’re not sure where you could help out the most, contact your guidance counselor, local high school or college clubs, or City Hall to ask about volunteering opportunities in your area. Write down one idea that tugged at your heart. That’s your starting point. Remember, there will always be those around the world who need help, and that includes your community!

Just like finding the right volunteer opportunity matters, so does finding the right college. Use College Raptor’s College Match tool to find schools that fit you.