What is Giving Compass?
We connect donors to learning resources and ways to support community-led solutions. Learn more about us.
There are service opportunities for young people in just about every category you could imagine. And thanks to GreatNonprofits, they’re easy to find and sort by your area of interest:
Greatnonprofits lists many programs for children, like the top-rated A Place Called Home Based in Los Angeles, APCH provides arts, education, and wellness programs to children. “They offer volunteers great opportunities and expose them to experiences that help with future career paths,” says Susan, a volunteer.
If an animal shelter or sanctuary is your happy place, you will have no trouble making a difference this summer. Places like The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado rely on kind-hearted volunteers to do everything from cleanup to feeding. This sanctuary provides a life-long home for captive great cats, bears, wolves and other large animals that have been abandoned, exploited and illegally kept.
Are you a traveler at heart? Many top-rated nonprofits are working to help people across the globe, and they would love to have you on board. Compassion Services International provides disaster relief, humanitarian aid and medical missions around the world.
Nature lovers have lots of fresh air options for making a difference. Many communities have arboretums or nature centers that rely on volunteers for their programs and upkeep. The Marine Science Institute conducts education programs on and around the San Francisco Bay and Coast. Their site lists all kinds of volunteer opportunities for people age 12 and up.
Read about more ways to volunteer by Grace Kennedy at Great Nonprofits.