Top 10 Considerations for Group Volunteering

1. How many people are in your group?
   The larger the group, the more difficult it will be to find opportunities. Consider splitting into smaller groups, offering shifts or serving a couple of different agencies.
2. When are you available to volunteer?
   Projects during the evening and sometimes even weekends can be more challenging to find as most nonprofits operate during traditional business hours.
3. Consider the time of year
   If you want to work outdoors, think about what time it gets dark and the weather conditions. School holidays may also have an impact on participation or project availability.
4. How long do you want to volunteer for?
   In our experience, 3-4 hours is the ideal length of time for group projects, particularly if the work is hard manual labor – remember, you can always go back again.
5. What ages are your group members?
   People are often more willing to participate if they can bring family members. If children are going to be included, select your project appropriately and be sure to let the agency know kids are coming.
6. What do you want to do?
   There are many choices available to you. Think about the skills and interests of your group.
7. Am I meeting a real community need?
   While certain types of project may be very appealing to your group, consider whether there are more pressing needs that your group could help with.
8. Do I have a budget to help with supplies?
   If the project requires supplies, this can be very costly for the nonprofit, particularly when large groups are involved.
9. Create a Team
   We have a great team management feature that allows you to invite people to join your team, sign team members up for projects, communicate with your team, and more.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask
    If you don’t see anything suitable for your group, that doesn’t mean that the opportunity doesn’t exist. If you see a nonprofit that you are interested in helping, contact the Volunteer Coordinator and ask!