Volunteering is a powerful way to give back, and sometimes, the simplest acts—like mowing a neighbor’s lawn—can make a big impact. This week, we highlight one example and share tips on how you can find meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Acts of Kindness: Finding Creative Ways to Help People

Creative acts of kindness will not only warm your heart but bring a smile to your face. In the case of a New Jersey-based charity, the kind act involves mowing your neighbor’s lawn. According to their website, I Want to Mow Your Lawn, Inc. began in 2020 at the height of COVID. Through the use of volunteers, it provides lawn care services, yardwork, leaf cleanup, and snow removal for the elderly, veterans, people with disabilities, and others who are unable to care for their own properties. The site says they strive to “preserve the dignity and independence” of these individuals in need while also building community. They report to use a diverse group of volunteers such as college students, individuals between jobs, recent retirees, landscape contractors, and donating companies. In view of this, it’s no surprise that this “grassroots” movement has received lots of attention. The organization states that Brian Schwartz, the founder, has received media coverage that has ranged from The Drew Barrymore Show and USA Today to CBS, Fox, and ABC TV stations across the country. I Want to Mow Your Lawn is a relatively small charity, the IRS website shows they filed an IRS Form 990-N for 2023 which reflects gross receipts of less than $50,000. 

Finding Other Meaningful Ways to Volunteer Your Time 

This charity also brings to mind the many opportunities that exist for donors that wish to donate their time or goods to charities. Here are some examples of BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., groups that meet the 20 BBB Charity Standards).

Building playgrounds: KABOOM! (a BBB Accredited Charity)
Helping to build homes: Habitat for Humanity International (a BBB Accredited Charity)
Reading to kids: Read to Them (a BBB Accredited Charity)
Donating hair for children with hair loss: Locks of Love (a BBB Accredited Charity)
Fostering puppies that will be trained to assist people with disabilities: Paws With A Cause (a BBB Accredited Charity)
Nature cleanups in Hawaii: 808 Cleanups (a BBB Accredited Charity)

Tips for Choosing the Right Volunteer Opportunity

BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips for volunteers to consider.

• Provide Passion. Choose a cause you care about. That will help provide incentive and motivate you to follow through.

• Test the Waters. You can try it out for just a couple hours per month or an hour a week. This trial period should be something that can be easily managed. This will help you determine if this volunteer activity is the right fit before you devote more of your time.

• Use Your Expertise. If you come from a profession that provides special skills such as construction, accounting, office work, or health care, find a charity that can best use those abilities to help those in need. Don’t assume that volunteering is just about lading soup at the homeless shelter.

• Consider Your Commitment. Some volunteer opportunities are not a one and done activity, and may involve a commitment to help over a period of time.

• Look Before You Leap. Remember to check out the charity before you help. Visit Give.org to see if they meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. You may also want to see if the charity is registered with the appropriate state government agency in your state (usually a division of the Attorney General’s office or the Secretary of State). About 40 of the 50 states have such a requirement. You also can verify an organization’s charitable tax exempt status at this IRS link. In Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Heart of Giving Podcast – Mark Falzone on Creating Beautiful Communities

This week’s Heart of Giving podcast features a discussion with Mark Falzone, President & CEO, Scenic America (a BBB Accredited Charity) which serves as a national advocacy organization promoting scenic byways. The organization believes that all communities possess scenic assets and works to preserve the scenic character of America.

Explore Three of Our Latest Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:

• Association on American Indian Affairs
• The DigDeep Right to Water Project
• Green Beret Foundation

Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.