Looking to give back? Volunteering is a simple way to support your community and find purpose along the way.
Research on happiness suggests that a happy life is supported by three core elements: purpose, connection, and enjoyment.
Volunteering for a cause you care about offers many of the ingredients that make life meaningful. Purpose comes from contributing to something larger than yourself; connection grows through shared experiences with others; and enjoyment often sneaks in when you least expect it, through moments of satisfaction and good company.
Volunteering channels these elements into something even greater: a meaningful contribution to the well-being of others.
On National Volunteer Month, we celebrate the nearly one-third of Americans who formally volunteer each year (and more than half who do so less formally). Collectively, they help create a more caring and connected world.
Mentoring a student, joining a clean-up event, helping to distribute food, offering your professional skills, or building a playground, all bring people together and help make communities stronger and more joyful.
This month is also a great opportunity to consider joining the volunteer force. No prior experience required. However you choose to engage, volunteering reinforces the very elements that help improve both your life and your community.
If you are looking to get involved, here are a few tips to help you get started:
Start with purpose: Choose something that matters to you. Volunteering is most rewarding when it connects to something you genuinely care about, whether that is education, food security, the environment, or animal welfare. Even a small commitment feels meaningful when it aligns with your values.
Volunteer with Trustworthy Charities: Visit Give.org and verify if the charity you’re considering meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
Volunteering may bring purpose, connection, and joy, but ultimately contributes to something larger than yourself. Getting started is often the hardest part but, over time, you may find you gain as much as you give.
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
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.
