Online Volunteer Matching

Philanthropy Today - May 2010

Dear friends,

New online tools are making volunteering more convenient and targeted than ever before. We encourage you to check out the following websites, and share your experience with us if you end up volunteering or finding volunteers through these sites. 
  • The Extraordinaries

    The Extraordinaries invented "micro volunteering" by leveraging mobile and web technologies, to allow people to volunteer for small tasks and short periods of time. They offer an iPhone and Web app that allows anybody to volunteer on the spot, even for a few minutes.

    The platform is built to engage people who cannot give a full Saturday to a cause, but can spare their idle time, such as waiting for metro or when they are sitting at a doctor's office, for something that they are passionate about. Nonprofits can define projects on the website, and volunteers can search for projects on their phone.

  • Idealist

    Idealist is an interactive website where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps towards building a world where all people can live a free and dignified life. Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit founded in 1995 with offices in the US and Argentina.

    The left hand side menu of the site has two sections: Post and Find.  Nonprofits, groups, projects, and volunteers can post their information on the site, which will then become available to those who visit the site to search and find such groups or volunteers.

  • VolunteerMatch

    VolunteerMatch makes it easy for good people and good causes to connect. It offers a variety of online services to support civic engagement in a community between nonprofits and volunteers.  It also helps corporations and businesses by providing branded solutions to engage employees, consumers, and students.

    Nonprofits can register themselves with VolunteerMatch and add "listings," which are positions and/or projects, to start recruiting volunteers.