how to put volunteer work on resume examples

How to Write a Volunteer Resume [+Example for 2024]

You’ve found something you believe in.

You want to help as much as you can.

But first, you need a resume that highlights your best attributes. 

Well, allow us to help you with this resume guide for all volunteers!

• A job-winning volunteer resume example
• How to create a volunteer resume that hiring managers love
• Volunteer-specific tips and tricks to make your resume stand out

Now, before we move on, here’s a volunteer resume example, created with our very own resume builder :

Follow the steps in this guide to create a job-winning resume of your own! 

How to Format a Volunteer Resume

Here’s a fact for you:

Your resume isn’t the only one on the recruiter’s desk.

In fact, they have a TON to get through, which is why recruiters tend to skim-read as they go through the pile of resumes.

This means you need to make your information clear and concise. 

You can do this by using the best resume format for volunteer resumes. 

The most common resume format is “ reverse-chronological ”, so we’d recommend this format for your resume…

There are two other popular formats that you could try:

• Functional Resume – Choose this format if you have many skills, but don’t have any real experience. Essentially, this format is ideal for volunteers who are seeking a role they have never held
• Combination Resume – As the name suggests, a combination resume is a combination of “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”. As such, this format is perfect for volunteers who have both skills and experience

Once you’ve decided on the format, you need to get your resume layout right.

For a professional resume layout, here’s what we recommend:

Margins - the margins are set automatically according to recruiters in the editor.

Font - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. 

• Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, etc.
• Don’t: Comic Sans

Resume Length - Don’t go over the 1-page limit. If you’re having trouble fitting everything into one page? You may want to view these one-page resume templates .

Use a Volunteer Resume Template

You have a number of options when it comes to resume writing tools.

Now, Word may be your first choice, but we invite you to reconsider.

You see, building your own resume in a text-editing tool can result in massive formatting issues. 

The alternative is to use a volunteering resume template by choosing from one of the templates here .

This will ensure your resume looks professional at all times. 

What to Include in a Volunteer Resume

The main sections in a volunteer resume are:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary or Objective
• Work Experience/ Volunteer Experience

For a resume that stands out, even more, try adding these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification
• Personal Projects

Interests & Hobbies

It’s now time to go through each of those sections, and explain how to write them...

Not sure which sections to use for your resume? Check out our guide to What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Write Your Contact Information

The tips in this guide will help with creating the best volunteer resume possible.

But those tips are worthless if mistakes are made in this section.

For your contact section, follow these rules:

• Title - Make this specific to the role you’re applying for
• Phone Number - Quadruple check this!
• Email Address - Make sure to use a professional email address ([email protected])
• Portfolio Link or personal website
• (Optional) Relevant Social Media - e.g.: LinkedIn, Twitter, Quora, etc.
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location.

Stephen Johnson, Volunteer. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

Stephen Johnson, Volunteering Viking. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Volunteer Resume Summary or Objective

The volunteer industry is just as competitive as any other employment opportunity.

In fact, most volunteering jobs have hundreds of applicants applying to become a volunteer for the greater good. 

As such, just telling the recruiter how passionate you are won’t cut it. 

So how do you catch the recruiter’s attention and stand out?

You need to show your value straight away!

You can do this with a resume summary or objective , which are attention-grabbing paragraphs that sit at the top of your resume. 

Although the two are very similar, there are a couple of differences… 

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

Experienced and passionate volunteer with 5+ years of experience in helping various foundations with their aspirations. Notable highlights include managing an event with 2,000 attendees, scoring 99.5% positive feedback rates, and raising $67,302 revenue when leading a bake sale.]

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

A hard-working volunteer seeks a chance to make a difference with The National Trust. Experience includes working as a temp events volunteer during the summer term. Able to handle a variety of tasks, including greeting the public, preparing activities, and operating POS systems.

So, which option should a volunteer in your situation pick? 

All volunteers have their own specific background, but generally, resume summaries are the best option for those who have a relevant job history, whereas an objective summary is the best option for those with little to no work experience. 

How to Make Your Work Experience Stand Out

Regardless of the type of charity you apply for, they all have one thing in common…

They want to see your work experience .  

Sure, your core skills are important too, but experience always wins. Start with your most recent experience, and then work backwards. Here’s a winning work experience structure…

• Position name
• Company Name
• Dates Employed
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Event Volunteer

National Trust

01/2019 – 03/2020

• Prepared for a 2,000 person event in 8 hours – this involved setting up trails, preparing craft activities, and ensuring complete information and signage
• Provided a warm and friendly welcome at all events, which resulted in a 99.5% positive feedback score
• In charge of running the cake sale, which resulted in $8.302 revenue for the foundation

As shown above, you want to show some impressive achievements, not minor tasks.

So, instead of saying:

“greeted visitors”

“Provided a warm and friendly welcome at all events, which resulted in a 99.5% positive feedback score”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The second statement goes into more depth about how your presence had a positive impact on the event and the foundation. This clearly shows that you’re someone who should be hired immediately. 

What if You Don’t Have Experience?

Maybe you’re a recent university graduate with no job experience?

Or maybe you have worked many jobs, but never volunteered for a charity?

Don’t worry, we have the solution.

All you need are a few core skills and a desire to learn.

And this can be shown with school projects or experiences from related jobs. 

For example, if you’ve ever worked as a customer service representative, you can talk about any crossover skills and experiences. Just like a volunteer in a public-facing role, you were friendly and dealt with various concerns. 

If you’re a recent graduate , you might want to check out our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your Volunteer Resume POP!

Flick through a bunch of volunteering resumes, and you’ll notice one thing.

They all include these same words. 

And since you want your resume to stand out, we recommend using power words instead.

Here is a list of power words to make your achievements stand out :

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

How to List Your Education Correctly

Welcome to the education section!

If your experience section isn’t the best, your education is where you need to shine.

Simply list out your education entries, like this:

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

B.A. Nursing Management  

University of Chicago

Courses: Anatomy and Physiology, Nursing Care, Mental Health, Sociological and Psychological Aspects of Healthcare, Approaches to Research

Before we conclude this section, here are some of the most frequent questions we get from volunteers (and their answers!):

What if I haven’t finished education?

• Whether you’re still a student, or finished school years ago, you should mention the years/courses studied so far in your life

Should I include my high school education?

• Only include your high school education if you haven’t gone on to further education

What is more important, education or experience?

• Experiences always come before education

Need more answers? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 10 Skills for a Volunteer Resume

When the recruiter is reviewing your resume, they want to see that you’re skilled enough to complete the work they require.  

You see, the resume reviewer will have been given a brief regarding the desired job skills. 

As such, the skills section should reflect the needs of the job.

Need some inspiration?

It’ll depend on the specific volunteering job that you’re applying for, but here are some of the most common and desirable skills:

Hard Skills for Volunteers:

• Point-of-Sale Systems
• Microsoft Office
• CPR Certified 
• Phone Desk Operation

Soft Skills for Volunteers:

• Communication
• Leadership 
• Strategic thinking

Looking for a more comprehensive list? Here’s a mega-list of 100+ must-have skills .

Other Resume Sections You Can Include on a Volunteering Resume

Now, there’s a good chance that the other candidates will have similar volunteering experiences to you.

But if this is the case, won’t your resume look the same as all the others?

Well yes. That’s why we recommend adding a few of the following sections to make your resume stand out. 

Awards & Certifications

Your volunteering work will impress the recruiter.

But don’t leave things there.

Have you completed any courses to improve your skills?

Have you ever been awarded for your duties?

Be sure to mention everything that you’re proud of. Well, only if it is relevant to the volunteering position. 

• Sales Training: Building Your Sales Career – Coursera Certificate
• Best Business Pitch Award – University of Texas
•  Learning How to Learn – Coursera Certificate
• CPR Certification

Your resume shows the assets you can offer to the foundation.

Even though being bilingual may not be an essential skill, it is another asset that your future employer can call upon.  

If this relates to you, and you have space in your resume, definitely include a languages section.

Make sure to split the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

The recruiter should now be interested in hiring you.

But before they do, they will want to know more about your personal side. 

As such, it can be a good idea to talk about your hobbies and interests.  

If you’re not sure which hobbies & interests to mention, you can read our guide! 

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

You’re a volunteer because you want to make a difference.

Resumes are great for showing your skills and experiences, but you want the foundation to know WHY you want to volunteer for them. 

Cover letters show that you want to work with THIS specific charity.

As such, a cover letter can significantly boost your chances of obtaining the position.

Here’s how to get the structure right:

And here’s what to write in each section:

Contact Details

Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, and location.

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

Your introduction should be strong enough to hook the hiring manager, so mention:

• The volunteering position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and top achievements as a volunteer (or most relevant)

Once you’ve got the hiring manager hooked, you can go through the rest of your background. Some of the points you can mention here are:

• Why you want to volunteer for this specific foundation
• Anything you know about the culture
• What are your top skills and how are they relevant for the job
• If you’ve ever volunteer before

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

• Wrap up any points you missed in the body paragraph
• Thank the hiring manager for their time
• End with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to further discuss how my experience as an X can help the company with Y”

Formal Salutations

Use a formal closing, such as “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”

View our how-to write a cover letter guide for extra guidance.

Related Resume Examples

• No Experience Resume
• Social Worker Resume
• Internship Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Career Change Resume

Key Takeaways

Followed the steps in this guide? Then you’re in the best position to get that role you’re applying for.

Before we finish up, let’s quickly go through everything we’ve learned:

• Select the right formatting for your resume. Try the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the best practices in regards to the layout. Remember, keep your resume needs to look professional
• Use a resume summary or objective to immediately catch the recruiter’s attention
• For the work experience section, talk more about your achievements, instead of your daily responsibilities
• Write a compelling and convincing cover letter

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How to Include Volunteer Work on a Resume: A Guide

The main purpose of writing a resume is to inform an employer of the skills and experience you have that qualifies you for a specific job. When you’re writing a resume , you may wonder whether or not you can mention volunteer work that you have completed.

Not only can you list volunteer work on your resume, but doing so is often a great way to demonstrate your skills and help hiring managers understand your interests (including those that are not directly related to your job).

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In this guide, we discuss how to include volunteer work on your resume and walk through a few examples of volunteer work listings on a resume.

Why Include Volunteer Work on a Resume

Listing volunteer work on your resume can have a number of advantages.

By listing volunteer work on your resume, you can better showcase the skills you have acquired. For instance, if you run a local chapter of a volunteer running group, you may have acquired skills in event planning and fundraising that could be useful on the job.

Volunteer work is also valuable to list on your resume if you have limited professional experience. If you have just graduated from high school or college, for instance, you may not have much—or any—experience in the workforce.

Mentioning any experience you have volunteering is a good way to show that you have experience working in a non-educational environment, which can go a long way to convincing an employer that you are the right candidate for a job.

How to Include Volunteer Work on a Resume

Three areas where you can include volunteer work on a resume are:

• In the professional history section

In a Volunteer Experience Section

• In its own section

In the Professional History Section

If you are a student who has very little professional experience—or are just starting in the workforce—then you should consider adding volunteer work to the professional experience section of your resume.

Once you have listed any work experience you have, you can also mention the volunteering opportunities which you have pursued in your career. For instance, if you have volunteered at a local charity to help them fundraise, or helped with a house-building volunteer project, you could mention it in your professional history section.

Here’s an example of volunteer work listed in the professional history section of a resume:

Habitat for Humanity

Volunteer Builder, July 2019-August 2019

• Helped coordinate the start of a Habitat for Humanity project
• Contributed to building four rooms in a house for the project
• Worked with a team of 70 volunteers

As you can see, this description is accompanied by a list of three bullet points outlining what the candidate learned from the position. If you are mentioning volunteer work in your professional experience, you should feel free to explore what impact you had in the volunteer position in more depth than you otherwise would. 

Alternatively, you can list your volunteer experience in its own section.

This is a common approach for people who already have extensive professional experience but want to showcase a few of the volunteering opportunities they have pursued.

In Its Own Section

In addition, if you have experience that is unrelated to the position for which you are applying, adding it into its own section is a good idea.

This is because, unless you have no other experience to mention, you don’t want to make unrelated experience appear too prominently on your resume. Such information may distract the reader from the key points you are trying to make.

Here is an example of a listing in a volunteer experience section:

Volunteer Experience

Charitable Fundraising Drive Volunteer | Local Radio Station | January 2016-May 2016

Including Volunteer Work on Your Resume: Top Tips

Now that we’ve discussed where you can include volunteer work on your resume, let’s explore a few top tips you can use to make the most out of listing volunteer work on your resume.

Tip #1: Only list volunteer work when it is relevant.

Volunteer work is a good way to showcase the wide range of skills you have. However, you should only list volunteer work when you feel doing so will add value to your resume.

If you have extensive professional experience in a field, or if the volunteer work you have done is completely unrelated to the job for which you are applying, you may want to consider leaving it out.

This will give you more room to discuss your skills, educational history, and past work experiences that are more directly related to the position, thereby making it easier for you to position yourself as a good candidate for a job.

#2: Update your resume for each position.

While this may sound unnecessary, one way to ensure your resume will stand out is to personalize it for each position you apply for. 

You should make sure that every resume you write for a job reflects the needs of the employers and how you meet those needs. So, if you have volunteer experience that relates to one position but not another, you may want to submit two different resumes to ensure each of them reflects your core skills and experiences relevant to the job.

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#3: Keep your volunteer experience short if you have other experience.

If you are using volunteer work to stand in for professional history—which is common if you are a student or a recent grad—then you may want to use a longer description. However, if you already have work experience that you can list on your resume, there is no need to delve too deep into each volunteer position you have held.

Here is an example of a volunteer experience listing on a resume:

Fundraising Volunteer | Local Non-Profit | Oakland, CA | April, 2019

Facilitated the tracking of $5,000 in donations sources from our email campaign and grassroots fundraising efforts.

Resume Volunteer Work: An Example

What does volunteer work look like when listed on a resume? Here is an resume sample to help you understand how volunteer experience should appear on a resume in more depth:

Hilda Brown

Oakland, California

[email protected]

A dedicated administrative assistant with two years experience coordinating the schedules of executives.

Key assisting skills include: Communication, customer service, phone etiquette, discretion, organization, experience with Google Calendar, Airtable, Excel, and email, knowledge of administrative practices within large organizations.

Professional Experience

Executive Assistant

Smith Paper Company

April 2018 – Present

• Worked to coordinate the schedule of Office Manager
• Answered the phone and took memos for Office Manager
• Managed all ingoing and outgoing correspondence for the Office Manager

Volunteer Administrator

Oakland Animal Shelter

• Provided scheduling support for the head of the Oakland Animal Shelter
• Screened and routed phone calls to the appropriate parties
• Made travel arrangements for the head of the shelter
• Filed and generated reports and presentations on behalf of manager

University of Notre Dame

August 2014 – August 2018

Bachelor’s of Communication, 3.8 GPA

Listing volunteer work on your resume is a good way to showcase the additional skills you have acquired outside of the professional workforce.

For people without any professional experience — such as students or recent graduates — volunteer experience is a good way to showcase that you have some working experience outside of school, even if it was not as part of a business or government organization.

By following the tips in this guide, you will be able to include volunteer experience effectively on your resume. The volunteer experience you list may be what encourages a recruiter to reach out to you to schedule an interview !

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

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How To Include Volunteer Work On A Resume (With Examples)

• Resume Templates
• General Resume Examples
• Resume Format
• Resume Margins
• Resume Header
• Work Experience On Resume
• Irrelevant Work Experience
• Listing Languages On Resume
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• Professional Resume Formats

Writing a resume can become stressful when you only have one page to detail your best accomplishments.

There are more additional resume sections that can help you stand out. People often list publications, job training courses, and volunteer experience on their resumes.

We’re here to help you understand what elements of volunteer experience hiring managers like to see, give advice for how to include that experience on your resume, and show you examples of a few different ways of doing it.

Key Takeaways:

Volunteer work can be added to your work experience section, or in its on volunteer experience section.

It’s important to customize your resume to each job you apply to and do your research to add skills that would work well for the job.

For some industries, volunteer work is important, so adding it to your resume can help you stand out from other candidates.

How To List Volunteer Work On a Resume

Examples of volunteer work on a resume, tips for including volunteer work on your resume, volunteer work on a resume faq, final thoughts.

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Now that you know that adding volunteer work on a resume is an amazing idea for most applicants, you might be wondering where to add volunteer experiences to your resume.

There are essentially two ways you can add volunteer work on a resume: within your work experience section or in a separate section at the bottom of your resume dedicated to volunteer work.

Work experience section. If you have significant employment gaps or sparse employment history, consider adding the volunteer experiences to your work history section. It will help bulk up that section and fill in work gaps. When adding volunteer experiences to your work history section, be careful which ones you list.

Consider adding the volunteer experiences that are related to your industry to the work history section and the experiences that are unrelated to a separate section at the bottom.

When you add volunteer experience to the work history section, format it the same as you would for any other official position. Include the job title you would have if you worked formally in that capacity, but add “volunteer” in front of it.

Volunteer experience section. If you add it to a separate section at the bottom, you can make the listing as brief as you want. If the role is not related to your job or job skills at all, you may just want to list your position and which organization you volunteered for — you don’t have to detail out each experience.

You can also treat this volunteer section like a separate work experience section, especially if you have multiple volunteering roles under your belt. List the name of the organization, the dates you were involved, and give 2-3 bullet points on what you did while volunteering there.

As with anything you include on your resume , make sure you can quantify what you’ve accomplished in that role and highlight the skills you’ve developed or used while volunteering.

For example, if you were a volunteer coordinator , list how many volunteers you managed. If you work regularly at a soup kitchen, detail out how many hours you’ve worked there and the approximate number of people you’ve served.

In addition to quantifying your volunteer deliverables, take care of how you write your work summaries. Remember that many resumes are first read by a computer. When going through an applicant tracking system (ATS) , the computer is looking for keywords. Frame your volunteer work with keywords important to the job you are applying for.

Now that we know the why and the how of including volunteer work on your resume, let’s look at some examples.

Example 1: Work Experience Section

WORK EXPERIENCE Save Pups Fast | May 2019-Present Volunteer Coordinator Aid veterinarians in administering medicine to local dogs without owners Receive, stock, and organize two shipments each week, totaling $15,000 of equipment and medicine Develop and maintain Save Pups Fast social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram, increasing user base by 23% in 3-month period

Example Answer 2: Additional Work Experience Section

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE Food Bank Plus | 03/2016-01/2018 Volunteer administrator Cooked and served food for about 100 daily visitors each Sunday Maintained spreadsheet of charitable donations of over $50,000 Recruited at high schools, community colleges, and church groups to boost weekly volunteer count by 20

Example Answer 3: Volunteer Experience Section

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Elder Care | August 2020-Present Work with seniors living in nursing homes to aid in the transition into assisted living; help with memory, loneliness, and depression through art therapy and fun, low-stress exercise activities. Diana’s Hair | June 2018-July 2019 Maintained a weekly newsletter for an organization dedicated to receiving donations of hair to create wigs for chemotherapy patients, driving student participation by 16%.

Example Answer 4: Accomplishments Section

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Created and managed marketing campaign for XYZ Inc. that drove app engagement by 213% and resulted in online sales more than doubling Dedicated weekends to the foundation and management of Backpacks for Billy, a volunteer organization that has helped over 200 youth (to-date) in poverty receive school supplies and educational materials free of cost Designed company blog for ABC Corp. that won “Blog of the Year 2018” in Content Marketing Weekly

When to use volunteer work. Volunteer work is always impressive, because it’s rare for people to devote their time and energy to worthy causes without getting paid for it.

That being said, volunteer work shouldn’t take up too much space on your resume unless you’re a recent graduate, you lack sufficient formal experience, you have a gap in your employment history, or you’re applying to a non-profit or public sector job with a penchant for advocacy.

The other times to really highlight your volunteer experience is when it’s very relevant to the job you’re applying for or it serves to boost your experience level with a certain skill set.

Customize your resume. Each time you send a resume as part of a job application, you should first edit your resume to be perfectly tailored to the job you’re applying for. That means that how much you highlight your volunteer experience changes depending on the nature of the organization and the role.

If you see a company is involved with philanthropic efforts related to your volunteer experience, you may spend extra real estate highlighting it, even if it’s not exactly related to the job you’re applying for. Values matter just as much as skills and qualifications for some hiring managers and recruiters.

Do your homework. Part of that above tip involved researching the company to find out what they value and what non-work-related efforts they’re a part of. Don’t stop there though.

Read the job description carefully and look for keywords that you can use in your resume — even the volunteer section.

For example, if you see the word “deliver” a lot in the job posting, and your current resume says “shipped,” changing your word choice is a low-effort way of ticking more boxes for an applicant tracking system and the actual hiring manager .

Be careful including activism. Activism is great, but it’s also explicitly political. Politics can always be dicey in work situations, and hiring managers might be wary of even interviewing you in case they come off as prejudiced if they decide not to hire you.

That said, if you’re applying to a political organization (that aligns with your values , we hope) or a company that’s somehow related to your background in activism, it’s probably good to include this type of work.

Also, if the activism was pretty politically neutral (“Stop killing whales” or “Feed the homeless”) and you performed duties that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, then go ahead and include it.

Does volunteer work look good on a resume?

Yes, adding volunteer work can help make your resume more competitive, so it is a good idea to add it to your resume. For some industries, volunteer work is a highly valuable asset to bring up.

For example, if you are applying for a position in the non-profit sector or looking for a position in academia , definitely add those volunteer experiences. But volunteering isn’t just for those folks — it is a great thing to consider doing no matter what industry you work in.

Adding volunteer experience to your resume can help boost your application’s chances. Including volunteer experiences show that you have the drive to help your community. It shows that you are interested in being a part of something else for reasons outside of earning money and highlights your non-work-related interests.

Is volunteer work important on a resume?

For certain types of job-seekers, volunteer experience can make or break your job application. Volunteering can be an incredibly valuable experience that can help bulk up resumes that have little professional experience — we’re looking at you, recent graduates .

If you are currently out of work , volunteering can help fill gaps in your resume’s timeline. Showing volunteer experience shows that you are dedicated to applying yourself even when you’re between jobs.

Many hiring managers consider relevant volunteer positions as beneficial as paid positions. For example, if you are a volunteer social media manager for a non-profit, that will look very favorably for you if you are applying for social media management positions.

What are some examples of volunteer experience?

Examples of volunteer work to add to your resume could be beach clean up, animal care and rescue, and working with children and youth. If you are apart of any organization that participates in volunteer work, you can always add that to your resume as well.

If you are looking to start volunteering more, look into organizations within your community and they will have places to look. Volunteering is a great way to help improve your community, and a way for you to get to know those within your community.

Forgetting to add volunteer work to a resume is a critical error for many job applicants. Many hiring managers are looking for diverse and well-rounded job applicants. They want to know that you can do your job well, but they also want to know if you have interests outside of work .

Volunteering is a great way to learn more about your community, find hobbies, and learn skills outside of work.

While many older job seekers probably have a lot of work experience to include on their resume and may not need to list any volunteer experiences, recent graduates and applicants who have a work gap need to use volunteer work to help them land the job.

It’s not just those groups who benefit from showing off volunteer work, though. Any hiring manager or recruiter will be impressed by an individual who devotes themselves to a cause they believe in without pay. So go ahead and highlight that volunteer experience, as long as your amazing resume has room for it.

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Heidi Cope is a former writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her writing focused primarily on Zippia's suite of rankings and general career advice. After leaving Zippia, Heidi joined The Mighty as a writer and editor, among other positions. She received her BS from UNC Charlotte in German Studies.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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How to Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume

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Should you include volunteer work on your resume?

How to include volunteer work on a resume, template for including volunteer work on a resume, volunteer work on resume example.

Mentioning your volunteer work experience on your resume can increase your chances of getting hired. It can also create a positive impression of your personality and bring added-value to your skills and qualifications. This article explains why it can be beneficial to list volunteer work on your resume and how you can include it with the help of a template and an example.

Volunteering can be time well-spent as a method for developing your skills while benefiting the community. The main objective of volunteer work is to unify with others towards the common good for an important cause or some other form of beneficial activity. Some people engage in volunteer work to establish connections in their community while others simply enjoy offering their time and talents in service to a particular cause or organization. Mentioning volunteer work on your resume can leave a positive impression about your skills and personality on an employer.

The following steps can be followed to specify volunteer work on resume effectively:

1. Firstly, select the right section to display the volunteer work

Placing the volunteer work effectively on your resume is extremely important to create the right impression. You may display the volunteer experience next to your work experiences for the continuity and flow of information. If, however, you place the volunteer work experience before the actual work experience, it may create an adverse impression on your employer.

2. Secondly, make a selective list of your volunteer work

You shouldn’t mention an excessive number of volunteer work roles on your resume. The employer likely has minimal time to review your resume. You should include volunteer work that best projects your personality and interests. You can select up to two to three of your best volunteer experiences to list on your resume. You can then create a positive impression about the volunteer work mentioned on your resume, and you can discuss them further if you are asked about them in an interview. 

3. Thirdly, select related volunteer work

Select the volunteer work that is related to your application. Similar volunteer work can improve your resume’s impression on the recruiter. It also shows your experience in activities that are related to the job. An essential addition to your resume can be any volunteer work you have done in the institution itself. If you have a previous volunteer work experience at the same organization you’re applying to, you may include the experience to create a positive impression on the recruiter. 

For example, if you are applying for a hospital-based job, it is recommended that you include any hospital-related volunteer work. Or, if you are applying for an event management job, you can mention a the details of organizing a fundraiser to add to your skills and qualifications.

4. Fourthly, follow a particular format

You may choose any format that suits your requirements. It is, however, recommended that you select a format that is generally used to mention volunteer work on resumes. An example of the format may include specifying the volunteer work category at the top. You can then add one line, with the name of the work/experience and the address where the activity occurred. 

This information can be followed by one or two points elaborating your part in the activity, the results and the benefit of the experience. You may tailor a format that suits your purpose yourself. You may also add or reduce sections or points to the format mentioned above as per your requirements.

5. Next, mention one or two unrelated roles in volunteer work

Mentioning unrelated volunteer work on the resume can help the recruiter in seeing the diverse range of activities that you have contributed to. Unrelated volunteer work may include any activity that is not directly related to the vacancy. It may also include volunteer work done in a different industry or formal environment.

6. Then, diversify the categories that you mention

Volunteer work can belong to five categories: formal, governance, non-formal, social action and project-based. It is essential that on a general resume, you portray a combination of these volunteer works you have done. If, however, your resume targets a specific job, it is better to mention volunteer work that relates to the job category only. If you are applying for the job of a project manager, you may include details of any volunteer work where you have managed or assisted with a project.

7. Finally, only include work you have done

You should only mention the volunteer work that you have actually performed. Mentioning volunteer work experience that is not real can create a negative impression on the employer if they find out. It may become one of the reasons for your application to get rejected.

Use the following template as guidance for including volunteer work on a resume:

[Title of first related (formal) volunteer work]

[Name of event/position title]

• [A one-line summary of your role in the activity]
• [A one-line description of the results of the volunteer activity]
• [Brief description of your experience]

[Title of second related (formal) volunteer work]

• [Brief description of your experience or a particular thing that you learned from your experience]

[Title of first unrelated (any category) volunteer work]

[Title of second unrelated (any category) volunteer work (if any)]

Here is an example of what volunteer work could look like on your resume:

Related Volunteer Work

Rosemount Volunteer Fundraising, 24 Community Complex

• Worked as a senior assistant in fundraiser management, directly under the main event manager 
• Collected $150,000 from 2,000 tickets, sold for the concert exceeding the target by $25,000
• Learned promotional methods and gained top-level event management experience

Hospital volunteering

Member of the Hospital Management Committee, Great Grand Hospital

• Worked in the hospital management department in coordinating weekly management activities 
• Managed the daily routine works of both the administration and domestic staff 
• Learned time-based and everyday management processes and methodologies

Neighborhood cleaning

Cleaning crew, 24th Grand Street

• Engaged with a group of friends in cleaning the excessive waste in the landfill site near our home street
• Gained group working experience

How to Put Volunteer Work on a Resume (With Examples)

Nothing makes a better first impression on a human resource officer or an executive than showing you go above and beyond - and that you care. It is critical to learn how to put volunteer work on a resume to show that you are that person.

Applicants with volunteer experience are more likely to be hired. A federal study found that unemployed people – across indicators of gender, ethnicity, job markets or geography – were 27% more likely to find a job if they were volunteering or volunteered the year prior. 

Everything is about marketing, however. You should be communicating your volunteer work in an effective way with future or current employers through your resume. You can also take advantage of new tech platforms for volunteers, like Golden volunteer management software , to showcase your skills. 

Five reasons to put volunteer experience on a resume 

Too often we overlook the soft and hard skills we apply through volunteering and underestimate their value. They can be great tools for filling in gaps in resumes and strengthening your case for an employer. Here are some of the top reasons people put volunteer experience on a resume. 

• Soft skills used in volunteer work may be relevant to a position. 

Job posts list requirements. These are the qualities they seek in a new hire. Sometimes, our volunteer work is more demonstrative of a particular skill or quality than our history of paid work or education.

For instance, maybe you work at a desk by yourself, as a research analyst or in a similar position. Yet a new position to which you are applying wants to know about your management skills. In this case, you might showcase your volunteer work organizing the fundraising club for your daughter’s soccer team.

You can show an example of how you managed people in this context, in a way that will resonate with an employer. “I organized 8 people with different job roles to run a weekend event with 300 attendees, raising $2,580. The project took 2 months of planning and coordination of people with widely different skill sets.”  

2. You are a work novice, but you have volunteered. 

High school students or recent graduates may not have much, or any, work experience. In these cases, it’s imperative to maximize your marketable skills gained through volunteer work in your community. Employers might give you credit for work experience even if you were not being paid, especially if the position is entry-level or requires a particular skill you have. It can help to ask your volunteer manager for a letter of recommendation for volunteers .  

3. You are looking to change careers but lack experience. 

Your resume might look strange to a potential new employer if you cannot show any relation to their field. For example, maybe you dream of being a writer, but you have been plucking away as a computer programmer.  You have no practical writing experience. Try volunteering for a writing position first, for an online blog or a charity site that needs a content writer. This way, you can build up a portfolio and gain some experience on professional projects first.

4. You may want to cover up a work gap. 

People have work gaps for a myriad of reasons. We have children, we travel, we take care of sick relatives, we are laid off from work, or maybe we suffer from illness or mental health concerns.  Unfortunately, an employer might overlook you because of the gap. It can seem unproductive, that you weren’t working “towards something”. Volunteer work can help you circumvent this hiring pitfall. You can list something you were doing in the community during that time in place of paid employment. Employers might ask you why you were volunteering, but at least you get to the interview this way! 

5. You have more skills that are not evident from your paid work. 

Most of us are multi-faceted, which is why we volunteer in the first place. We want to develop new skills or practice skills we do not use in our day job. Showing that capacity on your resume can make you appear three-dimensional, and also help you move up a corporate ladder.  For instance, maybe your volunteer training required certification, such as in first aid and first response. This can be a real asset in the workplace regardless of your job title, and it shows you can handle pressure. 

A few more benefits of volunteer experience on a resume

Depending on the type of career you seek, volunteer experience may have an intrinsic value in and of itself.  If you plan to work in the nonprofit sector, you probably want to show that you volunteer in a number of ways to give back to your community. The skills are less important in this case. The employer is looking to see that you volunteer, in general, and enjoy doing so. 

Another example is for people who may seek political work or other jobs in civic life. Volunteer work can show that you care about the community and can be trusted. A school may be more inclined to hire a teacher who volunteers with sick children at the hospital than one with no listed volunteer experience, for example. The former has already been vetted by another trusted community institution helping the same demographic.

Best practices for adding volunteer work on a resume 

You should include volunteer work when it demonstrates necessary skills, when it is relevant to the work role, and when you have no other paid experience to make your case.  You also want to include volunteer experience when it is relevant in general, because of the organizational culture (as in when you’re applying to a nonprofit, or when the corporation stresses volunteering as important). 

When inclusion is relevant, you want to make sure you are following best practices.

• Use the name of the volunteer organization you supported or support. 
• Include the timeframe and the number of hours you worked. 
• Emphasize accomplishments, with real examples. 
• Link accomplishments back to job skills (hard skills like writing, researching, accounting, and fundraising; and soft skills like management, teamwork, and leadership).  

How to put volunteer work on a resume

Here’s the tricky part. How do you actually put volunteer work on a resume to make it an effective tool to boost your career chances? We can lay out the work in three segments. 

Weave volunteer work into your professional experience section. 

This section is critical to your resume. It shouldn’t show gaps, and it should demonstrate that you can meet all of the job requirements - both technical and soft skills. You can use volunteer work strategically to strengthen your overall capacity. 

If you have a stellar job record but want to connect volunteer experience in relation to professional skills, add a small section under your professional experience section with “relevant volunteer work”. You can add one or two roles that exemplify complementary skills in different settings this way.

2. Link examples of volunteer work with necessary skills. 

Too often, we make the mistake of listing volunteer work as opposed to describing it and how it shows you are capable. Study the job description and use keywords from their desired skills section to highlight your relevant capacity. 

3. Add “unrelated” volunteer experiences that help set you apart at the end of your resume. 

This may be the best way for most people with extensive work histories to add volunteering to their resume. At the end, add a small section highlighting your recent volunteer work and accomplishments. If you have special certifications from volunteer training, this is a great place to put them. 

Examples of how to describe your volunteer work

We want to show, not tell, and use volunteer experience strategically. This is difficult! Here are a few examples of how to write effectively. 

To fill a gap in work experience.

Like many people, the person in the example below probably missed some work time because of Covid. But they can show that they used that time meaningfully and gained new experience through volunteering.

• 2022 to present, Manager, Sissy’s Coffee Shack. Responsibilities in this role include human resources, payroll and management of 12 staff; tracking inventory and ordering supplies; handling cash and credit intakes for annual revenue of $575,000. Accomplishment: Since my employment, the Shack has improved its revenues every quarter and seen its smallest staff turnover in history. 
• 2020 to 2022, Volunteer Tutor , Get ‘Em on Track Literacy Project. Responsibilities included dedicated tutoring of 3 students monthly, with 3 weekly virtual sessions. Accomplishments: 85% of students showed literacy proficiency after working with me; I completed 264 sessions and only missed 3 due to absenteeism or conflicts. 
• 2017 to 2020, Barrista, Starbucks. Responsibilities included customer service and training on equipment use. Accomplishments: Only missed one shift in three years, highest customer service rating in the store for 2 years, and matched a sales record during the 2019 holiday season. 

To show a skill set unseen in work experience. 

In this example, the resume owner wants to demonstrate that they have high level presentation skills, leadership skills, and networking skills.

2018 to 2022, Board Secretary, Carolina’s Health Solutions. Served 2 consecutive terms on the board of a nonprofit helping 3,500+ mothers without insurance access health resources in our city annually. Responsibilities included designing and giving presentations to board members and staff at quarterly meetings; writing monthly e-newletters for 5000 donors and community stakeholders; and recruiting new board members (6 during my term). 

Frequently asked questions - if you still have them! 

The question of whether to add volunteer experience or not to add it is a difficult one to answer. In short, you should add it if you need to, to improve the depiction of your capacity, and also if it adds relevance to your case for a new job or role. 

In many instances, especially for higher level professionals, you might consider showcasing your volunteer work on a platform instead of focusing on a resume. Golden is the world’s most awarded platform, used by hundreds of nonprofits, schools, organizations, and corporations. You can upload a profile seamlessly with other systems and with your social media accounts. You will be able to request endorsements from charity partners and from people you have helped and also highlight your best skills. 

If you’re wondering how to put volunteer work on a resume if you don’t have much volunteer experience, Golden is also useful. Volunteer recruitment features enable charities, schools and other organizations to look for you and find you, based on your current skills and your desired opportunities. This can help you build up your resume and connect with meaningful events in your community! 

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How to add volunteer experience to your resume

If you don’t have much work experience, you can add volunteering work to your resume to beef it up and show off relevant skills.

But knowing exactly how to write about your volunteer work can challenging.

So, In this article I’m going to show you how to include volunteering on your resume (with examples) in way that will make a big impression on recruiters and get you plenty of interviews.

Resume templates 

Where to put volunteer work on your resume?

If you have little to no professional or paid work experience , you should put volunteer work at the beginning of your resume , just underneath your summary . Because when you lack work paid work experience, volunteer roles can be a great way to prove that you have real-life experience and the ability to apply your skills in the workplace.

If you have lots of work experience but your volunteering roles are still relevant to the job you’re applying for, add them to your hobbies section. Remember that any employer will be most interested in your last 1-3 years of paid work experience, so experienced candidates should always prioritize their recent work history – but if you have volunteer work that could boost your application further, it’s worth adding to the bottom of your resume for bonus points.

How to describe volunteer work in your resume

You’ll want to list any former volunteering roles in the same way you’d list a regular, paid job, by listing your official role title (i.e., fundraiser, carer, volunteer assistant) along with your key duties and achievements.

The best structure for doing this is the following:

• Outline – Here, you explain what volunteering role was (your job title, so to speak), who you were dealing with, what kind of environment you were working in and to whom you were accountable.
• Responsibilities – Next, you want to move onto your key responsibilities within this role. Were you responsible for a team of other volunteers, did you work in any management role, were you in a supervisory position? Did you help manage the finance or fundraising aspect of a charity or volunteer cause? Note down the most relevant information, preferably in bullet points to make the information easily digestible and memorable.
• Achievements – Here, you want to demonstrate why your contributions to this voluntary cause were valuable. Did you achieve an increase in fundraising efforts, recruit more monthly supporters, organize successful events? Or, if your experience was more hands-on in a customer-facing role, list some success stories that demonstrate your people skills.

Example volunteer jobs on a resume

Check out these examples of volunteer work on resumes for guidance and inspiration:

Volunteer example 1

Sep 2017 – Present Charity Store Assistant | Feeding America | Houston, Texas

Outline Support the Charity Store Manager and a team of 3 Charity Store Assistants with the day to day running of the Feeding America charity store to maximize sales and profitability; report to the Charity Store Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Offer assistance and serve customers, with a focus on the provision of the highest standard service.
• Assist the Charity Store Manager with stock management, including the sorting, steaming, pricing and hanging of donated items.
• Contribute to the operation of the till and the handling of cash.
• Promote a public understanding of the work Oxfam delivers and the importance of raising funds through the store.
• Sort donations of clothes, shoes and accessories into saleable stock and items for recycling. Promote and apply Oxfam’s Health and Safety Policy.

Key Achievements

• Directed a fundraising event in the local shopping center to promote the charity and successfully raised over £5K for the charities cause.
• Presented with the ‘Oxfam Achievement Award’ for support and Fundraising efforts on behalf of flagship London store in 2018.

Volunteer example 2

Volunteer Work Organizer | Salvation Army

Worked within a team of 3 Volunteer Work Organizers to recruit and manage volunteers dedicated to providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide throughout the USA; reported to the Lead Volunteer.

• Advertised volunteer opportunities, and interviewed and selected suitable volunteers.
• Maintained volunteer records inclusive of the training provided to each volunteer.
• Coordinated and supported the work of volunteers, and ran projects and events to attract new volunteers.
• Managed budgets and offered support with fundraising activities.
• Liaised with external organizations also needing volunteers and support.

Volunteering skills

Volunteering is a great way to pick up transferable skills and apply them to the workplace. Let the recruiter know what skills you developed during your time volunteering , and frame them in a way that makes them desirable for the job you’re applying for. Here are some valuable skills that you can acquire during volunteer work which add value to your application and professional skillset:

• Teamwork – Workplaces thrive on teamwork, but integrating someone without professional work experience can be a learning curve. Demonstrating that your volunteering work included team activities will show the recruiter that you’re used to professional, collaborative environments.
• Communication – Employers will always look for vital key skills when selecting desirable candidates to interview: having good communication skills is a major plus on any application, and something that can be obtained through volunteer work (for example, supervising others, dealing with patients, or helping those in vulnerable circumstances.)
• Adaptability – The workplace can often be unpredictable and even unstable, especially if you’re working in a hands-on, client-facing role. Certain types of volunteer work demonstrate that you’re adaptable in changing environments, especially high-paced, stressful environments such as hospitals, shelters, or any environment where you worked with vulnerable individuals.
• Customer service – If your volunteer work included working with external clients, customers, patients, or charitable supporters, you can highlight that you have experience delivering successful customer service.
• Decision making – Just like any other job, volunteering work will often require fast decision making and the ability to take charge of a situation. Highlight this on your resume if your volunteer work included making important decisions on the spot and dealing with unpredictable working environments
• Reliability – Volunteering demonstrates not just an eagerness to work and be productive, but also reliability. Organizations often depend on reliable volunteers to keep things moving, so highlighting this skill will make a good impression on any recruiter.
• Organization – When working in a volunteer role, you might have been given certain responsibilities which called on your organizational skills. This can include anything from organizing fundraisers to simply being organized enough with your time to carry out volunteer work while studying or working.
• Problem solving – Recruiters look for initiative: if you were a major problem solver and go-to helper during your volunteer work, make sure to note it when listing your skills.
• Time management – Volunteer environments are often stretched for staff, with volunteers often juggling several tasks and doing their best to manage their time efficiently. This is a great transferable skill which can be valuable in any workplace, and should be highlighted on your resume.

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How To List Church Volunteer Work Experience on a Resume

Thinking of putting your experience as a church volunteer on your resume? Before you dive in, check out this guide on the pros, cons, and how to do it right.

a year ago   •   4 min read

Church volunteer work is great — it shows community involvement, public-mindedness, and a desire to help out. But does it belong on your resume?

The answer is a resounding ‘maybe.’ Whether to include church volunteer work on your resume depends on a lot of different factors, like what kind of work you did and whether you can use it to highlight relevant skills and accomplishments.

The good news is, including church volunteer work on your resume doesn’t need to be controversial. By making a few small tweaks, like listing a generic version of your job title and organization, you can even keep religion out of it entirely. Here are more tips for how to put church volunteer work on your resume, including examples for you to follow.

How to put church volunteer work on a resume

• Decide where to put your church volunteer work. The most obvious place is in a volunteering section, but we discuss other options below.
• Create a subheading for that section. Stick with something neutral — ‘Volunteer Work’ rather than ‘Church Volunteer Work.’
• List the organization you volunteered for, your specific job title, and the dates.
• (Optional) Come up with 1-2 accomplishments that are relevant to the job you’re applying for or that demonstrate transferable skills.
• Run your resume through an ATS resume checker for a final once-over to check that you have everything covered.

Where to include church volunteer work on a resume: Tips + examples

You can list church volunteer work in your:

Volunteering section

Work experience section.

• ‘Other’ section

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each of those options and some examples of how to do it well.

Creating a dedicated volunteering section on your resume is the best option if you have significant volunteering experience and/or you want to specifically highlight it.

• Put your volunteering section beneath your work experience
• List the organization and dates just like you would for paid experience
• If it was an ongoing volunteer role , try to list a specific job title rather than something generic like ‘Volunteer’
• If you volunteered for a single project, include a brief description of what that project was and what you did specifically

Putting church volunteer work in your regular work experience section is also an option. This could make sense if you don’t have a lot of paid work experience or if you’re applying for a job (paid or volunteer) at another church or similar organization.

• List the employer, job title, and dates the same way as you would any other work experience
• Specify that it was a volunteer role by listing a job title like ‘Volunteer Office Manager’ or putting ‘(Volunteer)’ at the end
• If you’re worried about bringing religion into your job search, you can list a more generic employer name — for example, ‘Parkville Soup Kitchen’ rather than ‘Parkville Catholic Church’
• Try to separate out the religious element from the role and focus on professional accomplishments and transferable skills
• Good achievements to highlight are things like raising funds, managing people , organizing events , etc.

Other section

If your church volunteer work wasn’t substantial enough to warrant its own section, that doesn’t mean you need to leave it off entirely. Listing volunteer work and community involvement in a short additional section is a good compromise, allowing you to include it without taking up too much space.

• Title the section something like ‘Other’ or ‘Additional Information.’
• Include subheadings to keep the section organized — things like ‘Volunteering,’ ‘Skills,’ ‘ Languages ,’ and ‘ Certifications .’
• Keep it brief — a single line for church volunteer work should be enough.
• Specify the frequency or number of hours you volunteer, but don’t go into too many details.
• Include this section at the very bottom of your resume.

If you want to find out if your church volunteer experience is structured the right way on your resume, upload it to the tool below — it’ll scan your resume sections, identify any mistakes and give you suggestions for improvements.

Dos and don’ts of putting church volunteer work on your resume

All of that is pretty straightforward, but it still leaves one question: Is it good to include church volunteer work on a resume? Here are some basic do’s and don’ts to help you decide.

DO: Include church volunteer work on your resume if you held a volunteer role that’s very similar to the job you’re now applying for.

DON’T: Include occasional volunteer work, like if you helped organize a small one-time event or only volunteer at a soup kitchen on holidays.

DO: Consider the culture of the organization you’re applying to when deciding if it’s a good idea to put church volunteer work on your resume.

DON’T: Include things like church attendance or otherwise directly state your religion on your resume (unless you’re applying for an explicitly religious institution and they ask for it).

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How to design a volunteering program in your workplace

More workplaces are bolstering their volunteer programs, especially as employee demands grow for socially responsible employers and engagement

More workplaces are bolstering their volunteer programs, especially as employee demands grow for socially responsible employers and engagement. Nearly three in five companies surveyed by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals reported increased opportunities for group volunteering last year.

With National Volunteer Week in the rearview mirror, coworkers buoyed by recent acts of kindness might be looking for ways to integrate service more regularly into their professional schedules. They stand to benefit themselves, too. Recent University of Oxford research suggests organized volunteering is one of the most effective workplace programs for improving workers' well-being.

But not all corporate volunteering is created equal. The following advice from experts and nonprofit leaders provides some best practices for anyone interested in building or strengthening an officewide culture of service.

Dr. Eddy Hogg, a University of Kent lecturer who studies volunteering, recommends giving agency to employees in the design of their workplace volunteer program. People who volunteer on their own time likely have a much more personal connection to the cause, he said, whereas an employee group will have varied levels of interest in any given act of service.

Allowing employees to select from a range of local community groups, and suggest their own, can help ensure everyone feels connected to their nonprofit partner's mission. Affinity groups can be a good place to start aligning employee interests with service work.

Still, buy-in from the entire corporate ladder is necessary.

“It's one thing for a guy in head office to think it's a good idea,” Hogg said. “But if people's line managers think it's a load of rubbish, it's not going to happen. Even if the staff are actually really keen to do it."

Hogg also recommends breaking away from the short-term, light-touch days of service frequently featured in company press releases. Otherwise, Hogg says, you’re essentially just participating in a company retreat. Deep connections between employees and the community won't form if they only interact once or twice a year.

“You might as well just put everyone on a bus and take them up to the Catskills, right?" he said.

Bosses and nonprofit leaders to communicate how the chosen activity will benefit the community. That means fostering direct interactions with the people being served, said Jessica Rodell, which can help ensure employees return for future volunteering.

“The more meaningful the activity, the better," said Rodell, a University of Georgia management professor.

Cold-calling charitable organizations can be daunting. Luckily, there are third-party organizations ready to partner companies looking for skills-based volunteering opportunities with nonprofits in need of extra help.

Common Impact leverages the increased power of corporations in society by connecting their employees with community groups. CEO Leila Saad describes it as the corporate version of legal pro bono work.

The nonprofit has partnered with dozens of Fortune 500 companies. Common Impact connected Allstate employees with a Wisconsin domestic violence prevention group to improve staff parental and bereavement leave polices, for example. It also brought Blue Cross Blue Shield employees together with a Worcester, Massachusetts gang rehabilitation program that needed help collecting data to measure its success in grant applications.

Employees working at smaller companies could consider partnering with their local Big Brothers Big Sisters of America club. Mentors help high school students plan for post-graduation life by helping fill out college aid forms or choose majors under its “Big Futures” program.

The necessary commitment levels come and go, according to Chief Development Officer Deborah Barge. Volunteers might only show up once to a career fair, for example. Others may work with mentees for about six or more hours across several days.

Lower the barrier to entry by creating a variety of programs where newcomers can wet their feet and seasoned volunteers can go all-in. In a corporate world where employees are increasingly working hybrid schedules and spread out geographically, that means providing some remote service opportunities.

The beauty brand Shiseido Americas ships volunteer kits out to its employees scattered across its New York headquarters, New Jersey manufacturing facilities, Ohio warehouse and regional offices around the country. Keep America Beautiful, an environmental nonprofit that works to end littering and expand recycling, has cleanup kits used by Shiseido employees to beautify local parks. The company also sends kits with materials so employees can make blankets or decorate bags for foster children.

A robust employee engagement program should celebrate the “wholeness” of who they are,” said Melissa MacDonnell, head of the Liberty Mutual Foundation.

The insurance company often starts by inviting organizations that have already been the recipient of donations through its employee match program, MacDonnell said, and also solicits suggestions from employees.

In addition to monthslong, skills-based opportunities, MacDonnell said Liberty Mutual also offers curated service projects that employees can sign up to join during the first three weeks in May.

“If you’re forcing it, it doesn’t feel authentic,” said Julia Haase, the chief operating officer for Liberty Mutual Investments. “If you give people the platform and the choice -- the where and when and how they want to engage -- I think they will feel empowered to pursue those areas that are really meaningful to them.”

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

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