4 Ways you Can Volunteer Right Now

Continuing with what we learned in my article on the Theory of Change, in this week's post I wanted to highlight one of the ways you can be a philanthropist without giving tons of money: Giving your time.

Volunteering is a neglected form of philanthropy that, as this list will show, can actually be straightforward and very easy to get started.

With that all being said, let's get into just a few of the ways you can give back without spending a dime!

1. Go on a Working Holiday

Although not completely dedicated to philanthropic causes, sites like Workaway are dedicated with connecting travelers to host families in need of assistance.

By helping a host family in need overseas, you can have a great learning experience of living in another culture, offering a helping hand to others, and enjoy a break from the hustle and bustle of urban living.

Sounds like a deal to me!

2. Be a Translator

Translator without Borders is a nonprofit that helps people around the world get access to information they need in their native language, a service which is only starting to become more and more important.

The great thing about volunteering online as a translator is that you don't even have to leave the comfort of your home and the only qualifications you really need is to know two or more languages.

As communities need translation services in industries like health, ecology, and forced displacement, volunteering as a translator is one of the most impactful and convenient ways you can give back now!

3. Browse a Volunteering Network

Although a bit more obvious, browsing for opportunities near you using a volunteering forum or index is another great way to get started.

Sites like The Opportunity Network and VolunteerMatch are just two of many organizations that seek to connect you to serving opportunities in your area.

It's sites like these that show us that giving our time to others usually isn't as difficult as we make it out to be, but the next section will discuss an even more convenient option...

4. Ask your Neighbor

In this day and age, we have largely lost the neighborly connection that our ancestors so commonly enjoyed. Simple acts like sharing meals, living spaces, and even sharing time with neighbors, are all but rarities in today's culture.

That's why for our last section on our list, I wanted to highlight a more subtle, yet equally impactful way we can give back to our community, and that's by simply asking!

Whether you seek out to create a professional non-profit or you just ask your neighbor if there's any help they need, both methods equally capture the heart of what philanthropy is all about: to love humanity.

What this list has hopefully showed you is that, you don't need to have a big bank account or a tremendous amount of free time to make an impact, you can start now!