This post shares my recommendations for volunteer opportunities in Austin.
It’s hard to think of a time when volunteering wasn’t part of my life. There were regular volunteer opportunities at church as a child, I did service work in high school for academic organizations, and I volunteered as an intern for various organizations in college. I had the time and capabilities, so why not? I found (and still find) it educational, enriching, and necessary.
Nonprofit organizations regularly count on volunteers to accomplish their mission, and it’s easy to see the impact the work has on the people they help and the community around them.
I hope this post encourages you to start a regular volunteer routine by giving you some recommendations.
Why Volunteer?
These are the places we live, work, and play. These are our neighbors. It’s my duty as a member of my community, and it’s an honor to be able to give my time and energy to help others in my community and to help create a community where we can all thrive. Can you imagine a place where people are fed, supported, and living their best lives? Or an environment that is clean and healthy?
These are some of the ways volunteering has a deep impact. By volunteering, you:
- Change lives in your community
- Support the growth and wellness of your community
- Improve your mental and physical health
- Gain new skills and experiences
- Support conservation efforts
- Build social connections
- Create ripples for future generations
Volunteer at These Austin Non-Profits
A fraction of the 700+ nonprofit organizations in the Austin area are featured in this post. These are places I’ve volunteered before or am familiar with.
*Sometimes the volunteer task doesn’t have you working directly with those the organization aids. For example, you may end up painting an office or organizing a room. Tasks vary, and finding one that matches your interests and capabilities takes a little effort!
If you want to: help our outdoor spaces thrive by working in the dirt
- Austin Parks Foundation
- Green Corn Project
- Festival Beach Food Forest
- Keep Austin Beautiful
- Treefolks
- Urban Roots
- Waterloo Greenway Conservancy
Looking for ways to help animals
- Austin Animal Center
- Austin Humane Society
- Austin Pets Alive!
- Austin Wildlife Rescue
- Safe in Austin – rescues animals who suffer from abuse or neglect and introduces them to people with similar backgrounds
If you want to: support the well-being of your neighbors
- Austin Marathon, Cap10K, Spurs Austin International Half – support runners as they go through race day (these are 3 of the biggest races in Austin)
- Austin Creative Reuse – promotes conservation and reuse by selling gently-used creative materials
- Casa Marianella – provides shelter and support to displaced immigrants and asylum seekers
- Central Texas Food Bank – largest hunger relief charity in Central Texas
- Community First! Village – provides affordable, permanent housing to formerly unhoused neighbors
- Heartening – puts clothing back into the community as cheaply and efficiently as possible
- Meals on Wheels – provides meals and services to older adults and people with disabilities
- Mobile Loaves & Fishes – provides food, clothing, and other life-sustaining items to the homeless
Opportunities to support kids in Austin
- BookSpring – ignites the love of reading and builds literacy skills in kids
- Center for Child Protection – reduces trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children
- GirlForward – serves girls in grades 9-12 who identify as refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers
- Girlstart – empowers girls in grades 4-8 in STEM
- HopeAustin – provides food security
How to Start Volunteering
First, narrow down what type of organization would be a fit for you.
What do you enjoy doing?
- Would you rather be inside or outside? Do you want to be around people or animals?
What causes are you passionate about?
- The above list gives you an idea of the causes – environment, animals, education, homelessness, senior adults, and basic needs (like hunger).
How much time can you commit?
- Some volunteer programs are more in-depth, with an orientation session and a minimum hour requirement. Consistency is very helpful for organizations to plan. Once a month is a great place to start!
Explore 700+ nonprofits in Austin/Central Texas on AmplifyATX.org. Here you can view organizations by their cause category. Consider the organization’s location relative to your home to help with consistency.
I volunteer every 2nd Saturday with Volunteering Untapped (VU). It’s a good organization if you just want to get started. We volunteer with a different organization every month, so it’s an opportunity to have variety and to learn more about an organization before becoming a regular volunteer. VU also focuses on community and encourages volunteers to join in their social time (“volunbeering”) after the event. Learn more on the website.
Need more volunteer ideas? Check out this post about food-related volunteer opportunities.
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