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The Helper's Handbook 🩺

A practical guide for people who want to make the world better.

Whether you have five minutes or five hours, a dollar or a thousand, specialized skills or just a willing heart—this handbook will help you find meaningful ways to help others.

Why This Exists

The desire to help is universal. The knowledge of how to help effectively is not. This handbook bridges that gap with practical, actionable guidance for anyone ready to make a difference.

We believe: - Everyone can help — regardless of wealth, skills, or circumstances - Effective help matters — good intentions should produce good outcomes - Small acts compound — consistent kindness creates massive change over time - Systemic change is possible — individual action and collective action reinforce each other

How to Use This Guide

Just starting out? Begin with Chapter 1: Getting Started to assess your skills and find your fit.

Know what you want? Jump directly to the chapter that matches your interest:

Chapter Best For
Getting Started Finding your path, assessing skills and capacity
Local Action Hands-on help in your community
Online Helping Remote volunteering, digital skills
Giving Wisely Maximizing the impact of donations
Crisis Response Helping during emergencies and disasters
Everyday Acts Small daily kindnesses that matter
Systemic Change Advocacy, organizing, policy change

Looking for resources? Check out: - Vetted Organizations - Tools & Platforms - Templates for tracking your impact

Table of Contents

Core Chapters

  1. Getting Started — Mindset, finding your fit, assessing what you can offer
  2. Local Action — Volunteering, mutual aid, community organizing
  3. Online Helping — Remote volunteering, crisis lines, digital skills
  4. Giving Wisely — Effective giving, charity evaluation, maximizing impact
  5. Crisis Response — How to help in emergencies and disasters
  6. Everyday Acts — Small daily kindnesses that add up
  7. Systemic Change — Advocacy, organizing, policy change

Resources

  • Organizations — Curated list of vetted organizations by cause area
  • Tools — Apps, platforms, and trackers for helpers
  • Templates — Volunteer log, donation tracker, and more

Contributing

Quick Start: 5 Ways to Help Today

  1. 5 minutes: Text a friend going through a hard time
  2. 15 minutes: Sign up for Be My Eyes to help blind users
  3. 30 minutes: Donate blood at your local blood bank
  4. 1 hour: Sort food at a local food bank
  5. Ongoing: Set up a monthly $5 donation to a GiveWell top charity

The Helper's Mindset

Before diving in, remember:

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

You don't need to be perfect. You don't need to solve everything. You just need to start, stay consistent, and keep learning. Every person who shifts from passive concern to active helping makes the world measurably better.

Let's begin.

License

This handbook is open source under CC BY-SA 4.0. Share it, adapt it, translate it—just give credit and keep it open.

Built with care by Dr. DoGood and contributors. Last updated: February 2026.