Volunteer Log Template¶
Track your volunteer hours, activities, and impact over time.
How to Use This Template¶
- Copy this template or create a spreadsheet version
- Log each volunteer session promptly (details fade quickly)
- Review monthly to identify patterns and adjust
- Use totals for tax records, resumes, or personal reflection
Volunteer Log¶
Year: ______¶
| Date | Organization | Activity | Hours | Skills Used | Impact/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Totals:
| Month | Hours | Organizations |
|---|---|---|
| January | ||
| February | ||
| March | ||
| April | ||
| May | ||
| June | ||
| July | ||
| August | ||
| September | ||
| October | ||
| November | ||
| December | ||
| TOTAL |
Quarterly Reflection¶
Q1 (Jan-Mar)¶
Total hours: ___
What went well?
What could improve?
Am I on track for my annual goal?
Q2 (Apr-Jun)¶
Total hours: ___
What went well?
What could improve?
Am I on track for my annual goal?
Q3 (Jul-Sep)¶
Total hours: ___
What went well?
What could improve?
Am I on track for my annual goal?
Q4 (Oct-Dec)¶
Total hours: ___
What went well?
What could improve?
Did I meet my annual goal?
Annual Summary¶
Year: ______
Total volunteer hours: ______
Organizations served:¶
-¶
Key activities:¶
-¶
Most meaningful moment:
What I learned:
Goals for next year:
Tips for Effective Tracking¶
Why Track?¶
- Accountability: Seeing progress motivates continued effort
- Patterns: Identify what works and what doesn't
- Records: Some employers, schools, or tax situations require documentation
- Reflection: Transform experience into learning
What to Record¶
Minimum: - Date - Organization - Hours
Better: - Activity description - Skills used or developed - Contact person
Best: - Impact observed (meals served, people helped, etc.) - Reflections and learnings - Follow-up items
Verification¶
If you need verified hours (for school, court, employers): - Get supervisor signature at each session - Request official documentation from organization - Keep contact information for references
Sample Entries¶
| Date | Organization | Activity | Hours | Skills Used | Impact/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/15 | Food Bank | Sorted donations | 3 | Organization, teamwork | Sorted 200+ lbs of food. Met great volunteers. |
| 1/22 | Big Brothers | Mentoring session | 2 | Listening, mentoring | Worked on math homework. Marcus improved a lot! |
| 2/3 | Crisis Text Line | Shift | 4 | Active listening, crisis support | Handled 6 conversations. One was very intense - debriefed with supervisor. |
| 2/10 | Habitat | Build day | 6 | Basic construction | Helped frame walls. Physically tired but satisfying. |
Part of The Helper's Handbook