Tools & Platforms for Helpers¶
Apps, websites, and resources to amplify your impact
Finding Volunteer Opportunities¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| VolunteerMatch | Largest volunteer opportunity database | volunteermatch.org |
| Idealist | Jobs, internships, and volunteer positions | idealist.org |
| All for Good | Aggregates opportunities from multiple sources | allforgood.org |
| JustServe | Community service projects | justserve.org |
| Points of Light | Corporate and individual volunteering | pointsoflight.org |
| 211 | Local human services resource (dial 211) | 211.org |
| HandsOn Network | Local volunteer centers | handsonnetwork.org |
Charity Research & Evaluation¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| GiveWell | Deep research on cost-effective charities | givewell.org |
| Charity Navigator | Financial health and accountability ratings | charitynavigator.org |
| GuideStar (Candid) | Nonprofit database and financials | candid.org |
| Animal Charity Evaluators | Research on animal welfare organizations | animalcharityevaluators.org |
| BBB Wise Giving Alliance | Charity accountability standards | give.org |
| The Life You Can Save | Curated list of effective charities | thelifeyoucansave.org |
| ImpactMatters | (now part of Charity Navigator) | charitynavigator.org |
Donation Management¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Charitable | Donor-advised fund | fidelitycharitable.org |
| Schwab Charitable | Donor-advised fund | schwabcharitable.org |
| Daffy | Modern donor-advised fund (app-based) | daffy.org |
| Every.org | Simplified giving platform | every.org |
| Benevity | Corporate giving platform | benevity.com |
| Giving What We Can | Giving pledge tracking | givingwhatwecan.org |
Micro-Volunteering Apps¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Be My Eyes | Video calls to assist blind/low-vision users | bemyeyes.com |
| Zooniverse | Citizen science projects | zooniverse.org |
| Missing Maps | Humanitarian mapping | missingmaps.org |
| Charity Miles | Earn donations while exercising | charitymiles.org |
| ShareTheMeal | Micro-donations for hunger | sharethemeal.org |
| FreeRice | Answer questions, donate rice | freerice.com |
| Folding@home | Donate computing power for research | foldingathome.org |
Skills-Based Volunteering¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Catchafire | Professional skills matching | catchafire.org |
| Taproot Foundation | Pro bono consulting projects | taprootfoundation.org |
| DataKind | Data science for social good | datakind.org |
| Code for America | Civic tech | codeforamerica.org |
| ADPList | Design/product/tech mentoring | adplist.org |
| SCORE | Small business mentoring | score.org |
Crisis Support Training & Platforms¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Crisis Text Line | Text-based crisis support | crisistextline.org |
| 7 Cups | Online emotional support | 7cups.com |
| Trevor Project | LGBTQ+ youth crisis support | thetrevorproject.org |
| RAINN | Sexual assault survivor support | rainn.org |
| Koko | Peer support platform | koko.ai |
Mutual Aid & Community¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Nothing Project | Hyperlocal gift economy | buynothingproject.org |
| MutualAid.wiki | Mutual aid directory | mutualaid.wiki |
| Nextdoor | Neighborhood social network | nextdoor.com |
| Little Free Library | Community book sharing | littlefreelibrary.org |
| Lasagna Love | Meal sharing for families | lasagnalove.org |
| Meal Train | Coordinate meals for those in need | mealtrain.com |
Advocacy & Civic Engagement¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Resistbot | Text to contact representatives | Text RESIST to 50409 |
| 5 Calls | Calling scripts for advocacy | 5calls.org |
| Countable / Causes | Track bills, contact officials | causes.com |
| Vote.org | Voter registration and information | vote.org |
| Ballotpedia | Election and candidate information | ballotpedia.org |
| OpenSecrets | Money in politics tracking | opensecrets.org |
| Change.org | Petition platform | change.org |
Translation & Language¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Tarjimly | Translation for refugees | tarjimly.org |
| Translators Without Borders | Humanitarian translation | clearglobal.org |
| Kiva | Translate microloan profiles | kiva.org/volunteer |
Tracking Your Impact¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Volunteer | Volunteer hour tracking | goldenvolunteer.com |
| Helper Helper | Volunteer management | helperhelper.com |
| Track It Forward | Hour tracking for organizations | trackitforward.com |
| Spreadsheet templates | DIY tracking | See our templates |
Learning & Training¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| +Acumen | Social impact courses | plusacumen.org |
| Coursera | Nonprofit management courses | coursera.org |
| Nonprofit Ready | Free nonprofit training | nonprofitready.org |
| Stanford Social Innovation Review | Research and articles | ssir.org |
| Beautiful Trouble | Activism tactics | beautifultrouble.org |
Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation¶
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Red Cross Blood Donor App | Find blood drives, track donations | redcrossblood.org |
| AABB Blood Bank Locator | Find donation centers | aabb.org |
| Be The Match | Bone marrow registry | bethematch.org |
| Donate Life | Organ donor registration | donatelife.net |
Mobile Apps Summary¶
Quick download list for helpers:
- Be My Eyes — Help blind users with video calls
- Charity Miles — Turn exercise into donations
- ShareTheMeal — Micro-donations for hunger
- Red Cross Blood Donor — Find and track blood donations
- Buy Nothing — Local giving and sharing
- Crisis Text Line (volunteer) — Text-based crisis support
- Resistbot — Easy advocacy via text
See also: Templates for tracking your volunteering and donations