Many of us have a genuine desire to help others and the world around us. Volunteering is an excellent way to fulfill our more altruistic needs and helps each of us to contribute to the development of more resilient, diverse and vibrant communities.

One of the greatest barriers to becoming a volunteer is that individuals simply don’t know where to go, or what to do, to get started. Being able to find enough volunteers is also a critical challenge for many NFPs because, without the good work and efforts of volunteers, it becomes impossible to achieve the NFP’s goals and mission.

Fortunately, there are several organisations that offer easy to use portals that bring volunteers and the NFPs together in one place and help them to connect. Be certain to try out one of the following three sites the next time that you are searching for local volunteer opportunities or if your NFP needs help recruiting new volunteers.

I Can Do That

Self-described as Victoria Australia’s Volunteering Portal, this site allows both volunteers and NFPs and other community assistance organisations to register and search for opportunities to connect. This site makes it easy for volunteers to find local opportunities to help out in their community as it allows users to narrow their search by keyword, as well as location and the amount of time that they wish to donate.

One of the key barriers to volunteer work is that most people lead very busy lives, and so only have a very limited amount of time to donate. So this site is perfect because it allows users to find opportunities that only require a minimal amount of time and effort to help out.

ProBono Australia Volunteer Portal

One of the most significant challenges for NFPs that are looking for volunteers is being able to connect with potential recruits that already have specific skills or training in their background. ProBono’s Volunteer Portal allows users to search for opportunities based on their education and other experiences.

So, if your NFP needs a volunteer with a legal background or other technical or professional experience, this site makes it easier to find and connect with someone with the right expertise and experience.

Go Volunteer

This site is a volunteer portal offered by Volunteer Australia, and can be accessed online via desktop, or it’s easy to use mobile apps, which makes it the perfect site for finding opportunities and connecting with others while you are out and about and on the go!

The site also offers a number of ways to search for opportunities to volunteer, as results can be sorted by type, such as volunteer opportunities for students and corporate as well as opportunities for events such as emergencies and environmental impact volunteers or even opportunities to help out that are kid friendly or for groups. Search results can be further refined based on location, cause and event.

Since users have so many options to refine their search, the site is especially useful in times of emergency or natural disaster where volunteers with particular skills might want to help out. For example, someone with medical training can use the app to easily and quickly find opportunities to help in a specific location that’s experienced flooding or an earthquake.

The site also provides a portal where NFPs can register, provide information about their NFP mission, goals, and volunteer opportunities as well as connect directly with and respond to potential volunteers.

While significant obstacles to volunteering remain, online portals and other digital media platforms are making it easier for NFPs and volunteers to connect. Has your NFP registered at any sites in an effort to recruit more volunteers? Why not share your NFP’s experience with using digital media to recruit volunteers with other readers in the comments section below?