Volunteer Opportunities
What do volunteers do?
On the most basic level, volunteer work is just what it sounds like - doing service work for an organization of your own accord, without pay. Many organizations, such as non-profit organizations, depend on volunteers to assist with day-to-day operations and to carry out the mission of the organization.
Types of opportunities
There are several different types of volunteer opportunities. Some positions require an on-going commitment (every Friday afternoon to answer the phone for a local crisis line) while others are on a one-time basis only (helping staff at an annual fundraising auction). Some positions require prior skills or completion of training for specific work and often ask for a long-term commitment.
Before deciding to volunteer, you might want to check out these Ten Tips on Volunteering.
Finding out more about volunteer opportunities
- Volunteer Opportunities Mailing List
A number of the Carlson Center's community partners need volunteers on a regular basis as well as for for periodic events. To receive information via email about upcoming volunteer opportunities, subscribe yourself to community_opportunities. -
Volunteer Resources
Links containing searchable databases or contact information for organizations with volunteer service opportunities in the Seattle area, as well as information that may be of use to students currently involved in service.
United Way of King County
United Way works to strengthen King County communities through funding and other resources. UWKC maintains an excellent local volunteer database, searchable by issue interest and ZIP code.
VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch is dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. Volunteers enter their ZIP code and issue interest on the VolunteerMatch web site to find volunteer opportunities posted by nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. VolunteerMatch specializes in both local & national volunteer opportunities.
SeattleWorks
SeattleWorks specializes in volunteer opportunities that inform, connect, and inspire people in their 20s and 30s to take action in our community. Find out how to get involved on a SeattleWorks team or check out their Hot Projects calendar for one-time commitment volunteer opportunities.
Idealist.org:
A project of Action Without Borders, Idealist includes a searchable database of over 24,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 153 countries, thousands of volunteer opportunities in your community and around the world, a list of organizations that can help you volunteer abroad, and a Nonprofit Career Center on the Web that features hundreds of job and internship listings. Explore the idealist database to find volunteer opportunities!
Students in Service
Students in Service(SIS) is an Americorps program that allows college students to receive tuition awards for completing a requisite ammount of community service. Information concerning the Students in Service program at the University of Washington can be found on the SIS section of the Carlson Center website.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
The
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service takes place on January 21, 2008. Register in advance to serve as a volunteer, or take on additional responsibility as a Project Leader, at one of over 50 different service projects around the greater Seattle community by visiting the UW MLK Jr. Day of Service website.
University of Washington Medical Center
At UW Medical Center, volunteers assist patients, family members, and guests and are valued members of the health-care team. Through their generous contribution of time, volunteers add to the quality of care and service provided to our patients. The Volunteer Services Program has many volunteer opportunities that await you.
University of Washington Global Health Resource Center
The mission of the Global Health Resource Center is to coordinate activities and information about global health education, training, research, funding, employment opportunities and events; to connect undergraduate, graduate/professional students, faculty, staff, individuals, communities and organizations; and to catalyze opportunities for international, interprofessional collaboration and exchange for the six schools of the University of Washington Health Sciences, their international partners and the UW campus as a whole.
