How does volunteering with Volunnear work?

Who this applies to

This applies to anyone looking for a first or next volunteer shift in New York City. Remote opportunities are included.

How it works

1. Tell the assistant your borough or something you like, such as animals, food, or parks. One of the two is enough to start.
2. Add free days, skills, your age, or a group size if they matter. The assistant uses only what you say.
3. Read each match. It shows the title, organization, borough, minimum age, whether a background check is needed, the next shift, and the sign-up link.
4. Open the link and sign up on the organization's page.
5. If you want a reminder, come back and tell the assistant which listing you signed up for.

What to know

• Every opportunity belongs to a partner organization, and that organization runs the shift.
• Sign-ups happen on the organization's page, not in the chat.
• The assistant gives only facts that come from the listing. If a listing does not say something, the assistant does not know it.
• If nothing matches exactly, the assistant tells you which preference it ignored, such as a different day of the week.
• Your age and group size are checked against each listing automatically.
• Volunnear has no accounts and no mobile app. Everything happens in the chat.

An example

Maria lives in Queens, likes animals, and is free on Saturdays. She tells the assistant, and nothing matches on Saturday. The assistant says so plainly and shows two animal listings on other days. Maria opens one link and signs up on the organization's page.

What we cannot do

• Sign you up from inside the chat.
• Promise that an organization will accept you.
• Offer live phone support.

Need a person?

If nothing fits or you would rather talk to a person, say "I would like to talk to a coordinator." The assistant will hand you to one.

Related articles

• Does Volunnear guarantee me a volunteer spot?
• Can I volunteer remotely?
• How do I reach a Volunnear coordinator?