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Match charities to your interests -

A great first step in your volunteering journey is to find charities that match your interests. If you want to give back but you don’t know where, this is a crucial step.

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Match charities to your interests -

Of course, you may already have a charity in mind that you want to volunteer for. If not, however, have a think about what you like to do in your spare time.

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Match charities to your interests -

If you love to spend time outdoors, for example, a beach cleanup or a community gardening project might be a great volunteering opportunity for you.

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Work out what you can offer -

Once you have determined the sort of charity you would like to volunteer for, have a good hard think about what you can offer.

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Work out what you can offer -

It is important that you are realistic about how much time you can commit and what you hope to achieve. The last thing you want is to overcommit and underperform.

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Work out what you can offer -

Have a think about how much time you can commit and when, and also consider what you can bring to the volunteering role, as well as what you hope to get out of it.

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Reach out! -

Once you have all that sorted in your mind, you can start reaching out to your charities of interest (if you’re super organized, you’ll probably have them in a list by this point!).

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Reach out! -

Put in a phone call to the charities you would like to work with, and assess whether your skill set matches up with the kind of help they need.

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Reach out! -

Larger charities often have established volunteering programs in place, so be prepared to attend an interview and/or undergo training if you are accepted as a volunteer.

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Make a commitment -

Once you have found your dream volunteering position and you’ve been offered a place, be sure to commit yourself properly to it.

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Make a commitment -

Unfortunately, there are far too many volunteers who show up late, cancel at the last minute, or produce limited results. These volunteers end up stalling the mission instead of pushing it forward.

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Make a commitment -

On the other hand, committed volunteers with a strong work ethic can do a lot to help charities meet their ambitious goals.

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Expand your reach -

Another great way to show support for your chosen cause is to recruit other volunteers. Studies show that most volunteers sign up because they were asked.

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Expand your reach -

Don’t be shy about promoting the charity you volunteer for; share it with your friends and family on social media and get people talking.

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Expand your reach -

Recruiting your friends and family to join you as volunteers has the added benefit of making the whole volunteering experience more enjoyable for you.

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Other ways to give back -

Of course, finding time to volunteer can be difficult for many people. If that’s you, fear not! There are other ways you can show support for a cause that require less time.

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Give blood -

Perhaps the most convenient charitable move out there is to give blood. Donating blood to organizations like the Red Cross is completely free, and it takes only a few minutes.

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Give blood -

Moreover, your blood donation may help to save someone’s life. According to the Red Cross, around 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the US alone, so your donation will never go amiss.

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Donate your belongings -

Another way you can show support for a cause is to donate your belongings. Many charities welcome donated goods, such as clothes, furniture, and cars.

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Donate your belongings -

If you have some things to get rid of, provided they are in reasonable condition, consider donating them to charity, rather than throwing them away.

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Raise funds -

You could also consider raising funds for your chosen charity. There are ways to do this that do not take up so much of your time.

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Raise funds -

Sharing your cause on social media, for example, or participating in a sponsored walk can be great ways to raise those all important funds.

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Shop at the right places -

Nowadays, shopping at the right places can help you make sure you are sending your money in the right direction.

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Shop at the right places -

Many merchants donate some of their proceeds to charities, so it’s worth checking whether your go-to stores donate some of your purchase money to charity.

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Ask for employer gift matching -

It is also worth checking whether your employer offers donation matching. There are many companies that match, i.e. double some or all of your charitable donations.

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Ask for employer gift matching -

If this is not something that your company currently offers, you could consider talking to the HR department about introducing something similar.

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Ask for gift donations -

A final idea is to ask for gift donations for your birthday, instead of a gift for yourself. Your friends and family will likely be more than happy to make a charity donation on your behalf.

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Ask for gift donations - This is common practice; many charities make it very easy to set up a birthday campaign to gather gift donations.

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All in all -

So there you have it, some tips for getting started on volunteering, and some other ideas for how to give back if you are time-poor.

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Above all else -

The most important thing to remember with giving to charity is that every little bit helps. Whether it’s a small monetary donation or a couple hours of your time, it all goes towards making this world a better place.

Sources: (Charity Navigator) (USA Today)

See also: Easy ways to make a difference in the world

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