Third-party Resources

The following organizations and websites present a host of resources to identify volunteer opportunities and help companies create,  enhance and evaluate their community service programs.  Know another resource to add to this list?  Send suggestions to Katie Griffith at the AGA at kgriffith@americangaming.org.

Identifying Volunteer Opportunities

• VolunteerMatch is one of the country’s largest active networks of volunteer recruiters connecting volunteers with over 81,000 nonprofit organizations and programs.
• HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of the Points of Light Institute, is a network of 250 volunteer centers in 16 countries around the world that focus on helping people find and engage in volunteer opportunities in their local communities. The site includes a section dedicated to helping potential volunteers identify opportunities in their area.
• United We Serve is a nationwide service initiative helping to meet the growing social needs of America.  It is the division of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service dedicated to helping individuals plan service projects, recruit volunteers, find volunteer opportunities and share stories of service.

Creating and Evaluating Employee Volunteer Programs

• HandsOn Network for Companies is a go-to resource for tools to help companies enhance their community service initiatives.  The site includes tools for building a successful employee volunteer program (EVP), benchmarking/evaluating your EVP, recognizing volunteers, a volunteer time calculator, partnership opportunities and more.
• Volunteering In America, a project of the Corporation for National and Community Service, is an excellent resource for city, state and national volunteering data covering diverse demographics.  The tips and tools section also provides resources on how to become a volunteer, how to recruit and retain volunteers, as well as links to other useful websites.
• The Idea Encore Volunteering Resource Library, developed by VolunteerMatch, is an excellent tool to help companies recruit, manage and recognize volunteers.  The library includes downloadable reports from multiple sources.  The CSR section  includes best practices and tips for refining your employee volunteer program.

National Organizations

• The Points of Light Institute is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging people in solving serious social problems.  The organization manages a number of volunteer programs including the HandsOn Network, generationOn and Americorps Alums.
• The Corporation for National and Community Service is a U.S. federal agency that connects more than five million Americans to service opportunities through 70,000 community and faith based organizations every year.  Their website is an excellent resource for all things service-related.
• The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship provides a broad and objective perspective on the role of business in the 21st century.  The site provides resources on wide range of CSR issues, including corporate philanthropy and volunteering.