Guidelines for Opportunity Listings

At VolunteerMatch all opportunity listings should follow these guidelines:

Be Specific

A VolunteerMatch Opportunity IS a place to help volunteers find the activities at your organization, so make sure to list specific tasks that you need help with.

Don’t Spam

Don’t spoil volunteer opportunity search results for volunteers. Your opportunities are visible for a 20 mile radius around the zip code they are listed within. Don’t create multiple similar opportunities (or similar organizations with similar opportunities) in zip code after zip code. Nobody likes spam. If you need to cover a larger geographic area, use our multi-ZIP tool.

Postings that result in redundant search results, recommendations, and or opportunity alerts for volunteers are subject to removal.

Don’t Scam

VolunteerMatch listings are used to recruit volunteers to perform specific tasks related to the advancement of an organization’s nonprofit mission. An organization found to be in violation is subject to removal from the site (e.g., soliciting donations in exchange for service hours verification letters).

Don’t Advertise

A VolunteerMatch Opportunity is not a place for you to advertise your website. We do have some great sponsorship opportunities though if you’re looking to direct traffic to your own website.

Compensation

VolunteerMatch isn’t a job placement board. We know that some opportunities involve stipends or reimbursement. If you’re offering any form of financial compensation, be sure to research any applicable state and Federal laws and ensure you're in compliance. 

Ask for Fundraisers, Not Funds

VolunteerMatch is a great place to recruit volunteers to help with fundraising activities, but is not a place to ask directly for funds. 

Be Upfront About Any Volunteer Costs or Material Requirements

A VolunteerMatch opportunity is a place to set expectations with your volunteers, including if you need them to help provide materials for a task, or if there's a cost associated with the opportunity. This includes, but is not limited to, providing yarn for blankets, paying for the cost of a background check or fingerprinting services, etc.

Take Care When Posting Virtual Opportunities

If the listing is marked "virtual" it will be visible to volunteers regardless of their location, and the opportunity must be equally accessible and equally relevant to volunteers located anywhere in the world. A virtual opportunity is not the same as an opportunity that takes place in a local community that can be performed at home, such as fostering an animal. Writing newsletter articles, researching and writing grant proposals, or providing phone support are all examples of virtual opportunities.

All listings must comply with the VolunteerMatch Terms of Use and applicable local, state and federal laws. If you have any questions about these guidelines, or if you’re unsure if your listing is appropriate for VolunteerMatch, please don't hesitate to contact us via the 'Submit a request' tool at the top of the page.