Opportunities
Volunteer Central is the volunteer center for individuals and businesses that want to make a difference in their Baltimore community. Whether you have a time for a large or small commitment, they can get you connected.
K-12 Education
The Arc of Baltimore matches volunteers with someone with a developmental disability through their Arc Buddies program. Mentors contact their buddy at least once a week by a phone call, a note, or a home visit and can also take buddies out on social outings. The Arc also has volunteer needs at their day programs.
Coaching Corps seeks to bridge the gap between organizations that need committed, trained coaches and college students who want to learn leadership skills and mentor youth in an active, sport environment. Coaching Corps is currently recruiting college student volunteers to coach kids in the Baltimore and surrounding areas No coaching experience is necessary!
Higher Achievement Baltimore helps under-served middle-school students in Baltimore City through at an after-school mentoring program. Mentors work with small-groups of students in grades 5-8 in math, Literature, a Seminar topic, as well as homework help. The commitment would be one night a week during the school year from 5:30 pm to 7:15 pm.
The Refugee Youth Project seeks to improve the lives of Baltimore's youngest refugees by supporting their academic needs, and making their acculturation simple and meaningful. Refugees receive academic tutoring and acculturation support from trained volunteer tutors, who assist young refugees (Pre K- 12th grade) with homework, commit to 2 hours a day (once a week), chaperone field trips to local cultural institutions, are open minded, have a willingness to learn about and respect people from other cultures.
Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y operates under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As Maryland's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, we make meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, in your local community. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
Soccer Without Borders (SWB) uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing newcomer refugee, asylee and immigrant youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success. SWB runs year-round, holistic programming to support the needs of newcomer youth in Maryland. Programming integrates English language learning with soccer, academic, civic engagement, cultural exchange, and team building activities to help newcomers positively integrate into the Baltimore community. SWB is looking for volunteers to serve as after school tutors and assistant soccer coaches for program sites at John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School (2:30-5:30pm) and Vanguard Collegiate Middle School (2:15-6pm). Volunteers must commit to helping out at least one day (Monday-Thursday) a week for a semester. If you are interested in getting involved, please complete the volunteer application. If you have any other questions, please contact Engagement Coordinator Stephanie Wolfe at stephanie@soccerwithoutborders.org
Reading Partners is a national children's literacy non-profit looking for volunteers to serve as literacy intervention tutors, who work with students 45 minutes per week. Tutors use a highly structured, scripted curriculum that is research based and proven to help a child grow a full grade level of reading skills.
Thread engages underperforming high school students confronting significant barriers outside of the classroom by providing each one with a family of committed volunteers and increased access to community resources. They foster students’ academic advancement and personal growth into self-motivated, resilient, and responsible citizens. Thread volunteers at Dunbar, ACCE, and Frederick Douglass High Schools in Baltimore City.
Arts and Culture
Art with a Heart enhances the lives of people in need through visual art. No art experience is needed but the desire to help with classes and programs is! Classes are usually conducted on weekdays and weekends, mornings, afternoons, and evenings; a wide variety of times so that you can help!
The Baltimore Museum of Art is home to an internationally renowned collection of 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art. Founded in 1914 with a single painting, the BMA today has 95,000 objects—including the largest public holding of works by Henri Matisse. Volunteers play an integral role in offering exciting and educational experiences for the Museum’s 200,000+ annual visitors. Join the BMA in their mission to provide an environment that inspires creativity, encourages learning, and fosters human understanding in a place where everyone feels welcome!
Workforce Development and Social Services
Serve as a Financial Resource Volunteer (FRV). Volunteers greet tax clients and share information about financial resources and services available at the tax site and throughout Baltimore City.
Since 1924, GBUL has been helping disadvantaged Marylanders gain access to equal opportunity in employment, education, health care, housing, and the civic arena.
Caroline Center educated women who are experiencing unemployment or want to leave low-wage jobs for meaningful careers with opportunities for advancement.
The House of Ruth Maryland leads the fight to end violence against women and their children by confronting the attitudes, behaviors, and systems that perpetuate it, and by providing victims with the services necessary to rebuild their lives safely and free of fear.
Healthy Families
Volunteers are needed to ride with a volunteer driver to deliver nutritious meals Monday through Friday from 11am to 1pm. Most routes are done in less than 45 minutes and are in the local area.
Spend an evening once a month baking delicious desserts at Moveable Feast. Volunteers are needed to help coordinate food details and general volunteers. All sweets are delivered to those in need and living with HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging conditions throughout the Greater Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. Bring a bit of sweetness to the lives of others!
Neighborhood Revitalization
The 6th Branch utilizes the leadership and organizational skills of military veterans and service minded civilians to execute aggressive community service initiatives in Baltimore City. Volunteers provide neighborhood park maintenance and revitalization; multiple days and times are available.
The Baltimore Community ToolBank offers tools and equipment to community-based organizations to strengthen and celebrate our shared community. Volunteers support this mission by maintaining and organizing inventory, assisting partners in loading and unloading orders and branding tools. In addition to tool stewardship, the ToolBank has multiple sustainable features onsite that volunteers help maintain at optimal levels including rain gardens and a Stormwater Factory. A range of indoor and outdoor work is available for group and individual volunteers.
The Humane Society is looking for animal lovers to help care for furry and cuddly creatures. Join the DogTown Team, SMAC Pack (Small Animal Care), or C3 Crew (Cat Care Club) and help out your favorite animal friends! Volunteers must complete a general orientation, animal handling class, and one-on-one mentoring with a staff member.
The Market Place, a clothing bank, at Paul's Place provides a boutique-like environment for men, women, and children to shop for gently used clothing. Volunteers sort and display donations of gently-used clothing and household items. They also act as personal shoppers, assisting guests to fulfill their shopping needs. Volunteers are needed Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Sustainability
Blue Water Baltimore restores the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, streams and harbor to foster a healthy environment, a strong economy, and thriving communities. Volunteers plant and care for trees, monitor local streams, clean up trash, and maintain the Herring Run Nursery. Volunteer as an individual or as part of a large group through single events or on-going projects.
The Fuel Fund of Maryland provides resources to vulnerable Maryland families for heat and home utility needs. The Watt Watchers is an educational program to teach individuals how to save energy and lower their bills. Volunteers are needed to teach a series of classes and to oversee the program. All training and materials provided by the Fuel Fund.
The Parks & People Foundation promotes a healthy, natural environment in Baltimore through various recreation, education, and sustainability programs. Volunteer projects range from planting trees, cleaning and maintaining parks, assisting with educational summer camps, and coaching kids sports. Group and individual projects available.