Finding Volunteering Opportunities on LinkedIn

The following post explores Finding Volunteering Opportunities on LinkedIn.

Are you thinking of volunteering? Beyond the personal satisfaction of giving back, volunteering can help you expand your network, strengthen your skills, and even open doors to new career paths.

Read: Knowing When to Connect or Follow on LinkedIn

Related: Tips for Boosting Engagement on LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Volunteering’ feature makes it easier than ever for professionals to signal that they’re available to support nonprofit organizations and causes they care about.

Here’s what you need to know.

‘Open to Volunteering’ Overview

When you activate the ‘Open to Volunteering’ option on your LinkedIn profile, you’re letting your network (and the broader LinkedIn community) know that you’re interested in doing some volunteer work.

The feature allows you to define your preferences by selecting the causes you’re passionate about, the specific skills you’d like to contribute, and whether you’re open to in-person or remote opportunities.

Once enabled, your profile becomes discoverable through LinkedIn’s search filters for users who are available to volunteer. Nonprofits, community organizations, and even individuals seeking skilled volunteers can reach out directly. LinkedIn will also begin surfacing tailored volunteering recommendations in your feed.

Pictured below is a screenshot of ‘Open to’ + ‘finding volunteer opportunities’.

How Volunteering Helps as a Job Seeker

For job seekers, volunteering can be an under-the-radar way to bolster your job search.

Volunteering demonstrates initiative, keeps your skills sharp, and shows prospective employers that you’re motivated. Beyond that, volunteering helps you build new relationships and expand your professional network in unexpected ways. Many meaningful career opportunities begin through these informal connections.

Volunteering can also help you explore potential new career paths. For example, if you’re considering a pivot into nonprofit management, marketing, or sustainability, volunteering offers a practical way to gain firsthand experience in that environment before committing fully.

Even short-term or project-based volunteer work can strengthen your Resume and enhance your LinkedIn profile. Many employers look positively upon candidates who give back, viewing volunteer experience as evidence of leadership, adaptability, and a collaborative mindset.

Besides all those practical reasons, volunteering also just feels good! Like soup for the soul, it offers a sense of purpose and forward momentum while navigating the difficult job search process.

How ‘Open to Volunteering’ Works

Using LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Volunteering’ feature makes it easy to show how you can contribute.

First, you start by identifying the causes that matter most to you, whether that’s education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, or social justice. Next, you define the skills and types of support you’re able to offer, as well as your volunteering preferences, such as location or remote availability.

Once your profile is set up, you become discoverable in LinkedIn’s search results whenever nonprofits are looking for volunteers with your expertise. Your preferences and skills are also displayed directly on your profile, making it easy for organizations and your network to see the ways you want to get involved.

How to Turn on ‘Open to Volunteering’

Turning on LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Volunteering’ feature is straightforward.

You can quickly set up your volunteer preferences, including the causes you care about, the skills you can offer, and your preferred locations or work formats (on-site, remote, or hybrid). Once configured, LinkedIn will make it easier for organizations to find you and may even notify you of matching volunteer opportunities.

Click here for more information on turning on this feature.

Choosing the Causes That Matter to You

One of the most valuable aspects of LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Volunteering’ feature is the ability to focus on causes that resonate with your personal values and interests.

When you indicate the areas you care about, LinkedIn can match you with opportunities that align with both your passions and your skill set. The platform provides a broad spectrum of categories, reflecting the wide range of needs in the nonprofit and social impact world.

Here are the different causes LinkedIn allows users to select from:

• Arts and Culture
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• Child Welfare
• Civil Rights, Social Action, and Civic Engagement
• Crime and Legal Related
• Community Improvement
• Disaster and Humanitarian Relief
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Economic Empowerment
• Education
• Elderly Care
• Employment / Workforce Development
• Environmental Sustainability
• Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition
• Gender Equity
• Health – General and Rehabilitative
• Housing and Shelter
• Human Rights
• Hunger and Food Security
• International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security
• Medical Research
• Mental Health and Crisis Intervention
• Poverty Alleviation
• Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness
• Racial Justice
• Recreation and Sports
• Religion
• Refugee and Migrant Support
• Science and Technology
• Veteran Support

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope this article helps you with finding volunteering opportunities on LinkedIn. Using the ‘Open to Volunteering’ function is an easy way to make yourself visible to nonprofits and organizations that are seeking volunteers for help with a variety of different causes.

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