Choosing The Right Voluntour Organization

So you’ve made the decision to spend your school break or precious work vacation days volunteering instead of partying with friends. You’ve already narrowed down the kind of activity you want to do and started researching options. But — surprise! — there are way more organizations building homes in Latin America or teaching English to young children in Asia than you’d ever imagined. Use these pointers to choose the right one for you.

How much time do you have?

Some programs are happy to have volunteers pitch in for just a few days while others prefer a long-term commitment. Narrow down possibilities by matching your availability.

Is there a fee involved?

Some volunteer programs require a program fee. While these are often used to defray the costs of training, housing and feeding volunteers while (hopefully) supporting the mission, costs might be more than you imagined, especially after factoring in airfare and any extras. Determine what — if anything — you feel comfortable paying.

How much goes toward supporting the mission?

If just pennies of each dollar donated are actually being put toward the organization’s mission, it might be time to rethink donating your time and money. Check out Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to get details on where money goes. If your charity of choice isn’t listed, request their financial information. Any reputable organization will gladly share the information with you.

Can you talk to past volunteers?

It’s easy for a charity to paint a rosy picture through its website, but an in-person experience can be totally different. Ask the organization to connect you with past volunteers to get their perspectives — again, an organization with nothing to hide will be more than happy to do this. You’ll get a realistic view of what to expect day-to-day and can ask any specific questions that might guide your final decision.