What is Skills-Based Volunteering?
Skills-based volunteering is a powerful way to support nonprofit organizations by strengthening their internal operations—so they can better serve their communities.
Rather than providing direct service, you’ll use the skills you already have to help nonprofits run more effectively and achieve their goals. Whether it’s refining a communications strategy, improving HR practices, building a website, or reviewing financials, your time and skills can have a lasting impact.
Many nonprofits don’t have access to the specialized expertise they need to grow and thrive. That’s where you come in.
As a skilled volunteer, you can:
- Apply your talents where they’ll make a real impact
- Support causes and missions you care about
- Work on short-term, clearly defined projects that create long-term value
We’ll work closely with you to match your interests and availability with a nonprofit’s needs. The result? A project that’s meaningful to you—and transformational for them.
Ways You Can Make an Impact
These are the ways you can use your skills to strengthen local nonprofits.
Accounting / Financial Planning
Examples: Reviewing financials, setting up a basic budget template, advising on QuickBooks setup
AI / Artificial Intelligence
Examples: Helping staff use AI tools like ChatGPT for emails or research, building basic automations
Assessment / Data Evaluation
Examples: Creating an outcomes tracking template, designing a survey, analyzing results
Board Development
Examples: Reviewing recruitment and onboarding policies and procedures, running a one-time training, clarifying board roles
Business Development
Examples: Exploring new earned income ideas, developing a partnership strategy, outlining a pitch deck
Conflict Resolution / Mediation
Examples: Facilitating a board/staff conversation, advising on conflict resolution tools or approaches
Copywriting / Content Writing
Examples: Writing or editing a donor appeal, drafting website content, creating a story bank
Database Design / Development
Examples: Organizing contact records, improving basic database setup, creating a tracking spreadsheet
Digital Tools & Automation
Examples: Setting up templates in programs such as Canva or Mailchimp, organizing files in Google Drive, building simple workflows
Facilitation
Examples: Leading a retreat, strategic conversation, or community listening session
Fundraising
Examples: Reviewing fundraising plans, suggesting donor engagement ideas, creating a campaign timeline
Grant Writing
Examples: Training on grant research, editing up to two proposals, creating a grant template, developing a preliminary funder list
Graphic Design
Examples: Designing one-pagers, flyers, or templates for social media posts or reports
Human Resources
Examples: Reviewing or drafting a job description, providing policy templates, updating an employee handbook
IT / Tech Support
Examples: Advising on internal systems, setting up hardware or basic networking, supporting tech infrastructure upgrades
Legal
Examples: Reviewing bylaws, editing contracts, advising on nonprofit legal compliance
Marketing: Strategy
Examples: Creating a communications plan, developing key messaging, outlining target audiences
Marketing: Email / Digital
Examples: Setting up a newsletter template, helping write a short email series, offering tool recommendations
Marketing: Social Media
Examples: Creating post templates, drafting a one-month content plan, recommending platforms
Presentation Coaching / Speaker Support
Examples: Helping staff prepare for a public talk, reviewing a deck, practicing delivery
Professional Coaching
Examples: One-on-one sessions on leadership, team dynamics, or goal setting (time-limited)
Project Planning & Workflow Support
Examples: Creating a project timeline, choosing tools, helping set realistic milestones
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Examples: Documenting 1–2 key workflows, creating a staff guide or checklist
Strategic Planning
Examples: Facilitating early-stage visioning, supporting a SWOT process, developing a full strategic plan
Website Strategy / UX Design
Examples: Reviewing site flow, creating wireframes or content maps, advising on user experience
Website Development / Tech Build
Examples: Creating or updating a nonprofit website, troubleshooting issues, adding donation forms or pages
How It Works
We’ll help match your skills and interests with a nonprofit’s needs. Projects are short-term and clearly scoped, typically lasting a few weeks to a few months.
Many volunteers tell us it’s one of the most rewarding ways they’ve used their professional experience—and a meaningful way to give back.