Start here to plan your company’s year of employee service and engagement.
We don’t mean a single one-and-done volunteer hour, because that’s not impact that lasts. We mean an experience that introduces your co-workers to meaningful volunteerism. We’re partnering specifically with organizations focused on Black, Indigenous and other communities of color—organizations meeting genuine community needs. We’re following their lead on where they need extra hands and listening to their perspectives on what needs to be done first.
This roundup of hand-picked, first-dibs volunteer projects, available to you and your group, are the starting point for creating lasting relationships and partnering with our community to make an impact. That’s true community-centered volunteerism.
Why get employees together to volunteer? Because donations alone cannot accomplish our community goals. We need a strong system of supporters who work collectively to make King County a place where all people have homes, students graduate and families are financially stable. That’s you!
And it’s all here.
Open Projects
Free Tax Preparation
Community Mentoring
To Register For Your Project
1. Select a project.
2. Connect with the organization.
3. Recruit your group.
Coming Soon
Summer 2023
MLB Reviving Baseball in the Inner City (RBI) West Regional Tournament
Baseball Beyond Borders | July 14-15, 2023
Baseball Beyond Borders will be hosting the MLB Nike RBI West Regional Tournament on the heels of the MLB All-Star Game. We are anticipating 300 student athletes from across the West region in the July 14-16 tournament. The championship games for both baseball and softball will be played on Sunday, July 16 at the University of Washington Baseball and Softball stadiums. We need volunteers for July 14 and July 15. Volunteer opportunities can be found here. If you can’t volunteer, but will be in town, please come support these student athletes.
STEM Institute for Teachers Event Support
TAF | August 2023
TAF partners with school districts, educators, and organizations to help schools create collaborative, antiracist learning environments grounded in equity and where every student wins. Help TAF support educators by lending a hand at STEM Institute for Teachers. Volunteer roles include setup, registration, meal service, and more.
Back2School Bash
Rainier Beach Action Coalition | Saturday, August 26, 12-4 p.m.
Imagine a neighborhood full of happy, healthy and hopeful kids—kids with equitable access to opportunities that improve life for themselves and their families. That’s the vision of the Rainier Beach Back2School Bash, and volunteers are critical to making it happen! Roles include setup, registration, greeting, backpack distribution and cleanup.
Help Welcome New ParentChild+ Families
InterCultural Children & Family Services | August – September 2023
InterCultural Children & Family Services ParentChild+ Program serves 28 families, helping to close the kindergarten preparation gap by supporting parents during the crucial early years of their kids’ development. Help us give new families a warm welcome by assembling goody bags and program info binders.
Gala Preparation Project
El Centro de la Raza | July – September 2023
The Annual Building the Beloved Community Gala is our biggest, most important fundraiser of the year. You can help make the auction a success! Volunteers are needed to make reminder calls, create craft paper flower decorations, write descriptions of auction items and gift baskets, organize donation-related data, and more!
Pre-k & Elementary Backpack and school supply donations
Wellsprings | On-going through September
Every child deserves a successful start in school and life. Along with a safe, nurturing, and culturally responsive environment, Wellspring’s ELC provides nutritious meals and on-site health services through a partnership with Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. With one teacher for every five children, learning and play activities are tailored to meet the developmental and behavioral needs of each child. These promote creativity, problem solving, social interaction and a sense of accomplishment. Favorites include movement and music, art projects, story reading, neighborhood walks, and field trips. We are looking for pre-k to elementary school backpacks and school supplies to be donated during the month of August as children prepare for the upcoming school year.
K-8 backpack and school supply donations
Glover Empowering Mentoring | August 4, 2023 (accepting donations through September)
The Glover Empower Mentoring (GEM) team provides an opportunity to reduce suspension time for students with long-term suspensions lasting a minimum of five days. GEM uses the understanding of the ABC (Attendance, Behavior, Course performance) early warning indicators as a guide for student success. Youth enrolled in this program will be given a chance to look at the behaviors that resulted in their suspension. Focusing on the root cause of the behavior and identifying goals that will improve relationships. Coursework approved by Kent School District (KSD) will be accessible for students to complete math, science, and language arts while they are not present on campus. We are looking for backpacks and school supplies to be donated in support of the continued education of our youth. These will be given out at a community event on Aug 4th, we are looking for 100 backpacks with school supplies to be donated.
Fall 2023
Gala Event Support
El Centro de la Raza | Late September – early October 2023
The Annual Building the Beloved Community Gala is our biggest, most important fundraiser of the year. Volunteer roles include setup, check-in/registration, silent and live auction support, raffle ticket sales, and more.
Evening of Choice
Choose180 | October 18, 2023
CHOOSE 180 transforms systems of injustice and supports the young people who are too often impacted by these systems. Evening of Choice is our largest engagement event created to grow the community of support for young people and to advance the transformative, life-changing work of CHOOSE 180. Volunteer to help with the registration table, raffle tickets, greeting guests – and overall making the event a success!
Boo Bash at the Beach
CHAMPS | October 29 2023
The Boo Bash at the Beach serves thousands of kids and families for a FREE, safe and fun experience on Halloween—including trunk-or treating, activities and entertainment. Kids can trick or treat for surprises and sweet treats, hosted by local organizations and businesses. Volunteer roles include setup, event support and cleanup.
Día de los Muertos Event Support
El Centro de la Raza | Early November 2023
We are looking for volunteers to assist with our annual Día de los Muertos celebration in November. Learn about the traditional Latino holiday that honors family and friends who have passed. Volunteer roles include greeters, raffle ticket sales, food service, children’s activities, and more.
Community Thanksgiving Feast
Glover Empower Mentoring | November 2023
Help make our 9th Annual Community Thanksgiving Feast at Kent Phoenix Academy a success! This evening will also have a coat drive giveaway, resource tables, and group karaoke. Volunteers will help with setup, meal service and more.
Ongoing
Volunteer and Learn with United Way Change Makers
United Way of King County | Quarterly
Join United Way volunteers and supporters for a deep dive into one of our issue areas before joining a volunteer project together.
Tips and Tricks for a Great Experience
We hope you and your group find a great fit in the above opportunities! Here are some best practices for building authentic relationships with the nonprofit organization hosting your project.
Be flexible.
Your group might be excited about working with kids for an afternoon, but most youth-serving organizations are looking for longer-term commitment in their volunteer roles. Look at what organizations have identified as their volunteer needs to see if your group is a good fit.
Consider your budget.
While the gift of time is valuable, keep in mind that group projects require supplies and staff time to coordinate. Do you have budgeted company dollars that could go toward volunteer projects? If so, let the partner nonprofit know—sharing the project cost may open up more possibilities for your group and take financial burden off of the nonprofit.
Plan ahead.
Begin reaching out to organizations at least a month before you hope to volunteer. If you can, avoid locking down a single date internally before you connect with a nonprofit.
Keep your end of the bargain.
Did you ask for a project for 20 people? Stay on top of recruitment to make sure your group is the expected size. Share the list of names in advance of the project so the organization knows whom to expect. If you need to cancel or send fewer people, let the organization know immediately.
Be ready to learn and reflect.
Ask the organization if there are any materials you should review ahead of time. Make time for a discussion before or debrief after.
Want to DIY?
Fulfill a wishlist.
Search the website of your favorite nonprofit for a wish list—sometimes on Amazon—and purchase or solicit items that will support the services they provide year-round.
Organize a giving circle.
Host a giving circle gathering with family and friends. Select an agency or cause you’d like to support and set your giving goal.
Hold a supply drive.
First, locate an organization in your community and start collecting new or gently used items it’s requesting. To find organizations accepting donations, reach out to your favorite local nonprofits.
We can help your group connect with a nonprofit that has requested in-kind donations/kits. Here are some common needs, but remember to double check with organizations before you start collecting items.
School supplies kit
- College-ruled paper/spiral notebooks
- Markers and crayons
- Pencils and erasers
- Glue sticks
- Ruler
- Scissors
Winter weather kit
- Weatherproof coat
- Hat, gloves, scarf
- Warm socks
- Winter boots
- Hand/foot warmers
- Garbage bags and reusable grocery bags
- Nonperishable snacks, such as granola/breakfast bars, applesauce pouches, cracker packs
- Hand sanitizer
Hygiene kit
- Body wash
- Combs and brushes
- Deodorant
- Chapstick
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Face wash
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Lotion
- Feminine hygiene products
Transitional housing kit
- Home cleaning products, such as toilet, glass and all-purpose cleaners
- Sanitizing wipes
- Laundry detergent and basket
- Broom and dustpan
- Mop
- Dish and cleaning sponges
- Toilet paper and paper towels