26 Impactful Volunteer Organizations for Seniors Who Want to Change the World

Once you’ve retired, you have the freedom to do whatever you want. You can spend time with friends and family, but finding something to help fill up your time when your loved ones are busy is important. Volunteering is a great way to get out into your community, build relationships, and make a difference. Here are some influential organizations for seniors to spend their time with.

1. Library Volunteers

Local economic problems have affected most of our local libraries. You can find opportunities reading to kids, teaching English as a second language, greeting patrons, and youth program aides, to name a few. 

2. AmeriCorps

Through this program, you can volunteer to transport people, deliver meals, or help with in-home help with eating, bathing, and dressing.

3. Peace Corps

This organization welcomes volunteers 50 or older. You can find opportunities overseas for teaching children, combating health, economic, and social problems, and bringing fresh water to underprivileged communities. They also offer benefits, which include language learning and a monthly living stipend.

4. Foster Grandparents

The Peace Corps also implements the foster parent program for Foster Grandparents. You will support some of the most underprivileged children by helping them learn to read, tutoring them, and giving general guidance. Volunteers work 15-40 hours a week and work one-on-one with kids in schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers, correctional facilities, and childcare centers.

5. National Park Service

If you love spending time outside, this is a great opportunity to help maintain federal parks, monuments, and battlefields all across the country. 

6. AARP Experience Corps Volunteers

In this opportunity, you will tutor children in reading or math, either individually or in a small group. You will also be in a classroom ranging from kindergarten to grade three.

7. Habitat for Humanity

If you know a skilled trade or can paint and hold a hammer, Habitat for Humanity needs you to help build houses and make a difference in someone’s life.

8. AARP Driver Safety Program

The rules of the road change all the time. With this program, you can teach the rules of the road to your community.

9. Community Alliance for Learning

If you have a way with words, you can coach writers in this program.

10. Volunteer World

If you are into art and culture, you can find opportunities in this area with this organization.

11. 826 National

If you have a passion for writing and children, this program may be a perfect fit. You can help young writers perfect their craft to write something fabulous.

12. Musicians on Call

If you are a musician and love music, consider volunteering your talents to play for people in the hospital. 

13. All Stars Project

You can help inner-city kids and their families cultivate success through a performance-based approach.

14. The Red Cross

Disasters happen all the time, so the Red Cross is a great volunteer program to help make the world a better place.

15. Feeding America

Locate a food bank in your area and see how you can help. This could be anything from administrative duties to bagging groceries.

16. Your Local Animal Shelter

Animal shelters always need volunteers to walk dogs, clean, and feed the animals.

Reach out to your local chapter of the Humane Society. They have volunteer opportunities like being a companion to the animals, being a policy leader for your local chapter, or offering phone support to help people vote for animal rights legislation.

17. Meals On Wheels

This organization needs people to help pack and deliver meals.

18. Get Set Up

If you have low mobility and still want to volunteer, this platform could be the perfect fit. They offer educational courses for older adults and volunteers teach some courses. Some topics include embracing elderhood and dealing with diabetes.

19. Hospice Agencies

Many hospice agencies need volunteers. You could provide companionship, complete administrative duties, create fidget mats for those with dementia, etc.

20. USO

If you are a veteran, are related to a veteran, or have a passion for our great service members, you may find volunteering with the USO to be a good fit. Some duties include greeting troops as they return home from overseas, making coffee in your local USO office, or providing meals and blankets to troops on layovers in airports while they wait for their flight home.

21. Big Brothers Big Sisters

This is a great way to build a lasting one-on-one relationship with a child who needs a caring adult in their lives.

22. International Senior Lawyers Project

This organization provides top-notch pro bono legal services to governments, civil society actors, and social enterprises. As a volunteer, you may be called to advocate for foster children, defend the rights of minorities, or represent the battered spouse in a domestic abuse case. Other areas include working on behalf of environmental organizations, public lands trusts, animal rights groups, etc. If you have legal experience, this may be a great opportunity to help people and make a difference.

23. Big & Mini

This organization connects people based on common interests. Adults get matched with a “mini” who has the same interests, hobbies, and professional aspirations. They connect with each other via phone calls.

24. Career Village

This is an online forum that connects students with a network of volunteers who are subject experts. Sign up and get notified when a question relating to your field of expertise comes up so you can log in and answer.

25. Eldera

This program connects people over 60 to help students with their homework. 

26. Canine Companions for Independence

This program is the largest provider of assistance dogs in the country. They connect dogs trained by experts to seniors with disabilities, for free. Volunteers raise a puppy from eight weeks to 18 months and are required to attend puppy classes, teach basic commands, and socialize the dog. Volunteers submit monthly reports on the dog’s progress and cost of care, including food, vet visits, and supplies, which are usually tax deductible. If this commitment is too big, you can volunteer to organize events, walk dogs, do office work, or help beautification of one of their six training centers or volunteer chapters across the country.

Ready to Volunteer?

Volunteering has many benefits, including better health, feeling less isolated, and having a positive effect on depression symptoms. You can make connections, new friends, and get involved with an organization that means something to you and a cause you are passionate about. There are lots and lots of programs out there, both big and small, that need your help. Whatever your passion is, you are bound to find a program to volunteer with. You could even make it a family affair and invite your kids and grandkids to join you. Helping others makes you feel good and is also a way to be an exceptional role model for your grandchildren. So, take a few minutes to look over the list above to see what opportunities resonate with you most. Then reach out to your local chapter and discuss what needs they have, how to sign up, and when you can get started. When you volunteer, you guarantee that your best days are ahead of you and retirement is fun and fulfilling.