At Purposely, we do our best to match people with meaningful volunteer opportunities wherever they are. While our primary focus is on engaging corporate groups, we know that many organizations have people who are looking to give back as individuals, and we’re here to help.
Solo volunteering can be just as impactful and meaningful as group experiences, and for many, it’s a gateway to deeper community engagement.
Why Is Individual Volunteering Different From Group Volunteering?
Volunteering alone often looks a little different than volunteering with a group. Nonprofits tend to work with individuals in unique ways, and here’s why:
- Skilled roles like administrative support, mentorship, or fundraising are often better suited to individuals. Many nonprofits are entirely volunteer run so seeing a project through to its end or serving on their board can be immensely valuable to their team.
- Longer-term commitments are more common, as solo volunteers typically need to be trained and onboarded. For example, may animal shelters and hospitals ask for a minimum of a six-month commitment from volunteers.
- Additional screening, such as applications, references, or criminal background checks may be required, especially when working with children, seniors, or other vulnerable populations. Many organizations cover the cost of any required screening, however this can add on average two weeks to the onboarding process.
Despite the extra steps, individual volunteering is a worthwhile experience. It allows you to connect one-on-one with causes you care about, build lasting relationships, and make a tangible difference over time.
Some of Our Favourite Solo Volunteering Opportunities
We’ve worked with hundreds of volunteers who were looking for opportunities they could do on their own, and these organizations make solo volunteering easy, accessible, and rewarding:
Lasagna Love: Deliver homemade meals to individuals and families experiencing tough times. Perfect for solo volunteers who love cooking and want to spread kindness right from their own kitchen. They have clients across Canada and the US - check their website to see if they work in your community!
Whole Way House: Supports seniors and vulnerable residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside through meal services, game nights, and community programming. Many roles are ideal for individuals looking to build relationships over time and their friendly booking page makes planning volunteering days a breeze.
CultivAction: Located in Montreal, CultivAction runs an urban farm and community food programs. Solo volunteers can support everything from planting and harvesting to educational outreach and food distribution. No need to sign up for anything, just show up and volunteer on the days and times listed on their site!
Haven Toronto: A daytime shelter for older men experiencing homelessness in Downtown Toronto, Haven Toronto offers volunteers the chance to assist with meal service, sorting donations, and more. It’s a safe and welcoming place for individual volunteers looking to help regularly.
Free Rice: This UN World Food Programme initiative lets you donate rice to people in need, just by answering trivia questions. It's a 100% solo-friendly and flexible way to give back, anytime, from anywhere. If you have a couple of minutes to spare and want to make an impact, Free Rice is a fun way to give back.
Our Top 5 Solo Volunteering Websites
Not in one of the cities listed above? No problem. These platforms are excellent resources for finding solo-friendly volunteer roles, no matter where you live:
- VolunteerMatch: One of the largest volunteer platforms in North America, VolunteerMatch offers thousands of opportunities across a wide range of causes. Use their filters to find roles that are specifically marked as suitable for individuals.
- Nonprofit Connector: A newer platform that makes it easy to find mission-aligned volunteer opportunities, especially in Canada. They focus on values-driven matches and feature many individual-friendly positions.
- Catchafire: Ideal for skilled professionals, Catchafire connects volunteers with nonprofits in need of support in areas like design, tech, finance, and more. Most roles are remote and perfect for individuals with niche expertise.
- Idealist.org: This long-standing nonprofit job and volunteer board includes listings from all over the world. Many opportunities are remote or individual-based, including internships and one-time projects.
- Your Local Municipality’s Website: Municipal or city government websites often list volunteer opportunities with community centers, libraries, parks, and emergency services. These are typically great entry points for individual volunteers who want to give back locally.
Sometimes, the most meaningful change starts with one person. Whether you’re looking to help out once a week, develop new skills, or simply make a difference, these organizations and platforms can help you find the right fit.
At Purposely, we help you come up with a plan, goals, and take care of the opportunity discovery and coordination so all your team has to do is “just show up”.
