Searching

Start by running a search based on a location from the type-ahead, a keyword(s), or simply by clicking on the listing type directly beneath the Idealist logo. On the left of your search results, you'll see filters you can use to refine your search. For example, if you're searching for jobs, you'll be able to filter down to only see full-time jobs or jobs that require a four-year degree. If you're searching for volunteer opportunities, you can focus on the schedule that best matches the time you're free.

Want to receive a daily email with the new opportunities that match your criteria? Get Email Alerts! Log in or sign up, run your search, click the green "Save this search" button, and check the "Email me daily with new matches!" box.

Know what cause you want to support or work for or have a specific career in mind? Just run any search based on a location from the type-ahead, a keyword(s), or simply by clicking on the listing type directly beneath the Idealist logo. On the left of your search results, you'll see the Areas of Focus box. Click the areas that interest you the most, and see the full list by clicking in the "Search the full list" box. Same goes for Job function which will appear on any job searches.

Want to receive a daily email with the new opportunities that match your criteria? Get Email Alerts! Log in or sign up, run your search, click the green "Save this search" button, and check the "Email me daily with new matches!" box.

To search by radius from a specific location, you'll need to run a city-based search. To do so, just start typing your city location in the location box and select it from the type-ahead. On the left of your search results, you'll see the option to expand your search by a given mile radius.

To search for opportunities in a general geographic region, start by typing the name of the region from the list below in the location field of the search box and selecting it from the type-ahead.

• Africa
• Americas
• Asia
• Australia and New Zealand
• Caribbean
• Central America
• Central Asia
• Commonwealth of Independent States
• Eastern Africa
• Eastern Asia
• Eastern Europe
• Europe
• Latin America and the Caribbean
• Melanesia
• Micronesian Region
• Middle Africa
• North America
• Northern Africa
• Northern America
• Northern Europe
• Oceania
• Polynesia
• South America
• South-Eastern Asia
• Southern Africa
• Southern Asia
• Southern Europe
• Western Africa
• Western Asia
• Western Europe

When entering terms in the search bar, you can use these search operators to improve your results (and if all this sounds a bit too complicated, check out the advanced search page):

Broaden your search (OR)

• Example: tutor OR mentor would give you search results that mention either word, whereas tutor mentor would only give you results that mention both words.

Exclude a term using a minus sign (-)

• Example: development -fundraising would give you all results related to development, unless they contain the term fundraising.

Glue words together with quotation marks ("")

• Example: "young professionals" would include results such as Young Professionals of Chicago, but would exclude results such as Young Nonprofit Professionals Network or professionals working with young people.

Complete a term with an asterisk (*)

• Example: econom* would give you all results that contain the words economic, economical, economics, economist, or economy.

Remember that clicking on the categories on the left side of the search results page will give you most of the advanced search capability you need. But if you want more detailed information about our search tool, see the Xapian Query Syntax page.