Idealist in Action | May 2026
Jennifer Bennett
Hi there,
When taking smaller actions in our little corners of the world, it can be difficult to measure impact. What’s the point of hosting a monthly gathering with neighbors? What about collecting socks for a local shelter? Or joining a volunteer opportunity at a childhood education organization?
It’s the connections we make along the way. Over time, a conversation leads to a joint community action project, and a volunteer opportunity leads to a lifetime of positive actions. This is what keeps us moving forward, and helps our impact multiply.
This month, I’m happy to share some exciting opportunities to keep our community moving forward. Discover ways to connect with changemakers, ideas to launch your own idea for community action, and inspiration on how to build something great with others.
Register for “Crafting an Elevator Pitch” 🛗
Take your community action idea to the next level with a free webinar presented by Idealist: Using AI for Social Good: Crafting an Elevator Pitch. In this collaborative session, Idealist’s programs team will walk you through the steps of utilizing free online tools to come with an elevator pitch for future partners, funders, or collaborators. Sessions are available in English and Spanish — register today to reserve your spot!
Sign Up for the Idealist Action Incubator Sessions 📢
Idealist’s Action Incubator Sessions program is designed for early-stage changemakers—whether you’re exploring an idea, brainstorming solutions, or figuring out your first step, this free program will provide you with focused support and practical next steps. Meet with one of our expert coaches to get clear guidance and start shaping your community action idea, and start moving from intention to action.
Everything Our Community Accomplished on Idealist Day 5/5 📢
Hundreds of people took part in Idealist Days 5/5 last month across more than 15 countries. They met with neighbors, tye-dyed to their heart's content, and started brainstorming bigger actions to build a better world. Find out some of the things our community achieved, and join us for Idealist Days 6/6 next week!
Check Out These Volunteer Opportunities 🫶
Do you want to jump into a new project, or try a volunteer opportunity? Check out one of the featured volunteer opportunities below, and find others on idealist.org here.
- Program Contact Volunteer, Biosphere Eco-Cities Canada, Remote Opportunity in Canada
- Thread Starter & Content Curator, Nextus, Remote Opportunity
- Volunteer Online as a Conversation Partner, ENGin, Remote Opportunity in Germany
- Volunteer HelpLine Information and Resource Referral Specialist, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Remote Opportunity
- Volunteer ESL Tutors, Tutors Change Lives, Remote Opportunity
🎉🎉 And finally, join us in making a big deal out of something small to celebrate our community! 🎉🎉
- Elena from Italy successfully secured funding for a volunteer project that promotes environmental education and active citizenship ♻️
- Audrey from Florida is celebrating her niece who recently had a baby 👶
- Faustina from Ghana makes beaded bracelets for children at her church for their birthdays 🎂
- Faith from Washington is working to build a new collective that conducts pro-bono work for local nonprofits to make a bigger impact 🤝
- Anita from Scotland makes donated goods—like bird feeders—out of recycled plastic she finds in her community 🐦
- Jordan, Robyn, and Maceo from Philadelphia participated in the Delaware River Shoreline Clean Up at Amico Island 🚮
- Sadat from South Africa created a program called Shaparak to help children learn essential life skills through play and storytelling 📖
- Alex and Lisa from Virginia organized the final event to introduce new green spaces to an underserved part of the Richmond, VA community 🌳
Do you know someone who's done something worth celebrating? Or have you done something cool we should know about? (It's absolutely ok to brag a little!) We want to hear about it and help you celebrate.
Fill out this quick form to let us know so we can shout out your small win on social media or right here in our newsletter.
How do you make an impact in your corner of the world? Submit our form and let us know!
Best,
Jennifer
Jennifer Bennett
Jennifer Bennett, CVA is the Director of Education & Training at VolunteerMatch. Jennifer joined VolunteerMatch to formalize and manage the organization’s volunteer engagement program. With her breadth of experience, she is well qualified to help VolunteerMatch’s community of nonprofits better recruit and engage volunteers.