Idealist in Action | September 2026

Hi there, 

I often hear that the biggest obstacle for people who want to have a positive impact in the world is not knowing where to start. You want to volunteer, but can’t commit to a long-term project. You have an idea for a community gathering, but does that mean you have to be the organizer every month?

Rose M. from Chicago, IL took a different approach. Rose is a nonprofit professional who immigrated to the United States years ago and built a community in Chicago, partly through Zumba. When she heard about Idealist Days, she immediately decided to blend her love for dancing with a desire to connect more people with one another, and asked her local LA Fitness for help.

Find out how Rose quickly launched a monthly Idealist Days gathering with the help of her gym, local Zumba instructors, and a growing community of people who want to get moving 💃

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.

💪 DONE IN A DAY

• TOEFL iBT Preparation Instructors, Victory Afghanistan, Remote Opportunity
• Have Conversations With People Around the World, Acquaint, Remote Opportunity

📍 ONSITE OPPORTUNITIES

• Bookkeeper Volunteer, Critterville Farm Sanctuary, Hybrid Opportunity Based in Riverhead, NY
• Volunteer at the 2026 Type 1 United Founders Dinner, Type 1 United, Seattle, WA

🌐 REMOTE OPPORTUNITIES

• Administrative Volunteers, Three Springs Community Farm Foundation, Remote Opportunity Based in the U.S.
• Fight Extreme Heat: Start a Volunteer Chapter in Your Community, Conservly, Remote Opportunity

🎉🎉 And finally, join us in making a big deal out of something small to celebrate our community! 🎉🎉

• Steven M. from Los Angeles, California is celebrating a new volunteer opportunity 🙋
• Jabab U. from Mallam, Ghana is spending time with disadvantaged children in his community 🧒
• Alex J. from Åland Islands is celebrating their co-editor Èrine who made her first real friend after a year of loneliness and struggling to connect across cultures 🫂
• Joe B. from Indianapolis, Indiana helped guide an elderly person to safety after they ran out of gas on the road: “I felt a quiet sense of pride in the opportunity to serve God and my neighbor when the need arose.” 🚗
• Deepti B. from Nepal started a digital initiative to advocate for women's digital rights and spread awareness on online violence, as well as curating jobs and opportunities for women's empowerment 🚺
• Brian D. from Olympia, WA passed an exam and is now a Certified Personal Financial Counselor! He’ll be focusing on helping families navigate home ownership 🏠
• Jim T. from Santa Cruz, CA is celebrating students at The Bay School, a nonpublic school for students with autism who learn communication and job skills 💼
• Maria M. from Ghana is doing research and working on a policy brief for top decision makers in Ghana 🔬
• Matt R. from Berkshires, MA is proud of a few new developments in his life: “I am teaching at a prison, teaching boxing in my community, and sharing a book he wrote to honor his late father: Lions, Tigers, and Bulldogs 📖
• Smail B. from Algiers, Algeria is volunteering in Jijel, Algeria to help communities affected by the devastating wildfires affecting the area 🚑
• Dr. Manpreet K. from California is celebrating a friend and colleague who published two books on acoustic engineering 🎉

Doing something good for your corner of the world doesn’t have to be a big project or commitment; sometimes, it’s just inviting more people to join what you already love doing. 

Best,

Jennifer