How to Create a VolunteerMatch Profile

VolunteerMatch is the largest free volunteer-matching website in the United States, with about 13 million volunteers and 130,000 nonprofits using it. Creating an account takes about 10 minutes, costs nothing, and unlocks features you cannot use as a guest — saving openings to come back to later, getting weekly emails about new matches, and applying with one click instead of typing your information every time.

A profile is also how nonprofits find you. When you list your skills, hours, and the causes you care about, volunteer coordinators in your area can reach out directly with openings they think fit. This is helpful because the best nonprofit roles often go to volunteers who know about them before they hit the public listings.

The site does not charge any fees and does not sell your information to advertisers. Your email address stays private — nonprofits see only the messages you send them, not your inbox. You can close the account at any time by clicking Settings, then Close Account.

The profile has three main sections to fill out. The first is the basics: name, email, zip code, and a password. The second is interests: pick from a list of 30 cause areas like Animals, Education, Hunger, Veterans, and Environment — three to five is enough. The third is your skills: VolunteerMatch shows a checklist of about 50 skills, from accounting to woodworking. Check off the ones you have used in work or hobbies.

A good photo helps too. Volunteer coordinators look at faces when they decide who to invite, and a clear headshot (head and shoulders, smiling, good light) makes you stand out from the blank silhouettes. You can use the same photo from your phone or driver license.