Volunteering
Seeking Volunteer Opportunities
If you are looking for voluteer opportunities, please use this guide.
Use the button below to view and apply to volunteer opportunites
Job boards for volunteer and nonprofit work
- Idealist: volunteer and nonprofit jobs
- Boston Cares: local opportunites
- Indeed: search “Volunteer”
- Massachusetts Council of Nonprofits: (for nonprofit jobs and board roles)
Organizations students and staff have volunteered at
American Red Cross – Multiple volunteer opportunities available according to interest and experience.
Location: 274 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116
Contact: MA Volunteer Office, (781) 410-3670, MAvolunteers@redcross.org, Red Cross Volunteer Page
Tufts Volunteer Program – Typically requires a commitment of 1 shift/week for 6-12 months.
Location: 800 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111
Contact: (617) 636-1377, Volunteer Services at Tufts
Mass Eye and Ear – Volunteers must be ages 14 and up, and are typically required to commit to one 4-hour shift per week for a duration of three months or one semester.
Location: 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114
Contact: (617) 523-7900, Mass Eye and Ear Volunteer Page
Mount Auburn Hospital – 50 different volunteer opportunities are available. Typically, volunteers must commit a minimum of 3 hours/week for a duration of 9 months.
Location: 330 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Contact: (617) 682-0313, Many Helping Hands 365 Volunteer Page
Boston Medical Center – Responsibilities vary with position. Age restrictions on some positions.
Location: 850 Harrison Ave., Basement, BW-02, Boston, MA 02118
Contact: (617) 638-8000, Boston Medical Center Volunteer Page
Brigham & Women’s Medical Career Exploration Program – Volunteers will serve as Patient Access Ambassadors or Central Transport Ambassadors. Volunteers must be enrolled as a full-time student. A commitment of 140 hours over 12 months (60 hours of ambassador service and 80 hours in a department role) is required.
Location: 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02215
Contact: Office for Sponsored Staff and Volunteer Services, (617) 732-5998, bwhvcas@mgb.org, MCEP Volunteer Page
Mass General Hospital Volunteer Program
Location: 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114
Contact: (617) 726-4434, mghvolunteer@partners.org, MGH Volunteer Program Page
Beth Israel Health Care Volunteer Associates – The application window is very small so keep an eye out for postings. This position requires that volunteers be at least 14 years of age and provide 2 letters of recommendation. The BIDMC Health Care Volunteer Associates Program requires a total commitment of 40 hours.
Location: 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02115
Contact: (617) 667-3026, Beth Israel Volunteer Services
Dana Farber Volunteer Opportunities – There are many different volunteer programs at Dana Farber, visit their page below to see open opportunities.
Location: 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215
Contact: (617) 632-3307, volunteerservices@dfci.harvard.edu, Dana Farber Volunteer Page
City Year Service Reserves/Student Support Volunteer
Location: 285 Columbus Ave. Boston, MA 02116
Contact: CYB Volunteer Department, (617) 927-2516, cybvolunteer@gmail.com, City Year Volunteer Page
South Cove Community Health Center – visit here to download the volunteer application.
Location: Boston, MA 02111
Contact: Human Resources Department, (617) 482-7555, volunteerservices@dfci.harvard.edu
Cambridge Hospital Volunteer Health Advisor Program – Every 6 months, volunteer health advisors must complete at least two training sessions. This program requires a commitment of at least 30 hours, divided between special events and other general volunteering.
Location: Boston, MA
Contact: volunteerservices@challiance.org, Cambridge Health Alliance Volunteer Page
Samaritans 24 Hour Helpline
Location: 41 West St., 4th floor, Boston, MA 02111
Contact: (617) 536-2460, Samaritans Helpline Volunteer Page
Samaritans Grief Support Services
Location: 141 Tremont Ave., Boston, MA 02111
Contact: 617) 536-2460, Samaritans Volunteer Page
Fenway Health Development Events – Volunteers will assist in planning the Men’s Event and Women’s dinner.
Location: 1340 Boylston St., Boston MA 02115
Contact: (617) 927-6350, Fenway Health Volunteer Page
Fenway Health Community Advisory Board – Volunteers will become a Community Advisory Board member and attend monthly meetings.
Location: 1340 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02115
Contact: (617) 927-6450, cab@fenwayhealth.org, Fenway Institute Advisory Board
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Creative Arts
Location: 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215
Contact: Zakim Center, (617) 632-3322, zakim_center@dfci.harvard.edu, Dana Farber Volunteer Opportunities
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program – (Individual & Group-Weekday Options)- Volunteers must complete an online application and send 2 letters of recommendation to volunteer@bhchp.org. Once accepted, volunteers will be required to attend an in-person orientation, complete a CORI form, and check in with a valid ID. Volunteers will also be asked to submit immunization records. Groups must have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 members per shift. All volunteers must be over the age of 18.
Location: 780 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
Contact: (857) 654-1000, BHCHP Volunteer Page
Friendship Works- A variety of volunteer opportunities are available.
Location: 105 Chauncy St., Boston, MA 02111
Contact: Volunteer Office, (617) 482-1510, Friendship Works Volunteer Page
Special Olympics Massachusetts– There are a variety of different volunteer opportunities available year-round.
Location: Marlborough, MA
Contact: Volunteer Engagement Page
Brigham & Women’s NICU Rockers Program
Location: Boston, MA 02215
Contact: (617) 732-5998, bwhvcas@partners.org, NICU Volunteer Opportunities
Fenway Health Youth Community Advisor Program – Volunteers must be between the ages of 12-29 and will attend monthly meetings, training sessions and 3 retreats per year.
Location: 1340 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02115
Youth Community Advisory Board Page
Children’s Hospital Boston – Volunteer opportunities include inpatient/clinic opportunities, customer service volunteer work, patient family housing programs, and a therapy-centric dog visitation program. Application window for these volunteer positions is small so keep an eye on postings at the link below.
Location: 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115
Contact: (617) 355-6000, BCH Volunteer Page
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Volunteer Patient & Family Facilitator – This position requires 2 years of experience volunteering at DFCI. Volunteers will work Monday through Friday on an as-needed basis determined by the volunteer, patient, and departments. The volunteer will work a maximum of 20 hours/week, and all hours will be reported to volunteer services on a weekly basis.
Location: 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215
Contact: Volunteer Services, (617) 632-3307, volunteerservices@dfci.harvard.edu, Dana Farber Volunteer Opportunities
Always apply to multiple opportunities – you may not get your first choice so it’s important to make sure you have multiple applications to different positions submitted.
You can follow-up directly with employers to get updates on your application.
Our Career Advisors and Career Peers are available to help you with your search.