Volunteer Centers

Volunteer Centers operate around the world as local brokers connecting organizations seeking volunteer help and the public seeking volunteer opportunities. They also advocate for volunteerism in general and offer services such as training in volunteer management or community-wide recognition events. There are many different names for such organizations, but "volunteer center" is a generic way of referring to them.  Energize provides links to such centers around the world in the Centers for Resources and Information Serving Geographical Regions section of the Directory for the Profession.

Related Topics: Infrastructure to Support Volunteering
Be Directive, Linda Graff, Well-Centred, Volunteer Canada
California Governor "Pumps Up" Volunteering, Susan J. Ellis
The Division of Labor between Volunteer Centers and Volunteer-Involving Organizations, Susan J. Ellis
United Way is Not the Way for Volunteer Centers, Susan J. Ellis
A Utopian View of Volunteerism Professional Organizations, Susan J. Ellis
By Susan J. Ellis. Provides a complete discussion of the role of a volunteer center and how to plan strategically for one. When the United Way of America let this book go out of print, Susan received permission to make it available online free of charge. Despite the dated title, the material is still very pertinent today for anyone starting or re-assessing a volunteer center. , 1989, pp. 97
Campus Compact

Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the public purpose of higher education. As the only national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, Campus Compact promotes public and community service that develops students’ citizenship skills, helps campuses forge effective community partnerships, and provides resources and training for faculty seeking to integrate civic and community-based learning into the curriculum. Campus Compact’s membership includes public, private, two- and four-year institutions across the spectrum of higher education.

European Volunteer Centre (CEV)

Site reporting on volunteering in European countries and fostering exchange among those countries. Offers reports and research.

Volunteering England - Volunteer Centres

Web area explaining what volunteer centers do and how they are critical in supporting volunteering.