2026 Charlotte Volunteering Guide

🌆❤️ Ready to give back to the Charlotte community but not sure where to begin? We’ve put together a guide to help you find the perfect fit! As a large city, Charlotte has diverse needs across many different groups. Whether you want to support our homeless neighbors, assist those with critical illnesses, collect school supplies, care for neglected animals, or lend a hand where it's needed most, there is a local volunteer opportunity waiting for you. Explore 40+ local nonprofits below.

Bags of Hope seeks to bring hope to the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte area by supplying free weekend food provisions to school children who experience food insecurity. The organization partners with local schools to discreetly identify and support students in need, ensuring they have consistent access to nutritious meals outside of school hours. Volunteer HERE!

Billie's Buddies is committed to connecting homeless and neglected animals in need with a forever, loving home, while providing resources to house, transport, and care for these animals. Through these efforts, Billie’s Buddies helps reduce overcrowding in shelters and gives animals a second chance at a safe, stable life. Volunteer HERE!

Blood Cancer United is the largest nonprofit funder of leading-edge research for every type of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other rare types of blood cancers. Volunteer HERE! 

Brave Step is a nonprofit that empowers individuals who have been impacted by sexual violence. To shape a strong, supportive community, they provide personalized services that help adults impacted by sexual violence claim the life they deserve, foster brave public conversations about sexual violence, and cultivate courageous changemakers. Volunteer HERE!

Bright Blessings brings joy, care and hope to homeless and impoverished children by mobilizing community volunteers of all ages. They offer a variety of volunteer opportunities for all ages, from on-site projects to at-home kit assembly and community drives or fundraisers. Volunteer HERE!

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue is located in Indian Trail, NC. Carolina Waterfowl Rescue is run by federally licensed wildlife rehabilitators who provide sanctuary, rescue, and rehabilitation for wildlife, farm, and exotic animals.They call people to action by illuminating the realities faced by the animals we serve and challenging long-held misconceptions and stigma surrounding birds, reptiles, and farm animals. Volunteer HERE! Volunteer HERE!

Carolina Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in and around the Cabarrus County area. It also works to promote wildlife conservation through education and community outreach, helping residents better understand and protect local ecosystems. Volunteer HERE!

Charlotte Area Fund is ending poverty by investing in individuals and communities. They offer resources that remove barriers, inspire possibility and build pathways to self-sufficiency. Their programs and initiatives include job training, financial literacy education, emergency assistance, and support services designed to help individuals achieve long-term economic stability. Volunteer HERE!

At Charlotte Family Housing, they aim to empower families to overcome the obstacles they are facing and achieve long-term housing stability and financial independence. They provide temporary housing for families of all shapes and sizes, and we work alongside families to transition to a long-term, stable home. Volunteer HERE!

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control (ACC) is dedicated to helping the people and pets of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County by providing a variety of medical and support services. ACC is also here to help educate the public about how to best care for animals and work to keep pets and people safe and together. Volunteer HERE!

Children's Home Society is dedicated to supporting children and families across the state. CHS’s mission is to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family. Everything they do is built on our foundational belief that strong families have the power to transform communities. Volunteer HERE!

Children's Hope Alliance is committed to helping families of all shapes, sizes, and definitions through a vast array of community-based services. Their comprehensive programs give hope to North Carolina’s children and families by providing hope for a safe home, a pathway to healing, and a healthy start. They envision a future where healing is accessible, hope is restored and generations are transformed through integrated person-centered care. Volunteer HERE!

Classroom Central fosters equity in education by providing teachers and students with the free resources they need to succeed. They provide free essential supplies and resources to local educators specifically through our Free Store, Mobile Free Store, and other community-supported programs. Volunteer HERE!

The Crisis Assistance Ministry provides assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move toward self-sufficiency. Their vision  is to inspire the community to justice and generosity as they provide help, hope, and understanding to people struggling with limited financial resources. Volunteer HERE!

Diaper Bank of North Carolina mission is to increase awareness of and access to essential hygiene items to promote dignity, health, and quality of life for the people of North Carolina. They work to distribute basic needs through community partners in order to encourage access to their services and programs, thereby empowering people to become self-sustaining and develop their full potential. Volunteer HERE!

Families Forward Charlotte is committed to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty that makes upward mobility too difficult for too many families in our community. They provide educational opportunities, offer essential support, and foster long-term relationships through individualized mentoring. Volunteer HERE!

Forgotten, Now Family Rescue is a local animal rescue working to give every dog a second chance at finding their forever home. Volunteer HERE!

Foster Village is dedicated to surrounding those in the foster system with a village of support for a dignified childhood for all experiencing foster care by meeting urgent needs, providing educational and emotional support, and advocating as a collective community voice for children. FVC has developed and launched a variety of programs under our three pillars: Equip, Connect, and Advocate. Volunteer HERE!

Freedom School Partners mission is to inspire scholars to love reading and learning, believe in themselves, and create extraordinary futures. They are dedicated to combating summer learning loss in Charlotte by offering a rich six week summer learning program to students in grades K-8 who need it most. Volunteer HERE!

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity CLT Region, brings people together to build homes, communicate, and hope. This organization addresses the challenges of affordable homeownership, critical home repair, and fair housing head on—leading partners and supporters in building communities with equitable access to housing. Volunteer HERE!

HopeWay is a not-for-profit mental health treatment organization making HOPE tangible by inspiring mental wellness for all. Check out their SignUpGenius for different volunteer opportunities. Volunteer HERE!

Hope Haven is a Therapeutic Community that provides a foundation of recovery for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder, so they can build healthy independent lives. Volunteer HERE!

Hospitality House of Charlotte creates a community for patients connecting to vital medical care. They aim to connect with patients and caregivers on a personal level, providing comfort during difficult healthcare journeys and to foster an environment where guests and staff alike feel cared for and supported from the moment they walk through the doors. Volunteer HERE!

InReach is an established leader in providing housing, employment, and community support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Charlotte/Mecklenburg and nearby counties. They utilize collaborating efforts to create a network of resources within the community that serve as a foundation for growth and cultivate an environment to teach and learn about individual differences. Volunteer HERE!

KinderMourn provides hope for bereaved parents, grieving children and teens by offering support and counseling programs, creating awareness of bereavement issues and empowering the community to effectively assist those who have suffered an unthinkable loss. They offer a variety of opportunities for individuals to donate their time and talents. Volunteer HERE!

Levine Children's Hospital “The best gift you can give to a child is simple– your time. Time to play. Time to talk. Time to learn. Time to heal. Our volunteers give that gift everyday”. Every year, more than 500 people contribute 18,000 volunteer hours to Levine Children's Hospital, and they couldn't do it without your support. Volunteer HERE!

Make-A-Wish creates life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. As long as children face devastating critical illnesses, they'll be counting on WishMakers like you to create the hope and strength they need to fight. Volunteer HERE!

Mind Body Baby NC is a collective of infant and postpartum practitioners who plan to contribute to changing the narrative for new families in Charlotte because taking care of the caregiver IS taking care of the infant. Volunteer HERE!

Mitey Riders provides therapeutic horseback riding for children with special needs in the Charlotte region of the Carolinas. Therapeutic horseback riding is just one of the Equine Assisted Services (EAS) practiced around the world. EAS includes three main activities where professionals incorporate horses to improve the well-being of people– Horsemanship, Therapy, & Learning Services. Volunteer HERE!   

The Move for Jenn Foundation offers grants in the form of active-wear prosthetics to those who have suffered the loss of a limb due to sarcoma or other affiliated diseases. The Move For Jenn Foundation also aims to find a cure for sarcoma and better treatment options for sarcoma patients. Volunteer HERE!

NC MedAssist seeks to ensure that no eligible person in North Carolina has to choose between purchasing food or their needed medication, improving the patients health, and lowering uncompensated health care costs for all stakeholders. Volunteer HERE!

Nourish Up helps the over 200,000 people in Mecklenburg County facing food insecurity with choices in groceries and meals that are nourishing and delicious. With various opportunities to get involved, volunteers can deliver meals, deliver groceries, load groceries, grocery shop, and more. Volunteer HERE!

Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital is committed to providing compassionate, family-centered care for children in our community. As a volunteer you can help in a number of ways from serving drinks and snacks to participating in special events and helping to clean toys to ensure a safe and clean environment. Volunteer HERE! 

The mission of Promising Pages is to collect new & donated books and share them with children living in the Charlotte Area Book Desert: those with few, if any, books at home. Volunteers help to clean and process the 250,000+ donated children's books they receive each year in their LoSo warehouse. Volunteer HERE!

RAIN empowers people living with HIV and those at risk to be healthy and stigma-free. Volunteers can participate in AIDS Walks, Gay Bingo events, quarterly service projects, or their Social Media Ambassador Program! Volunteer HERE!

Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte (RTGC)’s mission is repairing homes, revitalizing communities, and rebuilding lives. Their skilled construction staff will teach you everything you need to know to complete a project and help you develop DIY skills you can use at home. Volunteer HERE!

The Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Find your zip code and discover what volunteer opportunities are in your area. Volunteer HERE!

Right Moves for Youth is a school-based youth development and student support program focused on helping teens develop the skills to succeed in school and in life. Their volunteer groups, whether in-person or virtual, unlock the potential for their youth to expand their social networks, collaborate, and share ideas for a greater impact on the community. Volunteer HERE!

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charlotte works to embrace families of sick or injured children by providing the comfort and support of home. Every day, their volunteers’ dedication to our families eases their struggle and helps them stand strong for their child. Volunteer HERE!

Roof Above works to unite the community to end homelessness, one life at a time. Roof Above depends on volunteers’ generosity to meet the daily needs of neighbors experiencing homelessness. Volunteer HERE! 

Safe Alliance’s mission is to provide hope and healing for those healing for those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault through a variety of programs and services. Volunteer HERE! 

Every day, the Salvation Army helps thousands of people throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. They offer unique, local programs designed to meet the specific needs of each community they serve. Volunteer HERE!

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (SHMETROLINA) provides a regional distribution warehouse and branches that supply food and grocery items to charitable agencies that assist people in need. Volunteer HERE! 

St. Jude’s leading the way in which the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. When you volunteer for charities like St. Jude, you help make a lasting impact for children with cancer around the world. Volunteer HERE! 

The Nest Academy works to educate, empower, and enrich Charlotte’s refugee, immigrant, underprivileged, and at-risk children to become first-generation graduates. Whether you’re looking to invest time one on one, provide classroom support, reading, math, or ESL instruction, want to provide lunch for their students, are looking for an internship, or want to add value to the life of a child, there’s an opportunity for you. Volunteer HERE!

Time Out Youth works to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth by offering vital programs, fostering unconditional acceptance, and creating safe spaces for self-expression through leadership, community support, and advocacy. Volunteer HERE!

The USO is devoted exclusively to strengthening America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country, throughout their service to the nation. Volunteer HERE!

The Wildlife Rescue of Charlotte rescues sick, injured, and/or orphaned wildlife from the Charlotte area and rehabilitates them with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. They also rescue and rehome discarded exotic pets. Volunteer HERE!