Volunteer trips in the USA are often overshadowed by more exotic overseas programs, but America is one of the most underrated destinations for volunteering. The USA is vast, and each region has its own unique culture, people, landscape, and opportunities, making it one of the most diverse places to volunteer—for both locals and foreigners.
You can find meaningful volunteer work from sea to shining sea.
Volunteer work in the USA for foreigners is an adventure with opportunities in big cities, rural towns, national parks, and everywhere in between. And if you’re stateside already, you can volunteer in your own backyard or board a plane to the opposite coast for a unique experience that will make you feel as if you’ve left the country.
From community development to wildlife conservation, disaster relief to youth support, there are opportunities for almost any type of volunteer work imaginable in the good ol’ USA. Wondering where to find the best volunteer programs in the USA? You’re in the right place.
What kind of volunteering in the U.S. is available?
Volunteer work in the USA differs greatly depending on the region. Compared to other popular volunteer destinations, the USA has some of the most varied environments packed into one country.
From Florida’s Everglades to New Mexico’s white sand deserts, from the coasts of California to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, each unique state offers opportunity for volunteer work in the USA. Due to the diverse landscapes, environmental opportunities are endless when it comes to volunteer work in the USA.
For foreigners who have a passion for medicine, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in hospitals and clinics, lending a hand in a country where many are forced to go without adequate healthcare on a daily basis.
If you want to get down and dirty, using your hands to make a difference instead, you can find countless programs in disaster relief and reconstruction while volunteering in the USA. There are opportunities for everyone.
10 best volunteer programs in the U.S.A.
Is volunteering in the US your thing? Here are the best volunteer programs in the USA that will change your world—and you may not even have to leave your neighborhood.
1. Discover Corps
Discover Corps is at the top of the list of best volunteer programs in the USA for good reason. Run by passionate people who want to make a big change in conservation, the program ensures maximum impact. Due to the small nature of the program, administrative costs are cut significantly, making it one of the most affordable ways to do volunteer work in the USA for foreigners and locals alike and—ensuring your money goes straight to conservation efforts. Their opportunities strive to take you off the beaten path, and this opportunity in Alaska in no different.
- When? Year-round, 1-2 weeks
- What? Conservation, Environment, Wildlife
- Read Discover Corps reviews
2. International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)
IVHQ is well-known worldwide and is another program that offers some of the cheapest program fees for volunteer trips in the USA. This program is unique in that it’s open to all ages, unlike many other programs that offer volunteer work in the USA for teens and students. They also offer a flexible booking policy that allows volunteers to change the start date, program, or destination for free, so if something changes, you’ll be covered. Opportunities are diverse, too, whether you want to plant trees to fight against Chicago’s pollution problem, work in homeless shelters in Philly, or offer hurricane relief in New Orleans.
- When? Year-round
- What? Environmental Sustainability, Youth Support, Community Development, Construction and Renovation
- Read IVHQ reviews
3. Volunteer World
From wild national parks in the North to white beaches with palm trees in the South, Volunteer World offers the best volunteer work in the USA for foreigners who love the great outdoors, want to embrace their wild side, and reconnect with nature. It is one of the best volunteer programs in the USA for animal lovers, with opportunities to work in mustang rehabilitation, horse therapy, care for huskies in the mountains, and learn about endangered animals and exotic wildlife in every corner of the US. From the snowy peaks of Colorado to the tropical Hawaiian islands, every volunteer trip through Volunteer World is both picturesque and wildly adventurous.
- When? Year-round
- What? Animal Welfare
- Read Volunteer World reviews
4. Visions Service Adventures
If you’re looking for volunteer trips in the USA for teens, Visions Service Adventures is the place for you. This program aims at educating young students through meaningful service work. Volunteering in the US through Visions Service Adventures brings teens to a host community in Montana where they can learn the history of the Northern Cheyenne tribe while working on conservation and construction projects, attending tribal ceremonies, and learning local craft. Perfect for adventure junkies, volunteers will get their hands dirty with manual work and spend their free time backpacking through epic snow-capped mountains.
- When? June-August
- What? Teen Travel/Immersion, Adventure Travel, Conservation, Construction
- Read Visions Service Adventures reviews
5. Travel for Teens
Travel for Teens is another one of the best volunteer programs in the USA for teens who want to make a difference. This program combines outdoor adventure travel with volunteering in the US, with opportunities in environmental and wildlife conservation in some of the most beautiful landscapes of America. Volunteers can travel to Alaska where they’ll spend their free time hiking through tundra and rafting down rivers surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, to Hawaii’s tropical islands amidst beaches and volcanoes, or combine both locations for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
- When? Mostly June-August. Hawaiian destinations offer opportunities sporadically throughout the year.
- What? Environmental Sustainability, Wildlife Conservation, Adventure Travel
- Read Travel for Teens reviews
6. Pacific Discovery
Pacific Discovery is not only one of the best programs for volunteer work in the USA for foreigners, but it’s also one of the most unique. Offering transformative volunteer trips in the USA that center both hard work and fun, Pacific Discovery intentionally designs each experience to be impactful for both the volunteer and the community partner. The most popular programs through Pacific Discovery in the US will lead you to Hawaii, where you'll learn about conservation and sustainability.
- When? Year-round, 5-8 weeks
- What? Agriculture, Conservation, Organic Farming
- Read Pacific Discovery reviews
7. All Hands and Hearts
Volunteering in the US with All Hands and Hearts will pull on your heart strings. It’s one of the best programs in the USA for disaster relief and community development, whether you’re helping with earthquake devastation in California, hurricane relief in Texas, or COVID-19 first response everywhere in between. All Hands and Hearts is unique in that its programs are free. While it’s always a good idea to fundraise, as the program relies on donations alone, you won’t be locked into an expensive program fee, making it an easy way to make a difference.
- When? Year-round
- What? Disaster Relief, Community Development
- Read All Hands and Hearts reviews
8. Fronteering
Another top program for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts, Fronteering offers volunteer trips in the USA that aim to get you out into the wild and experience the rugged side of American soil. Fronteering is one of the best volunteer programs in the USA, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Volunteer at a husky ranch in Alaska where you’ll learn the basics of dog care and how to maintain a kennel, while mountain biking and hiking in your free time, or lend a hand at alligator rehabilitation in the Florida Everglades. Fronteering will get your adrenaline pumping and fulfill every fantasy of being one with nature.
- When? Year-round
- What? Animal Welfare, Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Read Fronteering reviews
9. Volunteers for Peace
Volunteers for Peace is a Vermont-based nonprofit with some of the most unique volunteer trips in the USA. Each volunteer project is planned and hosted by local partners, so volunteers will have an authentic and meaningful experience. With an aim at recruiting US-based teens, Volunteers for Peace combines service with both recreational activities and cultural exchange for a well-rounded learning experience. You’ll volunteer side-by-side with locals in anything from organic farming to archaeology to festival projects. Look no further for unique opportunities for volunteering in the US.
- When? Year-Round
- What? Environmental and Wildlife Conservation, Historic Preservation, Organic Farming, Social Services
- Read Volunteers for Peace reviews
10. Bike & Build
Why choose one destination for volunteering in the US when you could embark on a multi-destination project? Bike & Build offers volunteer trips in the USA like no other, combining volunteer work with travel, education, and most of all—biking! Volunteers can hop on three different routes through the US to hit cities across Florida, Virginia, Oregon, California, and more. In each destination, you'll participate in hands-on construction projects for affordable housing, making a massive impact in local communities. Talk about an experience of a lifetime!
- When? May-August
- What? Community Development
- Read Bike & Build reviews
Can’t pick? Compare these programs side-by-side with a free MyGoAbroad account!
Ready to find volunteer work in the U.S.A.?
No matter where you land, you can make a difference.
Forget traveling to the far corners of the Earth to make a difference to this wonderful world. Each one of the 50 states offers a unique cultural volunteer experience that rivals what you’ll find overseas. Whether you’re stateside or traveling abroad, you’ll find some of the best volunteer programs in the USA. So pick your program, pack your bags, and get ready for a life-changing adventure volunteering in the US!
Look for the Perfect Volunteer Abroad Program Now
Start Your Search