The more of the following criteria your group meets, the greater the number of volunteering opportunities available to you:
- There is some flexibility in the times and dates your group is available.
- Your group is available during regular business hours. With the exception of festivals and other special events, it isn't easy to find group volunteer opportunities on the weekend: most non-profits can't afford to ask their staff to come in on a weekend to supervise and coordinate your group, no matter how much they'd like to.
- Your group is available for the entire day, so that there is time to properly prepare for and to finish the work.
- Your group can commit to volunteering regularly at the same place. While many organizations will no doubt appreciate your pitching in occasionally, knowing they can count on you on a regular basis would mean a lot. They are particularly reluctant to allow untrained and inexperienced (though well-intentioned) people to have any direct interaction with their clients.
- Your group isn't too big, or is willing to subdivide into smaller groups. While projects such as neighbourhood clean-ups and some special events may be able to accommodate many volunteers, most group volunteering opportunities in the non-profit world only require the help of ten to twenty people at a time.
- Your group is open to the idea of organizing a special event for an organization's members or clients, either on-site in their premises or somewhere else if a larger venue is needed - a barbecue, game day, or some activity which showcases your group's talents, for example. (Most non-profits operate out of premises which can accommodate no more than ten volunteers at a time).
- You are willing to come up with and manage a fund-raising event like a sidewalk sale or walkathon, from A to Z.
- You have a budget for or can provide any necessary material for the volunteer activity; no matter how much they appreciate your help, a non-profit may not always have the financial means to provide you with things like painting or cleaning supplies, flowers to plant, etc.
