Volunteer Opportunities
Looking to give back to your community? Below is a curated list of local organizations making a difference in Charleston and the Lowcountry. Whether you're passionate about the environment, education, housing, food security, or animal welfare, there’s a place for you to get involved. Explore by cause and find a volunteer opportunity that speaks to you!
Community Support and Wellness
Navigation Center
Offers vital services to vulnerable and resource-challenged individuals
Provides shelter, job resources, and supportive programming
Volunteer to assist with daily operations, intake, or community outreach Navigation Center
Empower Charleston
Connects local professionals with nonprofits for strategic volunteering.
Fosters sustainable change through mentorship, expertise, and resources.
Volunteer your skills to support impactful community projects.
Warrior Surf Foundation
Supports veterans' mental health and wellness through surfing, yoga, and community.
Promotes healing through ocean-based, evidence-informed programs.
Volunteer with event support, logistics, or veteran outreach.
Youth and Education
Be a Mentor
Supports youth from vulnerable backgrounds in building positive life paths.
Focuses on goal setting, decision-making, and personal development.
Volunteer as a mentor to guide students toward long-term success.
Going Places
Provides bikes and joy-based programs to underserved children in Charleston.
Promotes confidence, freedom, and childhood joy through mobility.
Volunteer to help organize bikes, fundraise, or coordinate special events.
Charleston Hope
Supports Title I schools with programs focused on mental health and teacher wellness.
Invests in student resilience and teacher retention through meaningful partnerships.
Volunteer to sponsor classrooms, assist with teacher appreciation, or help with school needs.
Doors to Dream
Works to close the opportunity gap for students in underserved, Title I schools.
Provides mentorship, leadership development, and enrichment opportunities.
Volunteer as a mentor or support in-school programs and events.
Housing and Food Security
Habitat For Humanity
Builds affordable homes and strengthens community ties.
Empowers families through homeownership and skill-building.
Volunteer on construction sites, in the ReStore, or at community events.
Lowcountry Food Bank
Fights hunger and food insecurity across the Lowcountry.
Distributes millions of meals through local partnerships and community programs.
Volunteer to sort food, pack boxes, or support mobile food pantries.
Meals on Wheels
Delivers nutritious meals to homebound seniors in the Charleston area.
Provides companionship and wellness checks to isolated individuals.
Volunteer to drive routes, package meals, or assist with delivery logistics.
Origin SC
Empowers individuals through financial literacy, housing stability, and mental health support.
Offers tools for long-term success in personal finance and housing.
Volunteer to lead budgeting workshops, mentor families, or assist with housing initiatives.
Environmental and Nature Conservation
Green Heart Project Charleston
Teaches youth about healthy food, sustainability, and gardening through hands-on learning.
Builds urban gardens that cultivate community and education.
Volunteer to assist with garden builds, classes, or community events.
Charleston Surfrider
Advocates for the protection of oceans, beaches, and coastal communities.
Promotes ocean-friendly practices through education and outreach.
Volunteer in beach cleanups, policy advocacy, or community events.
Sea Turtle Care Center at the South Carolina Aquarium
Rescues and rehabilitates sick or injured sea turtles for release.
Partners with SC Department of Natural Resources for marine conservation.
Volunteer to support sea turtle care, education, or become a “Sea Turtle Guardian”.
Charleston Parks Conservancy
Enhances and maintains Charleston’s public parks and green spaces.
Leads beautification, revitalization, and expansion projects.
Volunteer in park cleanups, planting days, or family-friendly events.
Coastal Expeditions
Protects wild spaces through environmental education and ecotourism.
Leads guided kayaking, paddleboarding, and hiking tours across the Lowcountry.
Volunteer to support conservation efforts, education programs, or guided trips.
Keep North Charleston Beautiful
Enhances community spaces through beautification and clean-up initiatives.
Encourages environmental stewardship and civic pride.
Volunteer for litter pickups, plantings, or educational programs.
The Sustainability Institute
Develops sustainable housing solutions and community-based environmental programs.
Trains the next generation of conservation and green building leaders.
Volunteer in weatherization projects, education, or youth mentorship.
Slow Food Charleston
Advocates for good, clean, and fair food systems for all.
Promotes local food culture through education and community connection.
Volunteer to support food literacy, farming events, or educational workshops.
Charleston Waterkeeper
Protects, restores, and defends the health of Charleston’s waterways.
Monitors water quality across the Ashley/Cooper watershed.
Volunteer in trash pickups, marsh restoration, habitat planting events, and hands-on stewardship and environmental education.
Animal Welfare
Charleston Animal Society
Works to prevent animal cruelty and promote humane care.
Operates one of the most progressive animal shelters in the Southeast.
Volunteer in animal care, adoption events, or humane education.
