Become a Ways to Connect Ambassador!
Thank you for your interest in becoming an Ambassador for Ways to Connect.
We’re excited to have you join us to help grow volunteering across the U.S. We ask that you review the guidelines below before submitting your application to become a Ways to Connect ambassador.
About Ways to Connect & the Ambassador Program
Across the U.S., thousands of volunteer opportunities are posted online—but most people don’t know where to look or how to get started. While major platforms like VolunteerMatch help many volunteers, countless organizations rely on local volunteer sites that aren’t widely promoted.
Ways to Connect bridges that gap.
We’re not another site for posting opportunities—we’re a national directory that points volunteers to local websites and resources already out there. Our mission is to make it easier for people to discover ways to serve in their own communities.
Because we’re a hyper‑local directory, local knowledge is essential to keeping information accurate, current, and complete. Through wiki‑style contributions, volunteers help keep community pages updated by submitting new resources, correcting outdated information, and expanding coverage.
That’s where you come in.
We want to build a network of local ambassadors across the country, not just to keep Ways to Connect up to date locally, but to serve as local experts and guides for those in their communities on how to get involved.
Our goal is to equip ambassadors with the guidance and infrastructure they need to be connectors and catalysts for volunteerism in their own communities.
What does an Ambassador do?
Every ambassador’s experience is a little different based on interests and community needs. On average, ambassadors should plan to spend 2–4 hours per month on activities like:
- Adopting and updating a community page on Ways to Connect.
- Becoming familiar with local organizations and resources to help others find the right opportunities.
- Updating and filling in sections for your community page.
- Answering questions from people in your community—online or in person—about how to get involved. This might include replying to posts in your city’s subreddit, neighborhood Facebook group, or other local forums with helpful tips and links.
- Conducting outreach to help others learn where to get involved. This could be creating a flyer, sharing social posts, drafting a short guide, or even organizing a small info session or event.
Program Details & Guidelines
The program is open to U.S.-based individuals who are passionate about volunteerism and community engagement. You don’t need to have special credentials—just an interest in helping others get involved.
Here are a few examples of people who make great ambassadors:
Local Residents:
- Maybe you’ve lived in your community for decades and love sharing what you know.
- Or you just moved in and immediately started looking for local volunteering opportunities.
- Perhaps you’re the person friends ask for advice from when they want to find a way to give back.
Students:
- You might be studying a field connected to service or civic engagement.
- Maybe you’re completing a service‑learning project this year.
- Or you’re known for rallying your friends to join you at a volunteer event (even early on a Saturday!).
If any of these sound like you—or you simply care about helping others connect to volunteer opportunities—you’re encouraged to apply.
Ambassador Agreement
As a Ways to Connect Ambassador, you are a local expert on service for your community, representing Inspiring Service, Ways to Connect, and our mission with integrity and enthusiasm.
You agree to:
- Complete occasional feedback surveys or written check‑ins.
- Document and report activities completed as an ambassador.
- Represent Inspiring Service and Ways to Connect with inclusivity and respect.
- Share and promote tips on volunteerism in your community, leveraging Ways to Connect.
- Engage in meaningful conversations about the importance of volunteerism.
- Act with kindness and respect in all interactions, both online and offline.
Guidelines for Conduct
Ambassadors embody these values:
- Practice prosocial and constructive behaviors in all engagement.
- Avoid harmful, divisive, or disrespectful discussions.
- Clearly identify yourself as an Ambassador when sharing content.
- Respect privacy and confidentiality of any sensitive information.
- Do not use your affiliation with Ways to Connect or Inspiring Service to promote your own brand, products, or services for personal or commercial profit.
We’re looking for individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Passion for educating and inspiring others.
- Self‑starter with an action‑oriented mindset.
- Familiarity with volunteerism or willingness to learn.
- Comfortable volunteering independently.
- Capable of communicating respectfully and inclusively with people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities.
- Basic comfort with online tools (editing a webpage, posting on social media).
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
Compensation
The Ambassador role is a volunteer position. Ambassadors will not receive stipends, reimbursements, or other financial compensation.
If Inspiring Service receives future grant funding that provides for stipends or reimbursements, we will notify all active ambassadors.
Ready to Apply?
If this sounds like you, we’d love to have you join our growing network of ambassadors.
If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]