Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in Nashville to give your time to. Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or a health care enthusiast — there’s a nearby volunteer opportunity for you. Here are 56 ways to get involved in Music City.
If you want to be there for abuse victims
Thistle Farms | Volunteer needs include gift set assembly, boxing candles, tagging apparel, gardening, and administrative tasks.
Sexual Assault Center | Advocates have the opportunity to become trained for the organization’s Medical Accompaniment Program (MAP) to provide crisis intervention and support survivors during the evidence collection exam. Additional opportunities include providing that same support via the Crisis Line Program.
Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence | Various volunteering opportunities include event planning to help raise money, an online ambassador to amplify the coalition’s social reach, an office assistant, and a writer to submit letters to the editor in response to stories that foster victim blaming.
Metro Office of Family Safety | Choose from six different roles, which include facilitating special events, donation item pickup, office tasks, fundraising planning, and Play Pyramid management.
Natural-born teachers and mentors
Nashville Public Library | Volunteers assist with projects that range from shelving books to reading for the Talking Library.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum | Support the museum’s educational mission by welcoming guests, assisting during Hatch Show Print’s art-making programs, acting as a school tour guide, and more.
Book’em | Join a community of over 300 volunteers in supporting literacy initiatives through activities like reading with preschool and elementary school students and preparing donated books for distribution.
PENCIL | This nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing equitable education access for MNPS students. Volunteer opportunities include high-impact tutoring, sorting and distributing donated school supplies, and fulfilling experiences that serve students. Additional virtual-only opportunities are available through PENCIL Connect and Proudly PENCIL Virtual Learning Series.
Nashville Adult Literacy Council | Volunteers are trained and matched with English language learners and literacy learners for virtual and hybrid one-on-one tutoring. All matches are based on availability and other preferences.
United Way’s Raise Your Hand | Tutors work in classrooms after school with teachers to assist students in first through eighth grades needing extra attention in reading and math. The program serves Cheatham, Montgomery, Dickson, Robertson, and Williamson counties.
Oasis Center | Dedicated to enhancing the lives of Middle Tennessee’s youth, the organization offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities from mentoring and assisting with bike builds and workshops to packing lunches and more.
Girls on the Run Middle Tennessee | Express interest in coaching, one-time volunteering, and group opportunities to support GOTR’s mission of “inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident.”
Special Olympics Tennessee | Volunteers can coach, train, officiate, and even play alongside Special Olympics athletes.
Friends Life Community | The six volunteer opportunities offered generally fall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Occasional opportunities with the Treat Truck and Social Club are available on evenings and weekends. Roles include peer mentorship and assisting with the performing arts and visual arts curriculum.
If you’re a mental health advocate
National Alliance of Mental Illness | This organization asks that you fill out a form online with detailed criteria like your availability and desired service area to be matched with volunteering opportunities.
Tennessee System of Care | You can apply to be a part of the TA Network as an organization or an individual by filling out this online form. The network of experts conduct trainings and consultations on various mental health topics based on when an opportunity arises that fits your schedule.
Insight Counseling Centers | The center is looking for volunteer intake practitioners to be the first point of contact for callers.
If you’re interested in healthcare
American Red Cross Tennessee Region | Aid in disaster relief, support fundraising efforts, recruit and screen new volunteers, or volunteer your time for blood services across the city.
Nashville CARES | Volunteers assist with programs across nutrition, fundraising, education, administration, special events, and the clinic to support the mission to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic across Middle Tennessee. A six-month minimum time commitment is required and the number of hours you serve are up to you.
The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial | Volunteer opportunities include patient visits, pet therapy, mail and flower delivery, and clerical office support. Volunteers are required to show proof of MMR and chickenpox/varicella immunity and commit to a 2-4 hour weekly shift for at least three months.
Alive | Support Middle Tennessee’s hospice community via opportunities across specializations like hair styling, bedside music, and storytelling.
If you’re passionate about supporting local community groups
Martha O’Bryan Center | By filling out a form, interested volunteers will express the time they are available to commit, as well as what program interests and volunteering type they wish to help. Some interest areas include early learning, youth development, food bank, and work readiness.
Hispanic Family Foundation | Help improve the lives of Nashville’s Hispanic families by either volunteering for special events like fairs and gatherings.
inclusion tennessee | Support Nashville’s LGBTQ community by bookmarking this page to stay up to date as opportunities arise.
If you want to stay in your home
Turnip Green Creative Reuse | Volunteers are invited to serve from home by helping sort, process, and package materials.
Monroe Harding | Put together cooking and art supply kits from the comfort of your own home or offer virtual tutoring services.
Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee | Volunteer to help the community’s youth prepare for their futures. You will be provided with a set of classroom materials and the time commitment is based upon which program you are participating in.
If you’re an animal lover
Nashville Humane Association | NHA’s volunteer program is structured into five specialized teams, providing volunteers the opportunity to concentrate on the areas they are most passionate about: dog care, cat care, community outreach, pet services, and shelter operations.
Metro Animal Care and Control | Some volunteer opportunities involve dog walking and social enrichment, photography, and promoting adoptable pets.
Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center | Help transport injured animals to the wildlife hospital, join the education team to inform the community about our wildlife neighbors (Friday and Saturday volunteers are especially in need), or help rehabilitate injured wildlife.
Wags & Walks | As part of the Wags Club, you’ll walk, feed, and play with pups while they await adoption.
Crossroads Campus | Help bake dog treats, foster cats or dogs that may not do well in a shelter environment, or join the community outreach team.
Nashville Zoo | One-time and long-term volunteers are needed for special events hosted by the zoo, as well for two opportunities for education volunteers in the Docents and ZooTeens programs.
For the outdoorsy types
Friends of Shelby Park | Contribute to protecting and preserving the East Nashville park through activities like trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and involvement in community events and educational programs.
Cheekwood | Volunteers play an important role in keeping the estate and gardens in tip-top shape, from leading tours to caring for the grounds. Benefits include free admission/parking and discounts at the gift shop and restaurant on the days you serve.
Root Nashville | Help Root Nashville work toward the goal of planting 500,000 trees in Davidson County by 2050.
Tennessee State Parks | A variety of opportunities include maintenance and construction of trails and litter pickup.
Centennial Park Conservancy | The Parthenon is actively looking for docents to be the link between Greek history, Nashville history, American art, and the community via tours and giving directions. Other programs include working with Kidsville or with short-term projects like Musicians Corner and Nashville Earth Day.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville | Volunteers can work on a Habitat build site, teach a class in the Homeowner Academy, or spend time at the ReStore.
Tennessee Environmental Council | Check the events calendar for area neighborhood and creek cleanups, pollinator projects, tree plantings, and other year-round opportunities.
Get excited for future exhibitions coming to the Frist Art Museum in 2023. | Photo by NASHtoday
The artsy types
Frist Art Museum | Volunteers are needed to help in the Martin ArtQuest Gallery, gift shop, and at guest services.
OZ Arts Nashville | Volunteer ushers work ~four-hour shifts and availability for more than one performance throughout the season is preferred.
Daybreak Arts | Help keep the studio running smoothly via virtual and in-person volunteering roles. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, administrative duties, art education, and event sales.
If you want to help fight food insecurity
The Nashville Food Project | Help tend to this organization’s garden or volunteer prepping food in the kitchen to combat food insecurity in the Nashville community.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee | General volunteer options include helping sort and pack food donations, preparing backpacks for hungry children, and assisting with special events and administrative support.
The Store | Volunteer at the year-round free grocery store to help families facing food insecurity. The Store offers in-person volunteer shifts (bagging groceries, stocking shelves, etc.) and monthly inventory shifts.
The Salvation Army Nashville | Volunteer for food prep as a food pantry assistant or for the community meals program. Other opportunities include Dress For Success Closet Helpers, Family Empowerment Program Child Care, and Cold Patrol Community Canvasing.
St. Luke’s Community House | Community opportunities include providing access to food via the food bank or mobile meals program. There are also seasonal needs for holidays, tax prep, and administrative support.
If you want to assist neighbors in need
Hands on Nashville | This organization supports more than 200 nonprofits, civic agencies, and schools with a specific program dedicated to disaster relief as a partner for volunteer activation and management in Metro Nashville’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
Project Redesign | The Nashville nonprofit utilizes donated furniture to help those in need redesign their spaces to better suit their needs. Volunteers help either in the warehouse or with installs.
Nashville Launch Pad | Emergency shelter volunteers are needed for serving food, working bag drop, coordinating the shower sign-up station, and spending time with guests. Meal volunteers (recommended for groups and families) are tasked with dropping off prepared or catered meals.
Nashville Rescue Mission | Various opportunities exist via the organization’s calendar to aid our neighbors fighting hunger, homelessness, and other factors.
FiftyForward | This organization supports adults ages 55+ utilizing their skills to benefit young people, veterans, homebound seniors, and those in the Nashville community who struggle with hunger.
Nashville Diaper Connection | Volunteers primarily work on packaging diapers, ensuring they are counted, labeled, and prepared into packs for distribution.
Mother to Mother | Help improve the lives of local mothers by folding clothes, sorting donations, and assisting with other tasks around the warehouse.
Inspiritus | Become a relationship building volunteer and support low-income families in Middle Tennessee via 10+ opportunities, including donation sorting, meal prep, garden planting and cleaning, as well as the art therapy program.
