The Road to 150 Million: Strategies for Mobilizing Mass Volunteerism

Imagine a country where nearly half the people are actively helping to improve their communities. They are voting, donating, and also giving their time, skills, and energy to support others. 

This is the bold goal set by Points of Light, a global nonprofit network that wants to double the U.S. volunteer rate to 150 million people by 2035. 

The challenge is that good intentions aren’t enough. We need a new way of doing things that make sense for today’s volunteers. 

In this blog, we uncover fresh, actionable strategies to help nonprofits, schools, businesses, and everyday people get on board with this movement. 

Strategies for mobilizing mass volunteerism

Why Volunteerism Is at a Crossroads 

Volunteerism isn’t declining because people don’t care. In fact, 76% of Americans say they want to make a difference. The problem? The systems are outdated. 

• Volunteers are overwhelmed by long forms and red tape 

• One-size-fits-all opportunities don’t fit today’s schedules 

• Many don’t see how their time leads to real impact 

So, what’s the answer? Rethinking how we recruit, engage, and retain volunteers — at scale. 

1. Start with Micro-Volunteering 

Micro-volunteering is gaining steam. These are small, no-commitment tasks people can do on their phones, during a lunch break, or on the go. 

Examples: 

• Translating a short letter 

• Reviewing grant proposals 

• Recording an audiobook for the visually impaired 

• Sharing your nonprofit’s post with a meaningful comment 

Why it works: People are busy. But they still want to help. Micro-tasks remove barriers and spark engagement. 

2. Create Volunteer Personas 

Marketing teams use buyer personas to understand different audiences. Why don’t we do the same with volunteers? 

Try building personas like: 

• Gen Z Changemakers: Want impact fast, love visual storytelling, distrust traditional institutions 

• Boomer Mentors: Bring wisdom and time, but want to feel useful, not sidelined 

• Parent Advocates: Tight schedules, but highly motivated by school or local community causes 

Tailor your messaging, platforms, and roles for each group. One approach won't work for everyone. 

3. Make Volunteering Social and Shareable 

Volunteering used to be a quiet, humble act. But today? People want to share what matters to them. And that’s not a bad thing. 

Here’s how to tap into that: 

• Create digital badges or filters volunteers can share on Instagram or LinkedIn 

• Encourage group volunteering with coworkers, families, alumni clubs 

• Add a hashtag to every event or campaign (#150MillionStrong, #MyHourCounts) 

• Celebrate stories: feature volunteer of the week or “impact snapshots” 

This doesn’t just drive visibility. It normalizes volunteering as a core part of identity, like fitness or travel. 

4. Partner with Workplaces 

Several employers offer paid time for volunteering — yet usage is low. Why? Employees often don’t know it exists or can’t find relevant options. 

Solution: 

• Create “plug-and-play” toolkits for employers: curated opportunities, onboarding, and impact reporting 

• Design skills-based roles: allow professionals to give what they’re good at — marketing, IT, data, law 

• Turn it into a competition or challenge — departments can track collective hours 

When work becomes a gateway to service, we’re suddenly accessing millions of potential volunteers. 

5. Measure and Share Impact Differently 

Here’s what inspires repeat action: knowing it mattered. 

Too many organizations send a thank you note and move on. Instead: 

• Share a follow-up story: “Your 2 hours helped 5 kids receive books this week” 

• Use visual dashboards or email recaps showing cumulative impact 

• Let volunteers vote or provide feedback on future roles 

People are investing emotionally, so they deserve to know their impact.  

6. Build Inclusive, Barrier-Free Pathways 

The road to 150 million must include all of us — regardless of background, ability, or resources. 

That means: 

• Offering roles that don’t require a car, college degree, or prior experience 

• Providing materials in multiple languages 

• Engaging justice-involved individuals, caregivers, veterans, and others often left out 

• Centering equity in recruitment and leadership 

The broader the invitation, the more powerful the movement. 

Final Thoughts: From Occasional to Everyday 

To truly scale volunteerism, we must shift the mindset from “event-based” giving to everyday citizenship. 

What if volunteering wasn’t something extra — but simply part of how we lived, worked, and connected? 

That’s the vision behind 150 million strong. 

Now it’s our turn to bring it to life. 

 

Ready to Mobilize? 

Here’s how you can take the first step: 

• Share this blog with your board or volunteer coordinator 

• Audit your current volunteer program for gaps or barriers 

• Pilot one micro-volunteering task this month 

• Partner with a school, company, or faith group to host a group service day 

Let’s make volunteerism more accessible, joyful, and powerful for everyone. 

Join the movement:  

Explore Points of Light’s Civic Circle or visit VolunteerMatch.org to get started. 

Need additional help? 

Contact CLASS Consulting Group to discover practical, effective strategies for mobilizing more volunteers and creating lasting community impact.