Volunteering in Singapore
There are many ways to volunteer in Singapore, but if you’re unsure where to start your giving journey, this article is for you. Many wonder if their skills match available roles, if they can truly make an impact, commit enough time, or get used to new environments. So before you step in, it’s good to learn more about the different ways of giving back. Here, we’ll break down both familiar and fresh ways to volunteer—so you can find an opportunity that fits you.
And when you’re ready, explore giving.sg’s updated list of volunteer opportunities. Let’s take that first step to create change in someone’s life through meaningful uses of our skills and time, connecting with others while giving back to the community.
Table of Contents
- Volunteering in Singapore
- 1. Service-based volunteering – providing direct assistance
- 2. Skills-based volunteering – for those with talents to share
- 3. Events-based volunteering – for those who enjoy the buzz of a crowd
- 4. Giving Circles – thoughtful targeted support for families or causes
- 5. Micro-volunteering – a few minutes to help someone
- 6. Online volunteering – virtual helping without barriers
- How do I find volunteer opportunities in Singapore?
- Who can volunteer in Singapore?
- Can foreigners volunteer in Singapore?
- Volunteer via giving.sg today
1. Service-based volunteering – providing direct assistance
Service-based volunteering is for those who love to work with their hands to address immediate community needs. This can range from help with daily tasks, living environments and natural settings that require cleaning, social isolation, and educational gaps.
These giving opportunities include facilitation, befriending, and mentoring at activity centres, errand-running and food delivery, event ushering, booth management, crowd control, and caregiver support.
These roles often require physical presence and direct interaction, focusing on providing essential services and support directly to community members. Many such roles are beginner-friendly too.
Check out these opportunities on giving.sg if this sounds up your alley: Grocery Delivery with SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Jurong East, SG Cares Volunteer Centre at Pasir Ris’ Homeless Outreach Programme (Night Walk 2025), and SPD’s Home-Based Befriender (Islandwide) roles.
2. Skills-based volunteering – for those with talents to share
If you’ve wished to put your skills acquired at work or school to use in the community, skills-based volunteering might be for specialists like you. Using your talents, experiences, and resources can strengthen the capabilities of social service agencies that lack the access to resources or expertise in professional functions you’re familiar with.
Offering your specialised skills such as graphic design for marketing materials, legal advice, or conducting financial literacy workshops for community members can combine your professional development with community service.
Or if you are a leader in an organisation looking to provide corporate development opportunities to your staff, you may link up with non-profits on giving.sg that are specifically looking to work with corporates. Project V, a structured corporate volunteering programme for businesses and community organisations, may interest you too.
Check out SG Cares Volunteer Centre at Jurong East’s Canva designer role, SG Cares Volunteer Centre @ Toa Payoh’s data entry post, and Bethesda Care Centre’s Mental Health Programme facilitation (for corporates only).
3. Events-based volunteering – for those who enjoy the buzz of a crowd
Events-based volunteering involves participating in short-term, organised activities that support specific causes. This could include manning booths at fundraising events, ushering at community festivals, or offering photography and videography at sports meets.
These are ideal for individuals with busy schedules who prefer flexible commitments, as they allow for a concentrated burst of effort for a cause.
Roles open now include emcee roles for the Children’s Cancer Foundation’s islandwide events, Mother’s Day Flower Distribution and outreach roles with Blossom Seeds Limited, and Singapore International Festival of Arts 2025 front-of-house support roles.
4. Giving Circles – thoughtful targeted support for families or causes
Giving Circles are groups of people – friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers – who pool their resources together and make decisions to support families in need or causes of interest.
For families, Giving Circles can instill a sense of social responsibility in children while strengthening familial connections between young and old. Giving Circles allow for flexible participation, accommodating various ages and abilities, and fosters a collaborative environment where everyone contributes to a common goal, creating lasting memories and a legacy of giving.
Learn more about Giving Circles and how to join one.
5. Micro-volunteering – a few minutes to help someone
Micro-volunteering offers accessible, low-commitment opportunities for individuals to contribute to their community through spontaneous, everyday acts of kindness.
Small, immediate actions such as research, transcription, helping people with disabilities access or interpret information online, or signing petitions can create a positive impact and become a learning opportunity for you to get to know organisations doing good.
If you’re familiar with fake news and messaging apps, CheckMate’s call for online factcheckers might be up your alley. In a matter of minutes, you can help fact-check chain messages and protect someone out there from scams.
6. Online volunteering – virtual helping without barriers
Online volunteering, also known as virtual volunteering, lets you use digital platforms to contribute to causes from wherever you are. This can include tasks such as social media management, online tutoring, or remote research. You’ll enjoy the flexibility and accessibility of volunteering from the comfort of home.
Kindlespark’s call for online tutors and Social Health Growth’s call for Volunteer Translators are some places where you can start.
How do I find volunteer opportunities in Singapore?
giving.sg is where you can browse updated volunteer roles in Singapore listed by non-profits and track your volunteering history with various organisations.
The portal is also a way for you to discover charities that you may not have heard of and to get in touch with them to learn more.
Here’s a tip on refining your volunteer opportunity searches: after logging in to giving.sg, go to Settings > Preferences and add places where you prefer to volunteer to your Saved Places list. After that, click the Map tab when searching for volunteer roles, and select one of your Saved Places to find opportunities near you.
You may also click on “Under-served” to filter to opportunities that need more signups.
Who can volunteer in Singapore?
Anyone who wishes to contribute to the community can volunteer in Singapore – whatever your age, background, and skills, and whether you’re a student, worker, retiree, homemaker, or exploring your next role in life.
Diverse opportunities are available to suit various interests and schedules, and short- and long-term commitments are available islandwide and even virtually. Do check in with each charity to see what particular roles require in volunteers to find a good fit.
Can foreigners volunteer in Singapore?
Foreigners, including short-term visitors to Singapore, are more than welcome to volunteer among non-profits who value the skillset and contributions they bring to the communities they serve. Roles such as translators are especially needed among community and migrant workers’ organisations in Singapore, so anyone with relevant language skills may be keen on these.
Volunteer via giving.sg today
No matter how you choose to give back, volunteering your services in Singapore can renew your sense of purpose and foster personal growth.
Start some positive change in your community by choosing from opportunities on giving.sg, our nationwide platform offering a safe and secure way to connect with over 700 registered non-profits in Singapore.
