This is an index of links to major regional and nationwide sites in the U.S. that provide updated lists of volunteer opportunities at various different organizations. Many of these are third party volunteer databases (they provide information about other organization's volunteer opportunities). Also included are links to indices of local sites, such as volunteer centers and community networks/freenets. The best place to look for volunteer opportunities is your local volunteer center; many communities have one.

• Action Without Borders
  A well-traveled place to post volunteer opportunities, or for volunteers to post their services. Offers other nonprofit resources as well.

• Amigos de las Americas
  Sponsors volunteers, primarily between the ages of 16 - 25, in public health and environmental projects in Mexico and Central and South America.

• Amizade
  Not-for-profit organization with programs that offer a mix of community service and recreation which provide volunteers the opportunity to participate first hand in the culture of the region. Past projects have included building a vocational training center for street children on the Amazon, building additional rooms onto a health clinic in the Bolivian Andes, and doing historic preservation and environmental cleanup in the Greater Yellowstone Area. Volunteers need no special skills, just a willingness to help.

• Break Away: the Alternative Break Collection
  National non-profit organization based at Vanderbilt University, promoting service on the local, regional, national, and international levels through break-oriented programs which immerse students in often vastly different cultures, heightens social awareness, and advocates life-long social action. Break Away promotes alternative break programs through student training, technical assistance, volunteer placement, and publications.

• Catholic Network of Volunteer Service
  A non-profit organization representing more than 180 domestic and international volunteer programs. Learn about the different opportunities CNVS offers through the RESPONSE directory.

• GuideStar
  An initiative of Philanthropic Research, whose mission is to provide information about charities to donors and others. In addition to its information to help donors of both money, equipment and time monitor the programs and performance of charities, Guidestar also features a "classifieds" section of volunteer opportunities at agencies around the U.S.

• Volunteer Match
  A nonprofit organization online since 1994. Its Web site is an excellent place for agencies to post volunteer opportunities . Potential volunteers can use the site to find volunteer opportunities.

• Make A Difference Day
  Each October, sponsored by USA Weekend. Includes a database of volunteer opportunities for Make A Difference Day each Fall.

• Netday
  Effort by a partnership among volunteers and corporations to wire schools in the U.S.A. to the Internet.

• Peace Corps
  Begun by the Kennedy administration in 1961, the Peace Corps places volunteers from the United States into developing countries to help citizens with education, environment, health, business, agriculture and other projects. Former and returning Peace Corps volunteers can also participate in the new Crisis Corps, providing short-term assistance to countries that have experienced natural disasters or a humanitarian crisis.

• ServeNet
  A place to post volunteer opportunities, or to post volunteer interests. Opportunities are tied to the challenges of America's Promise.

• Service Civil International - USA Branch
  Founded in the 1920s, SCI has 33 branches and groups in Europe and Asia, and approximately 5,000 volunteers active in 50 countries. SCI has links with many other organizations, worldwide, and holds consultative status with the United Nations. The US branch web site promotes both short term (two-week) and long term (three to 12 month) assignments.

• VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America)
  Now part of the AmeriCorps national service program, VISTA members take on long-term community-related projects, many of them technology focused, and receive a small stipend. The "Friends of VISTA" web site has a listing of VISTA opportunities all over the U.S.