Choose Service

Professional work experience
Full-time volunteers typically focus their time on one or two specific ministries, often partnering with a local community service agency. Through this experience, volunteers have the opportunity to really dig into their work and have a meaningful impact on the community they serve. Training and skills development is a part of every program, and as a result, volunteers often develop transferable work skills that continue to benefit their careers and ongoing volunteer service, long after this full-time service experience is over. Many choose to remain in the same line of work, so their service experience leads directly into a career.

Networking opportunities
Service programs connect their volunteers to many people working in a variety of roles in the community. Volunteers strengthen their professional networks, which often helps guide their future career and educational pursuits.

Ongoing education
Almost 25% of volunteers pursue graduate education after completing their service. Many programs offer resources to support ongoing education including classes during the service program, post-service educational awards, and scholarship programs. Catholic Volunteer Network has collected a list of graduate programs that are specifically interested in people who have completed a year of service. That list can be found here.

*Please note: benefits do vary by program. You can read about the benefits that each program offers in their Response listing. Please be sure to verify benefits before making a commitment to a volunteer program. 

Intentional community living
Most programs provide the opportunity for volunteers to live in intentional community while serving, which enhances the volunteer experience in many ways. First, volunteers have a built in support system, which makes moving to a new city and starting a new work much easier. Community members also make a commitment to supporting and challenging one another to continue to grow throughout the year.

Almost all former volunteers taking part in a 2013 study agreed that their volunteer service made them a better person, that they enjoyed their volunteer service, and that their volunteer program helped them become who they are today. More information and the full report can be found here.

*Please note: benefits do vary by program. You can read about the benefits that each program offers in their Response listing. Please be sure to verify benefits before making a commitment to a volunteer program. 

Room and board
Most programs provide housing and meals for volunteers who are serving with them.

Transportation
Often programs will cover or reimburse for a volunteer's travel to the service location at the start and end of their term. Additionally, programs usually provide transportation to and from the service placement on a daily basis.

Stipend
In addition to covering most living expenses, many programs provide a stipend to enable volunteers to cover their own expenses and entertainment. The stipend is usually modest, so it will not be enough to live lavishly, but it will help volunteers to live simply and make conscious decisions about how they choose to spend their resources and their time.

Health insurance
If needed, a program may be able to provide health insurance coverage during a volunteer term.

Student loan deferment
Many people serve every year, even though they have student loans! Most loans will qualify for deferment during your time of service, and programs will be able to assist you in providing the proper documentation to put your loans in deferment.

*Please note: benefits do vary by program. You can read about the benefits that each program offers in their Response listing. Please be sure to verify benefits before making a commitment to a volunteer program.