The Shared World Project
All programs

Program

Volunteer Programs

Everyday people. Extraordinary work.

Join a movement of everyday people doing extraordinary things.

Local

Crews led by neighbors, not staff

All ages

Family-friendly options on most build days

Skills+

You leave with real skills, not just hours

Founding service area

Austin, TX / San Antonio, TX / Houston, TX

What we need to start the project

Launch needs come first.

Volunteers are how everything else happens. We need management software, basic safety gear pools, insurance, crew-lead training, and day-of supplies.

Estimated seed budget

$15K to $30K to launch a structured volunteer program across three cities

Service area: Austin, TX / San Antonio, TX / Houston, TX

  • 01

    Management & coordination

    • Volunteer management platform (BetterImpact, Galaxy Digital, or Salesforce NPSP)
    • Background-check service (Sterling or Checkr) for crew leads
    • Crew-lead training budget
    • Local coordinator stipends in each of three cities
  • 02

    Safety & on-site supplies

    • Hard hats, eye protection, work gloves (volunteer pool)
    • Reflective safety vests
    • First-aid kits per crew
    • Water coolers, sun-day supplies (sunscreen, snacks)
    • Volunteer t-shirts and identifying gear
  • 03

    Welcome & engagement

    • Welcome-kit budget for new volunteers
    • Photo / video documentation kit
    • Mileage reimbursement program (limited budget)
    • Group-day catering and logistics budget
  • 04

    Insurance & policy

    • Volunteer accident insurance
    • General liability covering off-site volunteer activities
    • Code of conduct + youth-protection policy review
    • Hour-tracking and recognition system

In-kind donations

Useful goods can launch real work.

These items are especially helpful if they are sitting unused and still in working condition.

  • PPE in any quantity (hard hats, gloves, safety glasses)
  • First-aid supplies
  • Pro bono background-check services
  • Pro bono volunteer-management software access
  • Coffee, water, snacks for volunteer days

About this program

Everyday people. Extraordinary work.

Join a movement of everyday people doing extraordinary things.

  • Build crew

    Community gardens, eco-buildings, and material-recovery days. Hands and tools.

  • Material recovery

    Pickups, sorting, refurbishing, and redistribution for Second Life Collective.

  • Office, tech, comms

    Design, writing, web work, communications, data, and grants. Remote-friendly.

Everyday people. Extraordinary work.

Volunteer Programs is how we organize the people who actually carry the mission. Not as gig labor, but as a community that grows together. We design our volunteer experience around three principles: clear purpose, real skills, and genuine welcome.

Roles you can step into

  • Build crew. Community gardens, eco-buildings, and material-recovery days.
  • Garden stewardship. Weekly care of one of our community gardens.
  • Material recovery. Pickups, sorting, refurbishing, and redistribution for Second Life Collective.
  • Education support. Assisting trainers, prepping materials, mentoring learners.
  • Office and tech. Design, writing, web work, communications, data, and grants.
  • Coordination. Leading local volunteer teams and running build days.

What you get back

Real skills, a network of people doing meaningful work, and (for those who want them) certificates from our Education & Training program. We invest in volunteers like the long-term partners they are.

Get involved

The fastest way is to fill out the volunteer signup. We will reach out within a week with the specific opportunities closest to your skills and location.

Current focus

What is underway right now.

  • Open

    Founding-cohort sign-ups

    Nationwide

    The first wave of volunteers help us shape what local crews look like; your input shapes our policy.

  • Open call

    Group / corporate days

    Austin / San Antonio / Houston

    Companies, schools, and faith communities can run a single coordinated build day with our crew.

We do not run on grant money. We run on people who showed up, learned the work, and stayed.

Working principle, Volunteer Programs